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.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: National Ecosystem Coordination Expert
Location: Abuja (FCT) Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed Requisition ID: 8297 Grade: ISA-NOC Category: National Consultant Type of Job Posting: External Private Posting Contract Duration: 108 working days over the contract period
Project Context
The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, represented by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), is implementing Project 240184, Strengthening cleantech entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nigeria, with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The project establishes and operationalizes the Nigeria Clean Technology Innovation & Delivery Unit (NCTIDU) as a federally anchored platform for coordinated policy execution, cleantech enterprise support, investment mobilization, knowledge management and ecosystem visibility.
Building on GCIP Nigeria Phase I, Phase II strengthens Nigeria’s Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem through three mutually reinforcing components: establishment of the NCTIDU; support to research commercialization, enterprise acceleration, access to finance, skills development, policy implementation and ecosystem coordination; and strategic communication, knowledge management and partnerships.
The six-month inception phase will establish the institutional, operational and technical foundations for project implementation through three parallel workstreams: administrative and legal establishment of the NCTIDU within FMIST; technical preparation, stakeholder mapping and clarification of institutional roles; and synergies with GCIP Phase I and ongoing cleantech initiatives. Key deliverables include the NCTIDU Implementation Plan, supporting institutional, sustainability, resource-mobilization and communication strategies, the first Annual Work Plan and Budget, and refined results, monitoring, gender mainstreaming and environmental and social management frameworks. The Project Steering Committee will review and validate the inception-phase outputs to guide the transition to full implementation.
Functional Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team at Headquarters and in the field, the expert will work as an integrated technical resource within the NCTIDU, supporting the technical and ecosystem coordination functions of the FMIST. The expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:
Main Duties
Concrete / Measurable
Outputs to be achieved
Project Coordination and Implementation:
Advise the Project Manager and support NCTIDU in preparing the detailed work plan and budget and developing monitoring and evaluation tools for project activities, in collaboration with the UNIDO team;
Support NCTIDU in coordinating the execution, quality control and monitoring of assigned technical and ecosystem coordination activities contributing to successful project implementation;
Liaise with FMIST, NBTI and other government counterparts through NCTIDU, provide regular technical updates and inputs to financial reporting, and help resolve implementation bottlenecks as required;
Attend key project meetings and serve as a technical focal point within NCTIDU for ecosystem coordination, in agreement with FMIST and the Project Manager;
Organize and conduct technical briefings and debriefings with NCTIDU and relevant partners on project progress, national and subregional developments, resource needs and implementation priorities;
Support the preparation of ToRs for national project consultants and contractors, consolidating technical requirements with NCTIDU and the UNIDO project team;
Provide technical guidance and coordination support to the local project team and NCTIDU personnel for assigned activities, promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening institutional capacity;
Support the preparation of technical requirements and specifications for procurement related to assigned activities, including inputs to tender clarifications and technical evaluations, ensuring compliance with the relevant UNIDO administrative rules and policies;
Support NCTIDU in identifying initiatives and partnership opportunities, including with the private sector, to strengthen programme delivery and linkages across Nigeria’s cleantech ecosystem;
Maintain close links with GCIP Nigeria Phase I and other cleantech and private sector development initiatives to ensure a consistent and integrated approach, leverage existing tools and lessons learned, and avoid duplication.
NCTIDU technical inputs to the work plan, budget and implementation arrangements prepared in a timely manner and submitted for PM review.
Assigned technical and ecosystem coordination activities implemented through NCTIDU in close collaboration with national counterparts using a results-based approach.
Effective liaison with government counterpart established.
National experts and NCTIDU personnel supported through technical guidance and knowledge transfer to produce high-quality outputs and deliverables.
Procurement approaches streamlined and according to UNIDO rules and regulations; Tender documents are of high quality and prepared in a timely manner.
Effective partnership maintained.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:
Provide technical inputs to the operational planning and monitoring system for the project, supporting NCTIDU’s use of agreed indicators, baselines and reporting tools;
Support NCTIDU in monitoring assigned project activities using appropriate tools and verifiable output indicators, and consolidate information from relevant ecosystem partners;
Provide inputs to administrative and financial monitoring of assigned activities, liaising with NCTIDU and the project team on implementation progress and resource requirements;
Support the preparation of project progress reports, including inputs to bi-annual PSC reports and annual consolidated reporting, in accordance with the project document and UNIDO requirements;
Prepare a final assignment report at the end of the contract, consolidating technical contributions, results, implementation challenges, conclusions and recommendations;
Support NCTIDU during the inception phase in preparing Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings, including inputs to ToRs, technical documentation and follow-up on decisions.
NCTIDU technical inputs to the project monitoring framework, revised logical framework and reporting templates prepared; monitoring information from partners consolidated.
Reports are prepared and submitted as agreed and planned.
Final report prepared and submitted to the PM.
Inputs to PSC ToRs and meeting documentation prepared; follow-up on relevant decisions documented.
Meeting minutes template filled in and sent to PMs following every meeting (including phone calls or web based)
External Relations:
Support FMIST/NCTIDU in maintaining networks and partnerships with national institutions, research organizations, incubators, private sector actors, financing institutions and UN project partners, facilitating stakeholder consultations and coordinated follow-up;
Support the dissemination of project knowledge through NCTIDU by identifying best practices, success stories and replicable approaches, in collaboration with relevant communication expertise and in line with agreed FMIST/NCTIDU and UNIDO visibility arrangements.
Partnerships with project partners strengthened.
Technical inputs to the communications strategy provided; success stories and lessons learned documented and shared through agreed channels.
Final phase:
Consolidate inputs from NCTIDU and relevant stakeholders into the final assignment report and provide recommendations and handover information to support continuity of technical and ecosystem coordination functions beyond the assignment.
Final assignment report, including recommendations and handover information, produced and submitted to the PM.
Minimum Organizational Requirements
Education: Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Engineering, Sciences, Agro-industries, Environment, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline is required. Alternatively, a First-level University Degree or an advanced technical college Diploma in a relevant field may be accepted in combination with an additional five (5) years of professional experience directly relevant to the requirements of the assignment.
Technical and Functional Experience:
At least five (5) years of professional experience in coordinating the implementation of development/technical cooperation programmes / projects at national level is required.
Experience in providing technical advisory and coordination support to government institutions in cleantech, innovation, entrepreneurship or sustainable industrial development is required.
Experience in evaluating the needs conditions and problems of the country or similar country in the region is required.
Experience/knowledge of other development agencies donor communities, private sectors, government and relevant institutions in the country, or similar country in the region is desirable.
Experience in stakeholder mapping, facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and coordinating follow-up among government agencies, research institutions, enterprise support organizations and private sector partners is desirable.
Experience in supporting cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, including incubation and acceleration, research commercialization or linkages between enterprises and financing partners is desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Core Values and Behaviors: Core Values:
Excellence – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.
Integrity – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.
Inclusion – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.
Humility – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions.
Humanity – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.
Core Behaviors:
Connect & Collaborate – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.
Analyse & Plan – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.
Deliver Results with Positive Impact – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives.
Learn and Develop – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.
Adapt and Innovate – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.