Mobile Computing Associate - Circular Innovation and Experimentation
Organizational Context
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone operates with a people-first, human rights-based approach, aligning with the 2030 Agenda and national development plans. Its focus is on reducing poverty, enhancing justice, peace, and resilience through sustainable development and inclusive governance. UNDP leverages global partnerships and provides technical support to ensure national ownership for lasting outcomes. The organization is actively involved in innovation and digital transformation, specifically through the timbuktoo UniPod and the Samsung Mobile Circularity Initiative.
Job Purpose
This role supports UNDP Sierra Leone's innovation and digital transformation initiatives, particularly the Samsung Mobile Circularity Initiative. The initiative aims to empower youth with skills in mobile technology, electronics repair, refurbishment, and e-waste management within a circular economy framework. The position requires providing entry-level administrative and financial support to ensure the effective implementation of project activities, maintain clear documentation, and keep deliverables on track. This involves coordinating across various stakeholders including the UniPod, UNDP teams, universities, service providers, and participating innovators to facilitate project success and achieve its objectives.
Responsibilities
The role involves providing comprehensive support across several key areas. In Innovation and Prototyping, the associate will assist young innovators in translating concepts into testable experiments and early prototypes, offering hands-on guidance on electronics and mobile computing, and documenting technical observations. For Mobile Device and Electronics Learning, support will be given to practical demonstrations, supervised diagnostics, troubleshooting, and safe disassembly/reassembly of devices, promoting repair and refurbishment. Support for Circular Innovation Clubs includes providing technical troubleshooting, assisting with experimentation planning, conducting mentoring sessions, and identifying local environmental challenges related to electronics and e-waste. Core Engineering and Technical Support focuses on delivering assistance in basic electronics, circuit testing, hardware architectures, microcontrollers, and facilitating hardware prototyping, soldering, and digital fabrication, while embedding circular design principles. Training, Documentation, and Equipment Support involves assisting facilitators, developing technical notes, maintaining records of experiments, and ensuring user safety. Finally, in Circular Economy and Responsible Technology, the associate will integrate repair and reuse pathways into learning activities, encourage consideration of product lifecycles and environmental impact, and support awareness campaigns on e-waste and sustainable electronics.
Work Experience
A minimum of one month of required experience is specified, with a preference for one year of relevant experience. Desired areas of experience include electronics, microcontrollers, embedded systems, sensors, hardware troubleshooting, mobile device repair, soldering, prototyping, Internet of Things (IoT), digital fabrication, electronic waste (e-waste), or circular economy principles.
Skills
The role requires a hands-on interest in electronics, computer hardware, and engineering experimentation, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to diverse audiences. Essential competencies include curiosity, practical problem-solving, a willingness to learn through experimentation, basic laboratory discipline, and a commitment to safety. Good documentation and communication skills, collaborative abilities with young innovators and multidisciplinary teams, and a strong interest in sustainable technology and the circular economy are also crucial. Expertise in audio-visual content, innovation, foresight, and change management is beneficial.