3 Job Positions at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 6 November 2022)

3 Job Positions at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 6 November 2022)

Associate Project Manager in charge of Startups Funding and Investment at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 6 November 2022)

Terms of Reference

Recruitment 

Associate Project Manager in charge of Startups Funding and Investment 

• Position: Associate Project Manager in charge of Startups Funding and Investment 

• Duration: One (1) year, renewable

• Location: Kigali, Rwanda

• Deadline: November 6th, 2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2) 

 About Smart Africa

The Smart Africa Alliance is a partnership among African countries adhering to the Smart Africa Manifesto (herein after referred to as “the Manifesto”), the African Union (AU Commission, AUDA, specialized institutions and Regional Economic Communities), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Private Sector, Academic and Research Institutions.

The Smart Africa Alliance (or Smart Africa) is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through the usage of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

On 30th-31st January 2014, the Smart Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa beyond just the 7 original signatories at the Summit to all African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 32 African countries that represent 815+ million people.

The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the center of the continental and national socio-economic development of Member States. This means increasing access to ICT solutions, improving accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT, promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication, strengthening the private sector, leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development.

The Smart Africa Alliance as an organization is the framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Manifesto, designed to make it actionable. The Smart Africa Alliance is not a profit-oriented organization.

The Africa’s Blueprint for ICT Start-ups and Innovation ecosystems

Tech Startups and innovation ecosystems development was identified in 2019 by the Smart Africa Alliance Member States as the top priority flagship project to be implemented. To meet this priority, Smart Africa has activated the “ICT Start-ups and Innovation ecosystems for Africa” flagship project championed by Tunisia.

In close cooperation with a range of key public and private sector stakeholders and partners, the Republic of Tunisia, supported by the Smart Africa Secretariat, developed the “Africa’s Blueprint for ICT start-ups and Innovation ecosystems” aiming to support African countries by giving concrete policy and strategic recommendations and creating the best ecosystems for the birth, growth and success for African tech-startups.

Based on the outputs of the blueprint and its recommendations, Smart Africa identified three (3) main areas of focus:

1. Policy frameworks: support African countries with the development of policy and legal frameworks (Startup Acts) that are aiming to initiate and/or boost and accelerate the development of their startups and innovation ecosystems.
2. Investment and funding: facilitate the access to sufficient, suitable, affordable investment and funding for the African startups (Bloc Smart Africa Fund as the first building bloc).
3. Ecosystem support: assist with the development of the broader ecosystem including the startup support organizations (innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, startup studios for example).

Katapult Africa 

Smart Africa is partnering with Katapult, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), and Norrsken to implement the Katapult Africa Accelerator Program. The Program’s main objectives are to accelerate impact tech startups in Africa, to mobilize a surrounding ecosystem of investors, corporates, and institutions as well as to create significant positive societal and environmental impact on the continent.

The target groups are start-ups, and SMEs with high potential growth in agri-tech and climate-tech in Rwanda and the wider African region with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The targets of the Program are:

• In total an estimated 11-12,000 jobs (direct and indirect)
• Around 200 start-ups capacitated through the Katapult Africa Accelerator Program and the Angel Investor network.
• Around 300 angel investors mobilized,
• USD 13-20 million invested in the start-ups through a planned investment fund, funded by the private sector and institutional investors.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Manager in charge of Startups Funding and Investment to support the Katapult Africa program implementation and African technology driven startups with investment and funding.

Responsibilities include:

• Support assessment and identification of a pipeline of Acceleration/investment ready Startups
• Coordination of analysis and assessment study/reports to help mapping and evaluating the investment landscape in Africa. The objective is to identify relevant potential investment actors: VCs, Governments funds, angel investors networks, acceleration programs,
• Coordination and facilitation of the involvement with Smart Africa initiatives (SADA and others) in the Katapult Africa program
• Involvement and facilitation of Smart Africa networks and stakeholders (support programs, mentors/experts, Governments, investors) through workshops and thematic meetups and stakeholders outreach activities (both physical and virtual)
• Project support activities including attending project coordination meetings, project planning and documentation; assistance with implementation resources, monitoring, and reporting on project progress
• Support joint communication and dissemination activities for the project through Smart Africa communication channels and networks.
• Coordinate Smart Africa initiatives in favour of Startups capital mobilization
• Coordinate Smart Africa initiatives to support VCs and acceleration programs on the continent.
• Design and document Smart Africa evolving strategy related to startups funding, including produce relevant slides, presentations, and key messaging.
• Review and prepare analysis and research on the Startups Funding field, using regional and global resources including academia and industry.
• Any other assignments or projects, which will be assigned from time to time by the leadership of Smart Africa.

