Programme Analyst – MineTech Hub

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Regional Programme for Africa contributes to the UNDP Strategic Plan through three outcome areas:

• African Union institutions and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) deliver on their mandates, particularly on cross-cutting issues related to resilience building, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 1;
• Regional growth is inclusive, transformational and sustainable, with reduced economic inequalities and strengthened structural transformation, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 2; and
• Regional institutions sustain peace and strengthen resilience to crises and shocks, contributing to Strategic Plan Outcome 3.

In 2021, UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) commenced the development of a new initiative, timbuktoo, aimed at galvanizing African youth as entrepreneurs, innovators and problem-solvers. timbuktoo’s ambition is to mobilize US$1 billion, comprising US$350 million in catalytic capital and more than US$650 million in commercial capital, to transform over 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million dignified jobs.

In January 2024, UNDP formally launched the timbuktoo initiative, including a Catalytic Pan-African Innovation Fund designed to support African startups. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Fund received an initial commitment of US$3 million from the Government of Rwanda. The initiative aims to mobilize and invest US$1 billion to foster the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures across the African continent. Its blended-capital model combines catalytic and commercial financing to reduce the risks associated with private investment and strengthen Africa’s startup ecosystem. The execution phase focuses on establishing the institutional arrangements for the Fund, mobilizing additional catalytic and commercial investment, and operationalizing the broader initiative.

The timbuktoo initiative is establishing 11 thematic vertical hubs across the continent to serve as critical intervention nodes offering comprehensive innovation ecosystem support. Each hub is sector-specific and engages startups from across Africa, rather than limiting support to enterprises based in the host country. Through this pan-African approach, the hubs seek to catalyse innovation for sustainable development and advance regional economic integration, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The initiative also includes University Innovation Pods (UniPods) established within public universities across the continent. The UniPods bridge academic research and entrepreneurial application and provide a pipeline of technology and technology-enabled ventures that can access ecosystem support and early-stage risk capital through the thematic hubs.

The timbuktoo MineTech Hub, based in Lusaka, Zambia, is the initiative’s pan-African thematic hub for mining technology and innovation. The Hub supports startups and innovators developing technology-based solutions for challenges across the mining value chain, including mineral exploration, artisanal and small-scale mining, mine safety, automation, environmental sustainability, critical-mineral development, artificial intelligence, data analytics and value addition. It brings together governments, mining companies, research institutions, universities, investors and innovation ecosystem actors to accelerate the development, piloting, commercialization and regional scaling of African mining technologies. Through its incubation and acceleration programmes, ecosystem partnerships, policy engagement and access to catalytic financing, the Hub seeks to strengthen the competitiveness, inclusiveness and sustainability of Africa’s mining sector while creating opportunities for young people, women and technology entrepreneurs.

UNDP Zambia is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as the Programme Analyst of the timbuktoo MineTech Hub (Lusaka, Zambia). The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Hub Manager, with functional guidance from the timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section, and drives the design, coordination and implementation of the hub’s programmatic activities
Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Analyst ensures that the startup support pipeline — pre-incubation, incubation, pre-acceleration and acceleration hand-over / coordination — is delivered with quality, efficiency and alignment to timbuktoo’s methodology and the VIRAL Pathway.

Operating under the strategic guidance of the Hub Manager, the Programme Analyst oversees daily programme execution, startup engagement, mentorship delivery and coordination with implementing partners, positioning the hub as a key engine for Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The Programme Manager will perform the tasks and activities as follows:

Ensure programme design and execution

•  Coordinate the hub’s pre-incubation, incubation and pre-acceleration pipeline and ensure a seamless hand-over to acceleration partners / fund managers where applicable; maintain programme templates, toolkits, dashboards and SOPs; integrate IMM principles into delivery.
• Manage the hand-over of UniPod- and UNLEASH-generated ideas and prototypes into the hub’s intake and VIRAL-baselining process.

Ensure startup engagement and portfolio oversight

• Oversee startup recruitment, onboarding, progress tracking and evaluation; implement customised development plans aligned with VIRAL levels and the investment-readiness criteria of the timbuktoo Catalytic Fund.
• Monitor startup performance (traction, revenue, impact indicators, VIRAL advancement); ensure accurate startup data on the timbuktoo digital platform; manage cohort graduation and progression decisions with the Hub Manager and partners.

Ensure team coordination and supervision

• Lead onboarding and upskilling sessions for internal staff and program partners on timbuktoo’s methodology, IMM tools, and reporting systems.

Manage mentorship, experts and programme partners

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and matching of mentors to startups.
• Coordinate regional and international experts in priority domains and standardise mentor management and data sharing with partner incubators.

Ensure Data, monitoring and impact

• Coordinate data collection, verification and reporting on the timbuktoo digital platform (startup profiles, VIRAL levels, cohort progress, mentor logs, programme KPIs).
•  Align local KPIs with the centralised IMM framework and contribute to the Annual Hub IMM Report.

Promote stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing

• Support the Hub Manager in managing relationships with local incubators, universities, corporates, investors and development partners;
• Coordinate partner incubators under the decentralised incubation model
• Participate in ecosystem events as delegated and document best practices and lessons learned.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

Institutional Arrangement

The MineTech Programme Analyst reports to the MineTech Hub Manager and works in close collaboration with the timbuktoo Tech Hubs Section. The Programme Analyst leads the design, coordination and implementation of the Hub’s programme portfolio, thematic core curriculum and cohort pipeline, and coordinates venture acceleration with designated fund managers and acceleration partners rather than delivering the acceleration function independently. The Programme Analyst works closely with the Ecosystem Analyst and MineTech AI Analyst; strategic partnerships and Development Services Agreements remain with the Hub Manager, community engagement, events and visibility with the Ecosystem Analyst, and the AI-specific layer—including AI gates, compute and data arrangements and AI venture acceleration—with the MineTech AI Analyst, where applicable. Curriculum expert consultations and validation workshops are integrated into the Hub’s annual events agenda and delivered in close collaboration with the Ecosystem Analyst and Hub Manager to ensure coordinated implementation and optimal use and allocation of resources.
Competencies

Core Competencies: 
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Digital: 

• Facilitation of digital innovation
  • Ability to facilitate groups and individuals through a digital innovation process
• Ability to facilitate groups and individuals through a digital innovation process
  • Ability to facilitate groups and individuals through a digital innovation process
• Innovation capacity building
  • Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation.
  • Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset.
  • Ability to create the authorising environment (mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of working.
  • In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and innovation management.
    Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.

Business Direction and Operations: 

• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in programme management within innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators or entrepreneurship ecosystems, including support to early-stage startups and cohort-based programmes is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s Degree) in the areas stated above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in programme management within innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators or entrepreneurship ecosystems, including support to early-stage startups and cohort-based programmes.

Desired skills:

• Strong sectoral and thematic expertise in MineTech
•  Proven track record managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and delivering high-impact entrepreneurship programmes, including in Mining Technology
• Strong familiarity with African innovation ecosystems and startup financing models;
• Experience with digital platforms for training, mentoring and community engagement is an asset.
• Experience in strong programme-management, coordination and analytical Proficiency with office software, spreadsheets / databases and web-based management systems

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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