Community Digitalization Coordinator, Freetown, Sierra Leone

General

Description of assignment title: Community Digitalization Coordinator

Assignment country: Sierra Leone

Duty stations: Freetown

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 09/01/2026

Duration: 12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 4. Quality education

Host entity: UNICEF

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: Expert UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations

Context:

• UNICEF Sierra Leone is implementing a Community-Based Digital Transformation (CBDx) model as a cross-sectoral delivery platform to expand equitable access to digital learning, life skills and pathways to economic opportunity for adolescents and young people. CBDx is designed as an integrated systems model rather than a stand-alone intervention. It brings together physical platforms such as Digital Learning Hubs (DLHs), EduCubes, ARC hubs and mobile or offline solutions; content ecosystems including Learning Passport integration and localized learning resources; and youth systems including Digital Champions, community youth groups and Adolescent Voices of Youth (AVOY).

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• The model is organized around a 7 Cs framework: Centres, Champions, Clubs, Content, Classes, Courses and Community. It also depends on enabling systems such as connectivity, devices and hardware, digital conversion tools, monitoring arrangements and cost-sustainability approaches. The International UN Volunteer will support the operationalization, integration, quality assurance and performance monitoring of this model, working across UNICEF sections and with government and implementation partners. Regular travel to CBDx locations across Sierra Leone is expected.

Task description:

• Under the direct supervision of James Houghton, Chief of Innovation, the International UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• 1. Support CBDx Systems Operationalization and Integration
• Support the implementation and ongoing refinement of the CBDx (Centres, Champions, Clubs, Content, Classes, Courses, and Community) systems model, ensuring coherence across the seven components of the framework.
• Translate strategic priorities into practical operational models, standard operating procedures (SOPs), implementation playbooks, and quality-assurance tools.
• Facilitate coordination with relevant UNICEF teams, including Education, Child Protection, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), and Adolescent Development and Participation / Social Transformation teams, and contribute to alignment with government priorities.
• 2. Support Delivery-Platform Standards and Performance Monitoring
• Support the operationalization of delivery modalities, including Digital Learning Hubs, EduCubes, ARC hubs, and mobile or offline solutions.
• Contribute to common infrastructure specifications, operational protocols, and service-delivery standards so that hubs are functional, safe, inclusive, and adolescent-friendly.
• Monitor platform utilization and performance data across locations, identify access or implementation gaps, and support follow-up actions, with attention to rural, underserved, and hard-to-reach communities.
• Coordinate with government counterparts and implementing partners on platform functionality, sustainability, and quality improvement.
• 3. Strengthen the Content Ecosystem and Learning Pathways
• Support the creation, curation, localization, and quality review of thematic learning pathways, including life skills, climate and ARC, employability and learn-to-earn, advocacy and civic engagement, mental health, nutrition, and other cross-sectoral content areas.
• Support the contextual adaptation of learning resources for language and cultural relevance, and their integration with Learning Passport and offline delivery systems.
• Contribute to content-conversion workflows, including digital formatting and appropriate use of AI-enabled translation tools, while maintaining quality standards across the content-to-classes-to-courses chain.
• 4. Strengthen the Digital Champions and Youth-Engagement Systems
• Support the design, refinement, and scaling of the Digital Champions model, including selection, bootcamp training, mentoring, continuing development, and performance tracking.
• Contribute to the Digital Champions Playbook and practical guidance for implementation partners, with attention to retention, inclusion, gender balance, safeguarding, and community linkages.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of youth clubs and groups linked to CBDx hubs, including climate, learn-to-earn, entrepreneurship, innovation, and advocacy platforms, and promote meaningful youth participation and leadership.
• 5. Contribute to Sustainability, Learning and Scale-Up
• Contribute to cost-optimization and sustainability approaches, including opportunities for shared procurement, content reuse, and scalable delivery models.
• Support documentation of learning and exchange with government, partners, and relevant country or regional initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a CBDx performance framework covering platform functionality, participation, engagement, and learning indicators; prepare regular progress reports, learning briefs, case studies, and inputs to knowledge products; and support reviews and evaluations.
• 6. Support Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer
• Share technical knowledge with UNICEF colleagues, government counterparts, implementing partners, and community actors through practical guidance, mentoring, and learning sessions.
• Document good practices and implementation lessons in formats that can be used by local partners and future volunteers, including National UN Volunteers where applicable.
• Indicative Outputs
• An updated CBDx operational framework, SOP package, and implementation playbook aligned with the 7 Cs model.
• Common delivery-platform standards and a regularly updated performance-monitoring approach for target locations.
• Structured and localized content pathways suitable for Learning Passport and offline delivery modalities.
• A strengthened Digital Champions lifecycle package and practical guidance for youth-engagement structures.
• Regular progress reports, learning briefs, case studies, and a sustainability and scale-up note.
• Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant United Nations Volunteers (UNV ) and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles and write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 7 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 5 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level:

• Bachelor's degree in digital innovation, education, international development, information technology, social sciences, public policy or a related field.

Competencies and values:

• ☒ Accountability
• ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
• ☒ Building Trust
• ☠Client Orientation
• ☒ Commitment and Motivation
• ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning.
• ☒ Communication
• ☒ Creativity
• ☒ Empowering Others
• ☒ Ethics and Values
• ☒ Integrity
• ☒ Judgement and Decision-making
• ☒ Knowledge Sharing
• ☒ Leadership
• ☒ Managing Performance
• ☒ Planning and Organizing
• ☒ Professionalism
• ☒ Respect for Diversity
• ☒ Self-Management
• ☒ Technological Awareness
• ☒ Vision
• ☒ Working in Teams

Skills and experience:

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into practical systems, delivery models, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), playbooks, and implementation tools.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder programmes involving government, UN entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, and other partners.
• Experience with digital platforms, content-management systems, learning technologies, and online or offline delivery approaches.
• Experience in youth engagement and participation programming, preferably related to digital inclusion, skills development, or community-based programming.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, communication, analytical, and report-writing skills, with a data-driven approach to performance improvement.
• Understanding of gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and equity considerations in programme design and delivery.
• Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is desirable; experience in Sierra Leone or West Africa and previous work with UNICEF or another UN entity are assets.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Communication, advocacy, public information, Digital and social media, Education

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