2 Job Positions at GIZ Rwanda: (Deadline 21 May 2022)

Externally Vacancy Announcement for

Technical Advisor for the Digitizing Global Trade (DGT) Project in Rwanda 

of the German Alliance for Trade Facilitation

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

The global programme “Alliances for Trade Facilitation” is being implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The programme focuses on carrying out trade facilitation projects in developing and emerging markets in cooperation with businesses, associations and chambers of industry and commerce as well as customs authorities and ministries. The goal is to streamline and lower the costs of customs processes within the framework of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

The German Alliance for Trade Facilitation is pursuing a new project called Digitizing Global Trade (DGT) which will be implemented in five countries, out of which one is Rwanda (besides Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya). The DGT project is part of the develoPPP.de programme. Implemented in close cooperation with Deutsche Post DHL, the project aims at digitizing trade in Rwanda over a three-year timeframe from 2021 until 2023. It pursues the goal to enhance trade facilitation through the efficient movement of goods, consistent with the main components of the WTO TFA. This is achieved by businesses providing digital cargo information on goods prior to arrival to border agencies, potentially using blockchain technology, enabling them to use this data for risk assessment at the earliest possible opportunity and targeted controls in a more focused and timely manner.

Location: Kigali

Part time: July 2022 (12 months with possibility for extension). The role may be expanded to full time, if needed

Position: (1) one

A. Responsibilities:

The Technical Advisor for DGT is responsible for:

• the implementation of the Component 1 ‘Strengthening Pre-Arrival Processing for Express Shipments” of the DGT project in Rwanda in close cooperation with the public and private sector partners and stakeholders and in regular consultation with project managers and respective component leaders
• the professional expert consultation of Rwandan partners and target groups in digitizing trade procedures. In particular, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) as well as SMEs
• contributions to results monitoring of the DGT project
• maintaining good communication and information flow between all involved institutions, counterparts and GIZ

B. Tasks

The Technical Advisor for DGT performs the following tasks:

1. Consultation of the partner institutions

The job holder

• contributes to the preparation and implementation of DGT project plans and activities in close consultation with the partners, counterparts, the officer responsible for implementation (DV) and project managers
• leads technical discussions with the partner institutions aimed at implementing digital solutions within the Component 1 ‘Strengthening Pre-Arrival Processing (PAP) for Express Shipments”
• provides professional advice to partner institution(s) in the area of digitizing trade processes, especially on architectural solution and blockchain technology for PAP express shipments
• participate and actively prepare discussions on the design works, the blockchain data governance, and related topics, with the GIZ team and the project partners, with a view to draft a blockchain design proposition
• consults partners from public and private sector on international best practices on use of Blockchain technologies for trade facilitation
• supervises the development and implementation of sub-project plans for Component 1 ‘Strengthening Pre-Arrival Processing for Express Shipments” in Rwanda and activities in close consultation with counterparts
• prepares and implements the coordination processes with Rwanda Revenue Authority, MINICOM, MINICT and other relevant project partners and participants
• prepares and implements workshops, seminars and other events on pre-arrival processing, and other trade facilitation topics related to the activities of the project, with e.g. Rwanda Revenue Authority, MINICOM, MINICT, RDB, and other partners as well as SMEs
• develops and organises quality assurance measures and proposes necessary changes, improvements and initiatives

2. Management and coordination

The job holder

• supports the project managers in implementation, management, monitoring, quality management, evaluation and documentation of the DGT project activities according to the agreements with the partners and with the officer responsible
• has responsibility for the preparation, execution and documentation of training sessions, workshops, forums, team meetings and other project activities together with the Rwandan partners and under the supervision of the sub-project manager
• supports the creation of sub-project budgets and individual work packages and prepares appropriate financial documentation
• supports the project financial planning and the monitoring of the monthly project funding of the sub-project
• recognizes observed bottlenecks in the implementation of the sub-project and recommends alternative management options

3. Communication and networking

The job holder

• promotes cooperation, regular contact and dialogue with project partners
• supports public relations work including the preparation of publications in accordance with GIZ standards, with the approval of the officer responsible and in cooperation with the GIZ country office Rwanda
• ensures the exchange of information with relevant GIZ plans
• cooperates with local communities, relevant organizations, non-governmental entities, and those involved in the sub-projects as well as with other projects to improve and maintain good business relations
• communicates interests and aspirations of local partners, forwards them and ensures the exchange of ideas and information for the benefit of the sub-projects
• actively participates in expert forums, seminars, conferences and other events from relevant subject areas as trade facilitation, customs procedures etc.
• improves the dialogue and exchange between the private sector and public sector in Rwanda, e.g. by organizing public private dialogues and supporting conferences and workshops
• actively engages and fosters peer-to-peer learning with the project managers of the other countries being part of the DGT project

4. Other / additional tasks

The job holder

• undertakes other activities and tasks at the direction of the manager
• ensures the transfer of knowledge for information
• compiles reports, presentation and documents in accordance with GIZ standards
• gathers the necessary data for impact and financial monitoring and communicates with the officer responsible
• registers and archives documents in accordance with the GIZ filing system

C. Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualification

• university degree in IT, trade, economics, logistics or a subject related to customs administration and/or trade facilitation (equivalent to MA/MBA)

Work experience

• at least 5 years of work experience in the area of international trade, IT, logistics
• Minimum 3 years of working experience in leading successful technological implementation projects (Information Systems and IT projects)
• demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the blockchain industry
• working experience with international organisations and/or non-governmental organisations is required
• working experience or demonstrated cooperation experience with the private sector on customs and trade facilitation issues would be an asset
• working experience with smart contract technologies as well as related cryptographic principles would be an asset

Further knowledge / competences

• very good working knowledge of IT and communication technologies (software, telephone, fax, e-mail, internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS-Office incl. MS Teams)
• strong management and organizational skills
• willingness to take regular (foreign) business trips
• very good knowledge of English, good knowledge of French is an asset, ideally German
• qualifies himself/herself according to the requirements of the task area. Appropriate measures are agreed with the manager

How To Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) until 21st May 2022 at 4:00 PM, by e-mail to recruitment-rw@giz.de The email attachment (max. size 2 MB) should be a PDF file. Please quote the job title in the subject

GIZ is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified candidates. This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, in order to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please, let us know if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to take into account when considering your application. Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu

P.O. Box 59, Kigali,

Rwanda

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