Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) and UN Global Pulse, with guidance from the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and the UN Futures Lab, are implementing a foresight training project, supporting Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) and UN Country teams (UNCTs) in 12 priority countries globally. The goal of this project is to “future-proof” RCO programming cycles by integrating foresight and long-term thinking in the design and implementation of country-specific UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. The project focuses on co-creating and testing different approaches to integrate foresight into the UN’s key planning, strategy and implementation processes, and building guidelines and support for gradual standardisation and institutionalisation of foresight and forward-looking culture.
To achieve these project goals, UNOPS is recruiting for UN Global Pulse Finland a Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight). Under the supervision of the Strategic Foresight Specialist, the Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight) will perform the following functions:
I) Develop Foresight training content and experiments, provide consultative support
To support the foresight capability building and experimentation, the Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight) will lead the co-creation of foresight processes for the assigned countries in liaison with the core training team. (S)he will also facilitate collaborative workshops, bringing together the resident coordinator teams and key stakeholders, creating training content and running select training sessions. He/she will also support the identification of needs for stakeholder alignment and cooperation, and apply creative methods, such as design and systems thinking to come up with foresight-based solutions to support project goals. (S)he will apply a wide range of foresight methods and tools, and provide technical and consultative support and advice to RCO teams identifying entries to incremental foresight integration in their respective processes.
II) Catalyse Institutionalisation and Scaling Efforts
To support scaling opportunities and institutionalisation efforts, the Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight) will lead the conceptualisation, and productization of foresight tools and methods into general foresight products, guidelines, and toolkits connecting foresight approaches with the UN Development Cooperation Framework design and implementation phases. This includes tasks such as the mapping and analysis of best practices and “scale ready” approaches, conducting user research to improve methodology, accessibility and usability, and designing scalable participatory processes to improve current foresight products, experiences and processes. (S)he may also guide and manage the production and graphic design processes with external partners, including testing of different tools and platforms.
III) Contribute to Knowledge sharing, team learning and continuous project development
The Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight) will carry out analysis and document lessons learned, integrating insights and best practices in the project design on an ongoing basis. (S)he will also connect with existing structures and processes in the UN system (Peer Support Groups etc.) and beyond to enhance knowledge sharing, coordination and collaboration on strategic foresight activities activating a broader learning ecosystem. (S)he will also contribute to the implementation of the monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and team retrospectives for team learning.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
The Capacity Building Senior Officer (Strategic Foresight) will report on progress and ensure the agreed outputs in coordination with the UN Global Pulse staff. (S)he is expected to exercise flexibility in the consultancy assignment, including adapting to working arrangements to support work across different time zones.
Activity/ responsibility
I) Develop Foresight training content and experiments, provide consultative support
Planning and design of co-creation processes and foresight experiments to support the development and implementation of the RCO foresight training
Timeline: Q3 2024 onwards
Key Deliverables and Outputs
- Lead the design of iterative foresight processes and methodologies tailored to the needs of RCOs
- Design and run training sessions
- Design and facilitate workshops
- Consultative support to RCO teams
II) Catalyse Institutionalisation and Scaling Efforts
Identify opportunities and develop scale-ready foresight products and services
Timeline: Starting Q4 2024
Key Deliverables and Outputs
- Map and analyse the experiments around impactful foresight entries
- Designing and guiding the production of scalable foresight products, such as toolkits, and guidelines
- Support the testing and elaboration of validated foresight approaches
III) Contribute to Knowledge sharing, team learning and continuous project development
Analyse results and propose iterative actions to support continuous development, learning and knowledge sharing.
Timeline: Q3 2024 onwards
Key Deliverables and Outputs
- Support sensemaking, documentation and consolidation of the lessons learned
- Integrate these in the project design and development
- Create opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing connecting with existing structures
Even though the duty station is indicated as Helsinki, consideration may be given to allow the position to be home-based, depending on the incumbent’s personal situation. For home-based positions, a location-specific fee scale is applied in determining the contractor’s fee. The position may require international travel.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
a. Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) preferably in Strategic Foresight, Service Design, Organisational Development, Innovation Management or other relevant disciplines is required.
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in a related field in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
b. Work experience
Required:
- A minimum of two (2) years of experience in futures and foresight is required.
Desirable:
- Experience in strategic planning, innovation management, service or concept design, content production, or change management;
- Experience in leading co-creation and design of foresight processes and workshops;
- Experience in foresight experimentation, capability building and training design;
- Experience in the development of foresight tools and products;
- Experience in working with the United Nations or multilateral organizations; a think-tank or an innovation unit;
- Strong communication and storytelling skills; including digital platforms.
c. Language
- Fluency in English (write, read, speak) is required.
- Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.
How to apply
Click here to apply