Requisition ID: 6439
Grade: ISA-NOD
Country: Pakistan
Duty Station: Karachi
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 16-Oct-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

The Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities; building conformity assessment capacities; and supporting market access and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating MSMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) is a five-year programme funded by the European Union to support the Government of Sindh (GoS), Pakistan in the implementation of its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The long-term objective of PAIDAR is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods of poor women, men, and young people across the Sindh province. The PRS has three pillars: 1) Community Driven Local Development 2) Addressing Urban Poverty, including Urban Economic Clusters, and 3) Rural Growth Centres.

The purpose of the PAIDAR programme is to support the GoS to implement its poverty reduction strategy as a whole and sub-strategies that aim at:

Fostering economic development, enterprise development and job creation with the objective of increasing income of the poor women, men and young people
Optimizing public service delivery to enhance access to livelihood improving services such as water, electricity, health services and education with the ultimate objectives of both improving living conditions and quality of life and reducing poor household’ expenditure that arises as a cost resulting from lack of access to such services and poor living conditions.

To this end, the programme will:

Provide necessary technical assistance, capacity building and financial support to a significant number of micro and small enterprises in target RGCs with the objective to overcome COVID-19 impacts on enterprises, support enterprise development and business development.
Contribute technically and financially to building and upgrading public infrastructure for improvement in delivery of basic service with direct impact on poor people’s livelihood as well as services to support business development.
Strengthen capacity of the GoS at provincial and local level for implementation of the PRS and assist the GoS to strengthen internal coordination and monitoring capacity, and to optimize provincial public resources allocation towards meeting PRS objectives.

PAIDAR will deliver on the above objectives through utilization of three key mechanisms:

Co-financing public investment projects of the GoS aiming to build and/or upgrade public infrastructure for delivery of basic services with high impact on livelihood improvement and poverty reduction, as well as for delivery of services with high potential to contribute to economic development of the target RGCs and foster enterprise development.
Provision of grants to support MSMEs investment projects which demonstrate strong potential for enterprise development, income generation, job retention and creation.
Technical assistance to the GoS and the MSMEs to ensure investment projects (both co-financed public infrastructure development projects and financially supported MSME investment projects) are designed, planned and implemented to deliver results in line with the objectives of the PRS; and to strengthen GoS capacity to plan, implement and monitor results PRS

ASSIGNMENT CONTEXT

Given the current social, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities, PAIDAR intends to inject innovative ideas, technologies and solutions to address such challenges. Such innovation opportunities may be related to business opportunities, enhance environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation in rural communities or among the enterprises, and/or create sustainable and affordable access to social services.

As the nature of such innovation challenges and opportunities are varied, different innovative pathways are also expected to be followed to identify, develop, test and upscale solutions. The Innovation Expert, is therefore expected to lead identification of innovation challenges, identification/development of solutions, pilot testing and upscaling of solutions in partnership with relevant local, national and international stakeholders, by leveraging PAIDAR programme technical assistance and grant schemes.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance of PAIDAR Programme Manager and direct supervision of Programme Executive Officer, National Programme Coordinator and National Technical Advisor and in close collaboration with PAIDAR team, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following MAIN DUTIES:

General

Review PAIDAR programme and establish a deep understanding of its objectives, achievements so far and deliverables.
Identify relevant stakeholders and partners and keep updated a stakeholder database/map in relation to area of innovation.
Establish partnership with relevant actors within the innovation ecosystem in Sindh and Pakistan.
Organize training and awareness raising workshops, possible in collaboration with partners on relevant topics of interest to PAIDAR and importance.
Participate in programme management unit meetings and coordinate his/her work with PMU and other programme staff and areas of intervention
Produce relevant communication materials and provide inputs to Communication Teams.
Support knowledge sharing and build internal awareness, knowledge and innovation capacity of the PAIDAR team.
Provide regular monitoring report on KPIs directly to the programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert.
Perform other duties and deliver other tasks as requested by the PMU.

Identification of innovation challenges

The expert will review social, economic and environmental challenges and innovation gaps in rural and urban Sindh (target districts) to be addressed by PAIDAR programme.
Lead stakeholder consultation, focus group discussions by applying suitable and relevant tools and methodologies to identify innovation challenges.
Identify relevant experts and stakeholders to be engaged in consultative and creative workshops to develop innovation pathways (incubation, acceleration, direct technology transfer, etc.) specific to each innovation challenge identified.
Develop an action plan for each innovation challenge and its innovation pathway for implementation.

Acceleration

For innovation challenges that acceleration is deemed suitable, develop an acceleration project and action plan to be implemented by PAIDAR in partnership with relevant local, national and international institutions (specifically accelerator programmes).
Define timelines, deliverables and KPIs.
Define the Terms of Reference and/or Job Description for engagement of suitable institutions/subcontractors and experts for implementation of the project and providing service (e.g. mentoring) to supported innovators (start-ups, MSMEs, entrepreneurs).
Take the lead in implementation of acceleration project, monitor and report on its achievements and necessary corrective measures as necessary.
Provide regular updates to the programme management unit (PMU).

Incubation

For innovation challenges that incubation is deemed necessary, develop an incubation project and action plan to be implemented with identified institutions (corporate sector, universities, and/or existing incubation centres).
Define the timelines, deliverables and KPIs.
Define the Terms of Reference and/or Job Description for engagement of suitable institutions/subcontractors and experts for implementation of the project and providing service (e.g. mentoring) to supported innovators.
Take the lead in implementation of incubation project, monitor and report on its achievements and necessary corrective measures as necessary.

Technology Transfer

For the innovation challenges that it is most suitable to transfer existing technologies develop a technology transfer project and action plan for implementation including identification of solutions, pilot testing and mainstreaming of solutions.
Define the timelines, deliverables and KPIs.
Define the Terms of Reference and/or Job Description for engagement of suitable institutions/subcontractors and experts and/or solution providers, for implementation of the project and providing support services to technology adopters (MSMEs, community organizations, etc.)
Take the lead in implementation of technology transfer project, monitor and report on its achievements and necessary corrective measures as necessary.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in innovation management, economics, engineering, environmental sciences, or business administration is required. Specialization in innovation management, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, or business development is desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in innovation management, incubation, acceleration projects, enterprise development, startup program and technology-based entrepreneurship is required.
Demonstrated deep understanding and knowledge of various innovation pathways, tools and methodologies is required.
Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of innovation projects is required.
Proven ability to identify and scale innovation-driven solutions within MSME or startup ecosystems is required.
Experience in working with incubation centres, R&D institutions, or innovation hubs is desirable.
Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities faced by enterprises in developing country contexts, particularly in rural or low-income regions, is desirable.
International experience is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Urdu and/or Sindhi is desirable.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

ABOUT_COMPANY

National Innovation Expert