The Opportunity
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Bhutan and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and future we share. Save the Children expects that anyone associated with it abides by its Safeguarding and other Zero Tolerance Policies.
The Technology for Development (T4D) Specialist is responsible for setting the strategic direction and driving the integration of T4D, digital solutions/innovative approaches across Save the Children (SC) programmes in Nepal.
The primary purpose of this role is to define how T4D interventions can accelerate programme progress and impact, acting as an enabler to strengthen and scale SC’s work for children. This includes innovating, ideating, and providing practical, nuanced technology-enabled solutions that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and reach of our programmes. The role holder will provide programmatic inputs and clearly articulate how technology can address key development challenges, establishing clear results pathways and impact linkages.
The post holder will work closely with colleagues across Save the Children Nepal, as well as the broader global movement, including thematic and cross-thematic experts, new business development teams, and T4D counterparts. This collaboration will ensure that existing and future projects appropriately integrate digital and technology solutions. The role is also responsible for ensuring programme quality and providing technical guidance across a diverse portfolio of projects, including advisory support to field-based staff.
Where required, the post holder will also provide hands-on support, mentoring, and coaching to partners and field teams to strengthen their understanding and application of T4D approaches, while contributing to capacity-strengthening initiatives.
In addition, the role will contribute to partnership development and new business opportunities that advance T4D, digital solutions, and digital innovation agendas within SC’s programmes. The post holder will serve as the lead technical expert for the design and implementation of digital products, services, and approaches, proactively identifying and pursuing opportunities to strengthen SC’s and partners’ capacities in this area.
The role will also ensure that T4D learning, research, and evaluation findings are effectively translated into advocacy, continuous improvement, and future programme design. The post holder will play a representational and advocacy role with the Government of Nepal, donors, and key national and international stakeholders, while working closely with SC members and the wider movement to enhance the visibility and influence of the Country Office.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work beyond the standard role profile and adjust working hours as required. As a member of the Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT) in Nepal, the role shares collective responsibility for the overall strategic direction and coordination of the Country Office.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategic Direction (20%)
- Take a lead role in formulating the CO’s vision for long-term programming in T4D in Nepal, including the development of its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the T4D and digital sectors.
- Contribute to Country Annual Planning and Country Annual Reporting by providing oversight and facilitating the compilation of T4D reports.
- Monitor the T4D portfolio (at the country and field levels) and ensure alignment with the CSP and programme priorities.
- Contribute technical insights and support alignment with SCI’s global thematic initiatives, global breakthroughs, and Theory of Change.
- Becoming conversant with regional and global preferred digital programming tools and systems to support their use in local projects and programmes.
- With guidance from the PDQI Director and Senior PDQ Advisor, identify funding opportunities and support the development of proposals for donors on T4D interventions and initiatives.
- Provide technical leadership for proposals, including contributing to logframe drafting and writing technical sections of the narrative related to T4D/digital solutions.
- Promote the use of SCI’s DigiGuide during the design phase to guide the selection and integration of digital approaches in proposal designs.
- Support the PDQI Director in delivering the fundraising strategy by developing funding strategies and proposals to expand the T4D/digital solutions and digital innovation portfolio in line with strategic priorities and technical best practices from a range of sources. This will include preparing pitches and concept notes to engage a wide range of donors for both reactive and proactive fundraising efforts.
- Maintain regular engagement with existing donors and SC Members and contribute to identifying potential new sources of funding for T4D initiatives.
- Support the identification of diverse T4D partners to enable ideation, innovation, and programme development, while building and strengthening T4D networks to enhance partnerships and positioning for new and anticipatory funding opportunities.
- Provide technical support to project staff and Technical Advisors/Specialists on the use of T4D/digital strategies, tools, and techniques to make their projects more efficient, scalable, and effective.
- Work closely with Technical Advisors/Specialists and understand thematic priorities to advise on the most appropriate technological solutions to the challenges our projects aim to address.
- For projects with significant T4D/digital components, provide hands-on support, guidance, and follow-up.
- Participate in, contribute to, and organize technical discussions/meetings with technical staff in the field (SC and partners), as well as annual Programme Learning Groups (PLGs) and Annual Programme Review meetings.
- Develop, revise, and roll out T4D/digital-related guidelines, SOPs, tools, and guidance documents.
- Ensure that T4D/digital interventions promoted through our programmes are of high quality and sustainable, to maximise impact.
- Undertake monitoring visits to project sites to monitor implementation quality and follow up on action plans, jointly with other TAs or Field/POD colleagues.
Programme Development and Design (20%)
Thematic Advisory and Technical Quality Assurance (25%)
Evidence, Learning & Innovation (10%)
- Participate in periodic technical project and programme review meetings and thematic communities of practice workshops to review progress, challenges, best practices, lessons learned, etc.
- Contribute to efforts to communicate externally about SC’s capacity for technology and digital solutions/innovation, and represent SC at forums focused on technology and digital innovation.
- Continuously monitor ongoing T4D initiatives within and outside SCI and champion the use of standard processes and best practices in implementing T4D solutions; adapt technological solutions based on, among other things, new technological developments, communities’ knowledge of and access to technology, and learning about what works.
- In coordination with the Communications and Campaigns Manager and Senior Knowledge Management Coordinator, document lessons learned, evidence, and promising practices/knowledge products for internal and external audiences, and provide thought leadership for internal and external consumption to inform project design, implementation, and advocacy.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to utilize and disseminate technical materials, learning, and best practices through project design, workshops, targeted communication materials, and other knowledge-sharing initiatives, both internally and externally.
Representation and Policy Influencing (10%)
- Support opportunities to showcase SC’s T4D work through internal forums/meetings at the regional and global levels, and externally with relevant stakeholders.
- Support the PDQI Director and Senior PDQ Advisor in defining Save the Children’s advocacy and policy-influencing agenda in the T4D/digital sector.
- Maintain working relationships with relevant Ministries and Departments and their T4D/digital programmes; connect Save the Children’s flagship initiatives with government and other non-government interventions.
- Maintain regular engagement with counterparts in donors and SC Members, relevant technical working groups and take the initiative to identify potential new sources of funding for T4D/digital/innovation.
- Support networking with T4D/digital partners (non-profit/for-profit) and contribute to identifying potential collaboration opportunities.
- Contribute to effective representation in national, regional, and international networks and fora related to T4D/digital, articulating Save the Children’s position, policy, and strategy.
Capacity Building (15%)
- Build capacity and understanding of SCI staff and partners in T4D, digital solutions, monitoring tools, and the quality implementation of digital solutions.
- Provide tailored support to projects with larger T4D/digital components to ensure there is a transfer of capacity to POD and partner staff.
Other Duties
- Other tasks as requested by the Senior PDQ Advisor or PDQI Director.
- Support Save the Children humanitarian responses where appropriate, ensuring timely and quality responses in line with international standards and technical best practice.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Master’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, International Development or any other ICT/T4D related field.
- Minimum 7 years of demonstrated experience in any area of expertise, of which at least 5 years directly relevant work experience in T4D or similar digital solutions and implementation role at an international NGO or similar organisations.
- Track record of T4D or similar digital solutions strategy and product roadmap development.
Required No.(s): 1 (Nepalese Citizen Only)
Contract length: Fixed Term
Location: Country Office kathmandu
The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Application Information
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.
Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
