The United Nations is seeking a qualified Design Thinking Expert to support programme development under the UN Ethiopia 2025–2030 Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The role focuses on strengthening UN staff capacity to design high-impact, people-centred joint programmes using design thinking methodologies.
Location
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Employment Type
Full Time (Consultancy)
Contract Duration
4 months
Application Deadline
February 10, 2026
Key Responsibilities
Design and deliver a comprehensive design thinking training methodology aligned with the UN Cooperation Framework.
Develop evergreen, practical, and visual training materials for technical and senior UN programme staff.
Facilitate three in-person, two-day design thinking workshops for 30–50 UN staff participants.
Guide UN staff on applying human-centred design, ideation, prototyping, iteration, and agility in programme design.
Integrate tools such as personas, journey mapping, and jobs-to-be-done into training content.
Prepare a final assessment report with recommendations and future training suggestions.
Education Requirement
Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Design, Innovation, or a related field.
A Bachelor’s degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted.
Experience Requirement
Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated expertise in design thinking.
Experience delivering training for international development organizations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Strong understanding of social innovation and design thinking in non-Western contexts.
Experience working in or strong knowledge of the Ethiopian development context is an advantage.
Skills & Competencies
Excellent facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills.
Ability to work under tight deadlines and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
Strong practical and participatory training approach.
Language Requirement
Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
Additional Information
Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a proposed approach, methodology, and work plan.
How to Apply
Apply online through the UN Careers Portal:
https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/270632?language=en
Organization
United Nations (UN)