Key qualifications 

Education: 

• A Master’s degree in finance, business or any other related field

Professional experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in investment, startups funding, etc.
• Experience working with successful acceleration programs and/or VCs
• Good knowledge of African Tech Startups Ecosystem dynamics, actors and challenges specifically those related to funding and investment
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and solve problems quickly and effectively
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English
• Strong competence in the use of standard software productivity tools (such as Microsoft Office Suite or others).

General attributes and skills: 

• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels;
• Creativity and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work in a team;
• Strong communication skills

Languages: 

• Excellent Knowledge and Fluency in French and English.
• A good working knowledge in another language (Portuguese) will be an added advantage.

Duration of the assignment

The appointment will be for one (1) year renewable subject to availability of fund and performance review.

Reporting requirements 

The Project Manager will report directly to the Unit Manager in charge of Technology-driven Entrepreneurship in the Directorate of Digital Transformation and Services.

Application Instructions and Deadline

Candidates should send the following documents to the following email address: [email protected], with mention of “Associate PM in charge of Startups Funding and Investment” in the subject line:

• A detailed CV with 3 contacts of professional referees.

• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the responsibilities and requirements for this position.
• Copies of academic degree, professional certificates, and other relevant training certificates

The deadline for submitting applications is November 6th,2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time.

Only selected candidates for interview will be contacted.

Any late application will be automatically rejected.

 

Communication Officer in charge of Start-ups Ecosystems at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 6 November 2022)

Terms of Reference

Recruitment

Communication Officer in charge of Start-ups Ecosystems

• Position: Communication Officer in charge of Start-ups Ecosystems 

• Duration: One (1) year, renewable

• Location: Kigali, Rwanda

• Deadline: November 6th, 2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2) 

About Smart Africa

SMART Africa is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government and a wide range of stakeholders including the private sector, international non-government organisations, and academia to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through affordable access to Broadband and usage of Information and Communications Technologies.

The Smart Africa agenda is led by visionary Heads of State who believe in ICT’s power for the advancement and betterment of the African continent. This agenda will lead Africa to the 04th industrial revolution, using the transformative power of ICTs through a successful implementation and deployment of major ICT infrastructure, applications, services, and creating local relevant content for Africa while developing a vibrant ICT industry and creating jobs.

Smart Africa aims to put ICT at the Center of the National Socio-economic development agenda of member countries, improve access to ICT, especially Broadband, improve accountability, efficiency and openness through ICT. It promotes the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication while putting the Private Sector first and leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development.

The Africa’s Blueprint for ICT Start-ups and Innovation ecosystems

Tech Startups and innovation ecosystems development was identified in 2019 by the Smart Africa Alliance Member States as the top priority flagship project to be implemented. To meet this priority, Smart Africa has activated the “ICT Start-ups and Innovation ecosystems for Africa” flagship project championed by Tunisia.

In close cooperation with a range of key public and private sector stakeholders and partners, the Republic of Tunisia, supported by the Smart Africa Secretariat, developed the “Africa’s Blueprint for ICT start-ups and Innovation ecosystems” aiming to support African countries by giving concrete policy and strategic recommendations and creating the best ecosystems for the birth, growth and success for African tech-startups.

Based on the outputs of the blueprint and its recommendations, Smart Africa identified three (3) main areas of focus:

1. Policy frameworks: support African countries with the development of policy and legal frameworks (Startup Acts) that are aiming to initiate and/or boost and accelerate the development of their startups and innovation ecosystems.
2. Investment and funding: facilitate the access to sufficient, suitable, affordable investment and funding for the African startups (Bloc Smart Africa Fund as the first building bloc).
3. Ecosystem support: assist with the development of the broader ecosystem including the startup support organizations (innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, startup studios for example).

Innovation Dialogues Europe Africa IDEA D4D Hub project 

The Innovation Dialogues Europe-Africa (IDEA) D4D Hub project aims is to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnerships to support existing digital innovation ecosystems and facilitate collaboration between the two continents in research and innovation in regard to the digital society while promoting sustainable development. The IDEA D4D Hub project supports digital transformation processes in Africa with the aim of ensuring that this digital transformation is based on the values, needs and expectations of society and ensuring that the main challenges hindering a human-centered digital transformation are addressed through joint multi-stakeholder research and innovation.

To achieve this, the project follows a multi-stakeholder approach engaging civil society, academia and others with a particular emphasis on building the capacity of civil society and academia in Africa.

