Stretch Assignment - Innovation Officer (Digital Transformation), Freetown, Sierra Leone (Three Months, Onsite).

UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Office is looking for an interested and qualified staff member for a three-month stretch assignment to ensure operational continuity and timely follow-up on existing Innovation Section commitments. The section supports government-led digital transformation and cross-sector programme delivery through responsible artificial intelligence (AI), Digital Public Goods (DPGs), Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital learning and related innovation approaches. The assignment will prioritise reporting, financial follow-up and outstanding HR, procurement, contractual and administrative matters, followed by coordination and delivery support for existing programme commitments.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Innovation Manager, the Innovation Officer on stretch assignment is expected to prioritise operational continuity while providing technical and programme coordination support for existing Innovation Section commitments. The assignee will deliver the responsibilities and expected outputs set out in these terms of reference, coordinate follow-up with programme sections, Operations colleagues, government counterparts and technical partners, track milestones and risks, and prepare evidence-based reporting. Programme support will focus on existing commitments rather than initiating new activities. The final scope will reflect the status of activities at handover, assignment dates, available resources and the selected staff member’s expertise. The Innovation Manager will retain overall responsibility for prioritisation and management decisions; programme sections and authorised officers will retain their respective technical and approval responsibilities.

Nyaruka/RapidPro hosting follow-up and unresolved risks documented

Month 1; 

Agreed AI implementation milestones, updated directory and use-case portfolio, and staff learning support

Months 1–3

Progress on assigned DPI report and Open Source First actions; internal DPI roundtable completed

Months 1–3

Agreed Education, STU–U-Report–PBF, Digital Learning Hub, AI Manifesto and other agreed inputs relating to existing section commitments delivered

Months 1–3

Verified Innovation indicator values and supporting evidence

Month 2 — by 7 January 2027

Consolidated Innovation inputs to 2027 workplans

Month 2

Validated digital-systems mapping

Month 2

KMC review package and production follow-up record

Month 2

Final Innovation RAM and End-Year Summary Narrative inputs, including evidenced leveraging results and review responses

Month 3 — ahead of 4 February 2027

End-of-assignment handover package

Month 3 — by 22 February 2027

Other outstanding Innovation year-end reporting inputs completed and submitted for review

By applicable reporting deadlines

Financial follow-up record covering budgets, expenditure, outstanding commitments and government implementing-partner liquidations, with pending actions and unresolved issues documented

Updated throughout the assignment; monthly status summary

Outstanding HR, procurement, contractual and administrative actions followed up, with pending approvals, deadlines and unresolved issues documented

Throughout the assignment; by applicable deadlines

Updated DPG Accelerator, Le We Tok and academia action record

Monthly

• A university degree in information systems, computer science, data science, digital transformation, innovation, international development, programme management or another relevant field.

• Two years of relevant experience at the national and/or international levels in innovation, digital transformation, technology-enabled programming or programme coordination is required.
• Background/familiarity with responsible AI, Digital Public Goods, Digital Public Infrastructure or public-service digital systems, including data protection, safeguarding and responsible implementation considerations.
• Prior experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives with government, programme teams and technical partners is required, with demonstrated analytical, writing and delivery-tracking skills. Country-office or cross-sector digital-programming experience is an asset.
• Good knowledge of UNICEF programme planning, results-based management, monitoring, reporting and operational processes is required.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required.

This opportunity is open to all fixed-term and/or permanent UNICEF staff members. To apply, please take the following steps: Discuss this stretch assignment with your supervisor and obtain the agreement from the Supervisor and Head of Office (in case of SM outside CO)/Section Chief/Chief of Field Office for your application to be submitted. The agreement of your Supervisor and Head of Office is a prerequisite for this stretch assignment. Thereafter, kindly apply through the UNICEF internal job site with the following documents attached to your application:

• A cover letter indicating interest and suitability.
• An updated CV or e-recruitment profile.
• Two most recent PERs
• A signed approval letter or email from your Supervisor and Head of Office confirming their support for your application and releasing you for the Stretch Assignment (kindly confirm the duration of the release).

Candidates considered potentially well-matched for the stretch assignment will be contacted for a short interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references. Once the selection process has been completed, the receiving and releasing office will communicate to reach an agreement on the start date for the recommended staff member.

Advertised: 23 Oct 2026 Greenwich Standard Time
Applications close: 05 Nov 2026 Greenwich Standard Time

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