Project Officer - Innovation in Sustainable Design (Open to Internal & External Applicants)

UNDP · Cairo, Egypt · Deadline: 19 Oct 2026

Grade: National PSA- Regular · Schedule: Full time

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 Danish Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI) is a lab for innovation and green transition, and a cross-cultural space for dialogue on climate, peace and security between Denmark and Egypt. A new four-year phase of DEDI started in 2025 financed under the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP). The new phase is designed to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change, circular economy, green transition and innovation. DEDI implements activities on the following three components: i) Innovation in sustainable design; ii) Green environmental literacy for youth; and iii) Youth dialogue on climate and security. DEDI is hosted by UNDP in Egypt with a range of Danish and Egyptian organizations and experts engaged on dialogue and exchange activities in Egypt and Denmark.

As the host institution for DEDI, UNDP Egypt implements the initiative, ensures alignment with broader development priorities, and provides technical, operational and administrative support. Under the new phase of DEDI (2025-2028), UNDP is responsible for grant management, partnership development, financial oversight, and technical guidance across all three components. UNDP provides to DEDI extensive expertise in sustainable development, youth engagement, and climate action, as well as its established networks with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. Furthermore, UNDP supports capacity-building efforts, monitoring, and reporting in line with its Results-Based Management (RBM) standards, ensuring that DEDI's activities contribute effectively to the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP) as well as Egypt’s green transition agenda.

To support the effective implementation of the Danish Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI), UNDP Egypt is recruiting a Project Officer – Innovation in Sustainable Design (NPSA-9) to provide technical support, partnerships and programme coordination to DEDI. In particular, the position will support the implementation of Component 1: Innovation in Sustainable Design, with a focus on youth, innovation, green transition, and entrepreneurship including in design (such as furniture, fashion, textiles). The Project Officer – Innovation in Sustainable Design will contribute to partnership development in Egypt and Denmark, design and delivery of innovation programmes such as ideation and incubation cycles, partnerships with SMEs and ecosystem actors, and the development of youth-led business models and technical solutions, while supporting monitoring, reporting, and knowledge management to inform continuous learning and programme improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the DEDI Project Technical Expert and guidance of the DEDI Project Manager, the Project Officer – Innovation in Sustainable Design will:

  • Provide programme technical support and advisory
    • Support the coordination and implementation of programme activities related to innovation in sustainable design, youth, entrepreneurship, technology and skills for the green transition, ensuring efficient and timely delivery.
    • Lead and finalize the development of the Annual Workplan for component 1, with focus on linkages with other components, based on existing activities, partnerships and new opportunities.
    • Develop and co-create programme concepts for bootcamps, ideation activities, incubation cycles, mentoring, and showcase events in collaboration with a range of partners in Egypt and Denmark.
    • Design and lead calls for proposals, including the selection and onboarding of youth participants, partners, and stakeholders for programme activities and related engagements.
    • Support the development and refinement of youth-driven business models, technical solutions, and initiatives.
    • Proactively identify project challenges and risks and contribute to the development and implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies.
    • Supervise a national UNV in supporting programme-related tasks and logistics.
  • Cultivate and coordinate partnerships and networks
    • Develop and maintain effective partnerships in Egypt and Denmark to ensure high-quality implementation of activities contributing to expected outputs;
    • Contribute to the development of a ‘dialogue’ working group between Egyptian and Danish partners in relevant sectors (design, innovation, sustainability, green transition) to promote youth entrepreneurship in these sectors in Egypt and Denmark
    • Support engagement and coordination with a diverse range of partners, including universities, innovation hubs, SMEs, design institutions, and entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs).
    • Lead and coordinate the design and finalization of relevant contractual agreements in alignment with UNDP policies and procedures in collaboration with UNDP RBM, procurement, partnership and policy teams and others.
    • Support financial tracking, procurement processes, and payment processing in collaboration with UNDP procurement and finance teams.
    • Facilitate collaboration and showcase opportunities between youth innovators, stakeholders, and industry partners, including SMEs.
    • Support networking efforts to expand DEDI’s partner base and stakeholder engagement, including through linkages with the UNDP Green Link Taskforce.
  • Contribute to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and reporting
    • Lead the development and refinement of indicators, tracking of KPIs, articulation of results, and follow-up on activities related to innovation, youth, entrepreneurship, and skills for the green transition, in line with the approved DEDI MEL Framework.
    • Prepare progress and learning reports, including tracking results of innovation and youth-focused activities.
    • Support bi-annual reporting to the DEDI Advisory Group and provide substantive technical inputs to ad hoc reporting requirements, as needed.
    • Contribute to knowledge management and learning efforts within DEDI, with a view to capturing insights and lessons learned for continuous improvement and scale.
  • Facilitate knowledge management, communication, and innovation
    • Provide substantive inputs to communication and visibility efforts, including social media content, press releases, knowledge products, and related communication activities.
    • Systematically document achievements and challenges related to innovation, youth, entrepreneurship, and skills for the green transition.
    • Contribute to the identification and application of innovative approaches to programme delivery, using learning to inform continuous improvement and adaptation.
    • Stay abreast of relevant local and global research and support the integration of emerging knowledge and best practices into DEDI programming.
  • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement The Project Officer will report to the DEDI Project Technical Expert.

Competencies

Please refer to the competency framework site for the entire list of competencies and further explanations.

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
  • People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

  • Strategic Thinking
    • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
    • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
  • 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

Business Development

  • Knowledge Facilitation
    • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange

Business Management

  • Project Management
    • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
  • Communication
    • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
    • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

Partnership management

  • Relationship Management
    • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management, Sustainable Development, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant Work experience

  • Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at national and/or international level in project or programme coordination and implementation, stakeholder engagement, partnerships management, and/or development programming, preferably in areas related to sustainable development, youth, innovation, entrepreneurship or the green transition.

Required skills and competencies

  • Demonstrated experience in supporting the design, coordination and/or implementation of development programmes, including planning, implementation support, monitoring and reporting, is required.
  • Experience and strong knowledge in sustainable development, innovation, youth, entrepreneurship, green transition or related technical area(s) is required;
  • Experience in international stakeholder engagement and partnership development and management is required.
  • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required.

Desired additional skills and competencies

  • Experience working with regional or international organizations, including UN or multilateral contexts, is desirable.
  • Familiarity with youth, innovation, entrepreneurship ecosystems in Egypt or the Arab region is an asset.
  • Experience in youth engagement, policy dialogue, or capacity-building initiatives is desirable.
  • Experience in innovation, research, or ecosystem development for SMEs or startups is desirable.
  • Experience in sustainable development, climate, or green transition programming is desirable.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

  • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Professional Certificates

  • Project/programme management certification is an advantage

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.

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