Senior Manager, Geneva Digital Inclusion Ecosystem and Portfolio Development

Ecosystem Strategy, Sourcing and Portfolio Development

• Lead the development and implementation of the Geneva ecosystem strategy for mission-driven organisations that can contribute discrete, high-value capabilities towards a fair, safe and inclusive internet for every child.
• Identify, map and cultivate relationships with prospective organisations, founders, funders, technical communities, research institutions and other relevant actors whose mission, capabilities and growth ambitions align with UNICEF Digital Inclusion priorities.
• Develop a structured pipeline of potential ecosystem participants, including outreach, initial assessment, relationship management and clear recommendations on suitability for further consideration.
• Lead the substantive assessment of prospective organisations’ strategic relevance, technical and programme fit, public-good orientation, potential contribution to the overall portfolio, and rationale for establishing or strengthening a presence in Geneva.
• Help define and periodically update the portfolio thesis: the priority capability areas, ecosystem gaps and complementarities that should guide recruitment and catalytic support.

Selection, Due Diligence and Catalytic Support Design

• Lead the design and implementation of a transparent process for identifying and qualifying prospective Gazelles, working within UNICEF-cleared governance, legal, fiduciary, safeguarding and partnership requirements.
• Prepare concise assessment materials and recommendations for decision-making, including the organisation’s mission alignment, capability, readiness, sustainability pathway, risks, proposed contribution to the ecosystem and potential support package.
• Work with the Manager, Geneva Digital Inclusion Ecosystem Building and Governance to ensure that candidate organisations receive appropriate institutional, legal, fiduciary and establishment guidance; the Head retains responsibility for strategic and technical qualification, while the Manager leads operational follow-through.
• Shape tailored catalytic support packages for selected organisations, which may combine strategic advice, access to networks, mentoring, workspace facilitation, convening opportunities, support to access relevant Geneva innovation pathways, and where approved milestone-based catalytic funding.
• Ensure that all support reinforces the independence, sustainability and public-good contribution of participating organisations, and does not create an entitlement to UNICEF procurement, staffing, contracting or programme-delivery roles.

Programme Leadership, Partnership Development and Resource Mobilisation

• Serve as the overall programme lead for the ecosystem initiative, translating UNICEF Digital Inclusion priorities and country needs into a coherent, credible and fundable ecosystem proposition.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with philanthropic, public-sector, multilateral, technology, academic and civil-society partners that can strengthen the ecosystem, attract relevant organisations and support its long-term sustainability.
• Lead the development of strategic partnerships and resource-mobilisation opportunities for the ecosystem and the Gazelles Catalytic Fund, in close coordination with relevant UNICEF colleagues and in line with UNICEF policies and approval processes.
• Develop compelling programme narratives, investment cases, partnership materials and strategic briefings for prospective funders, partners and senior stakeholders.
• Convene prospective and selected ecosystem participants around shared priorities, encourage collaboration across complementary capabilities, and create practical pathways for learning, visibility and joint problem-solving.

Technical and Strategic Quality Assurance

• Provide strategic and technical leadership on the relevance, quality and potential contribution of organisations within the ecosystem, including organisations working in areas such as connectivity, internet measurement, online safety, data infrastructure, responsible AI, digital public infrastructure or other relevant public-good capabilities.
• Maintain a current understanding of relevant technology, policy and implementation developments in order to identify ecosystem opportunities, assess prospective partners credibly and guide the strategic evolution of the portfolio.
• Facilitate access to appropriate technical expertise, peer networks and specialist advice for selected organisations, without taking responsibility for managing their technical operations, developing standards, running pilots or delivering reference implementations.
• Represent the ecosystem and its strategic purpose credibly in relevant high-level forums, while ensuring that participating organisations retain their own independent identity, governance and operational accountability.
• Capture portfolio-level insight on ecosystem gaps, opportunities, risks and emerging capability needs, and use this insight to refine strategy, selection criteria and partnership development.

Programme Oversight, Learning and Complementarity

• Establish and maintain a clear programme-management rhythm, including portfolio reviews, progress reporting, risk tracking, decision logs and learning products for UNICEF and relevant governance bodies.
• Track progress against agreed ecosystem outcomes, including the quality and diversity of the pipeline, organisations qualified and supported, resources mobilised, partnerships developed and the maturity of the ecosystem portfolio.
• Work closely with the Manager, Geneva Digital Inclusion Ecosystem Building and Governance, who will lead the operational and institutional backbone for participating entities—including establishment processes, governance, compliance, funder administration, practical host-country navigation and day-to-day communications.
• Ensure clear division of responsibilities: this role leads ecosystem strategy, sourcing, qualification, portfolio development, programme direction and external positioning; the Manager enables participating organisations to establish, govern, fund and operate effectively in Geneva.
• Report to the Deputy, Digital Inclusion, on progress, risks, strategic decisions and recommendations for scaling, adapting or discontinuing support to individual organisations.

Monitoring and Progress Controls