The project is implemented by a consortium of 5 partners: GIZ, Expertise France, BetterPlace Lab, Enabel  and Smart Africa with GIZ as coordinator.  The project is to last 22 months starting from December 2021 to reach the following general and three specific objectives:

General Objectives: To boost inter-African and African-European multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration in the digital economy and society by:

• Supporting and strengthening the role of ICT/digitalization stakeholders, precisely civil society and academia, to engage and contribute actively to multi-stakeholder dialogues for human-centered digital transformation
• Supporting the development of joint digital innovations as a response to societal challenges that hinder an inclusive digital society

Specific Objectives: 

• The capacities of civil society and academia are strengthened to support a human-centric digital transformation in the partner countries (Lead: GIZ)
• Key challenges for human-centric digital transformation in the partner countries have been identified and innovative solutions have been co-created (Lead: Enabel)
• Results are disseminated to maximize and sustain the impact of the project (Lead: SAS)

Out of the three specific objectives, the Smart Africa Secretariat oversees the implementation of the activities linked to the communication and dissemination with the objective of maximizing the impact of the project by disseminating the results, promoting ICT and digital economy related initiatives, and promoting different cooperation and financing opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Officer to support the IDEA D4D Hub project implementation and African Startups Ecosystems on the Communication and Dissemination activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop, support and promote IDEA D4D Hub and the broader Smart Africa Startups initiatives goals, including message development, social media content creation, and media outreach.
• Manage and maintain the branding identity for IDEA D4D Hub.
• Develop and disseminate public relations materials that increase IDEA D4D Hub and Smart Africa’s visibility among stakeholders, partners and its broader network.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, bloggers, investors and customer audiences that will help advance IDEA D4D Hub and Smart Africa’s work.
• Identify target audiences and create strategies to engage through effective communications.
• Ensure digital marketing content aligns with our brand’s identity and message, and assist with marketing campaigns as needed
• Work closely with leaders and executives to develop and strengthen employee engagement activities
• Using appropriate techniques and tools to create a wide range of graphics, videos, and layouts for IDEA D4D Hub’s activities, logos, websites, banners, flyers, social media posts, Certificates, emails communications (HTML), and related;
• Work closely with the communication teams of the consortium partners and the EU D4D Hub on the project’s communication and dissemination activities.
• Project support activities including input into project planning and documentation; assistance with implementation resources, monitoring, and reporting on project progress

Other responsibilities will include:

• Any other assignments or projects, which will be assigned from time to time by the leadership of Smart Africa.

Key qualifications 

Education: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field

Professional experience: 

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in communications strategy development and implementation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English
• Knowledge of digital marketing tactics, such as SEO and email marketing
• Good knowledge of African Tech Startups Ecosystem dynamics, actors, and challenges
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and solve problems quickly and effectively
• Experience working in customer relations preferred
• Strong competence in the use of standard software productivity tools (such as Microsoft Office Suite or others).

General attributes and skills: 

• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels
• Creativity and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work in a team
• Strong communication skills

Languages: 

• Excellent Knowledge and Fluency in French and English.
• A good working knowledge in another language (Portuguese) will be an added advantage.

Duration of the assignment

The appointment will be for one (1) year renewable subject to availability of fund and performance review.

Reporting requirements 

The Project Officer will report directly to the Unit Manager in charge of Technology-driven Entrepreneurship in the Directorate of Digital Transformation and Services.

Application Instructions and Deadline

Candidates should send the following documents to the following email address: [email protected], with mention of “Communication Officer in charge of Start-ups Ecosystems” in the subject line:

• A detailed CV with 3 contacts of professional referees.

• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the responsibilities and requirements for this position.
• Copies of academic degree, professional certificates, and other relevant training certificates

The deadline for submitting applications is November 6th,2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time.

Only selected candidates for interview will be contacted.

Any late application will be automatically rejected.

 

 

Project Manager in charge of Data Exchange and Information Systems Interoperability at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 6 November 2022)

Terms of Reference 

Recruitment 

Project Manager in charge of Data Exchange and Information Systems Interoperability 

• Position: Project Manager in charge of Data Exchange and Information Systems Interoperability

• Duration: One (1) year, renewable

• Location: Kigali, Rwanda

• Deadline: November 6th, 2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2) 

 About Smart Africa

The Smart Africa Alliance is a partnership among African countries adhering to the Smart Africa Manifesto (herein after referred to as “the Manifesto”), the African Union (AU Commission, AUDA, specialized institutions and Regional Economic Communities), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Private Sector, Academic and Research Institutions.

The Smart Africa Alliance (or Smart Africa) is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through the usage of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

On 30th-31st January 2014, the Smart Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa beyond just the 7 original signatories at the Summit to all African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 32 African countries that represent 815+ million people.

The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the center of the continental and national socio-economic development of Member States. This means increasing access to ICT solutions, improving accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT, promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication, strengthening the private sector, leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development.

The Smart Africa Alliance as an organization is the framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Manifesto, designed to make it actionable. The Smart Africa Alliance is not a profit-oriented organization.

Data exchange and the Smart Africa Trust Alliance (SATA)

Smart Africa developed the digital ID blueprint as well as a continental trust concept for trusted data sharing – named the Smart Africa Trust Alliance (SATA) – to establish institutional ownership and accountability combined with a data exchange trust framework based on standards and trust assurance mechanisms to facilitate cross-border interactions.

SATA will ensure the interoperability of national data registries and systems following a set of mutually agreed data sharing rules and technical standards by African states to enable cross-border services in various sectors such as health.

Digital Health in Africa

A healthy population yields economic dividends of more productive population and healthy children becoming productive adults. According to World Health Organization Africa Regional Health Report 2014, “It is estimated that for every 10% increase in life expectancy at birth there is a corresponding rise in economic growth of 0.4% per year.” COVID-19 has highlighted the often-perilous state of Africa’s healthcare infrastructure and accelerated digital health interventions. It is essential to deepen the agenda on digital health to strengthen health systems and allow for better coordination and cross-fertilization among countries.

The Smart Africa’s Digital Health flagship project will therefore assist African governments with building ecosystems for virtual and data-driven health and care at national and cross-border levels. The project will support selected strategic initiatives to move the continent’s agenda on accelerating digital health, and hence contributing to the Smart Africa’s objective to develop a digital society.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Manager (PM) in charge of Data Exchange and Information Systems Interoperability with responsibility for management of various strategic projects, in close consultation with stakeholders and partners.

The PM will provide required technical and administrative support to coordinate and implement project activities across Smart Africa Member States while ensuring effective linkages to the Smart Africa core objectives and activities.

The other general duties of the PM will include:

• Establish best practices for implementing data exchange and systems interoperability.
• Oversee the development and use of data systems.
• Establish rules and procedures for data sharing and systems interoperability.
• Design and document Smart Africa evolving strategy, including produce relevant slides, presentations, and key messaging.
• Help Africa bring new allies and strengthen the commitment of existing partners.
• Assist with the management of relevant working groups.
• Establish close collaboration and working arrangements with an interdisciplinary team composed of experts from Governments, Private sector, non-Government organizations and other professional associations, to ensure good coordination, collaboration, and timely conduct of Smart Africa activities.
• Follow through mobilization of funds /resources from other development partners and institutions to complete the financing of the Smart Africa projects.
• Provide periodical reports on the progress of project activities and issues arising.
• Steering processes and communication channels with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Planning (also collaborate), executing and reviewing workshops, pre-and post-event communication with participants and stakeholders.
• Drawing project budgets.
• Any other assignments which will be assigned from time to time by the management of Smart Africa.

Key qualifications 

Education: 

• A University degree in Computer Systems, Information Technology, Information/Data Systems, Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or other relevant fields.
• A Master’s degree in the related fields is an added advantage

Professional Experience:

• At least Eight (8) years of relevant work experience
• Understanding of the tech policy and regulatory environment in practise for data sharing and management.
• Experience with databases, writing and executing SQL; familiarity with ETL processes
• Experience with computer systems interoperability processes, standards and technologies
• Experience with health IT data format and transport standards including HL7, FHIR, RESTful APIs.
• Experience with digital health development in the government (Ministry of ICT and/or Health) will be an advantage.
• Experience working in multi stakeholder development environments on the African continent with regional, continental and international partners/organizations.
• Proficient knowledge of various project/implementation phases, i.e., discovery, design, build, run.

General attributes and skills: 

• Self-starter with high degree of flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity, ability to work independently and on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively explain strategy and approach to external partners audiences.
• Strong management skills including ability to provide strategic guidance, technical oversight, build strong teams, mentor staff, develop work plans, and manage budgets and project expenditures.
• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels (Government Ministries, development partners, private sector, NGOs and Academia);
• Demonstrated written, analytical, presentation, reporting and computing skills and familiarity with modern communication systems
• Experience in creative writing.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Strong competence in the use of standard software productivity tools (such as Microsoft Office Suite or others).
• A project management professional (PMP) certification will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated business development and strategy knowledge will be an added advantage
• The workstation for this role is Kigali, Rwanda.
• The selected candidate must be ready to start shortly after the hiring process is completed.

Languages: 

• Fluency in both French and English.
• The good working knowledge of another language such as Portuguese or Arabic will be an advantage.

Duration of the assignment

The appointment will be one (1) year renewable subject to availability of fund and performance review.

Reporting requirements 

The PM will report directly to the Unit Manager in charge of Cross-border Digital Trade and Services in the Directorate in charge of Digital Transformation and Services.

Application Instructions and Deadline

Candidates should send the following documents to the following email address: [email protected], with mention of “PM in charge of Data Exchange and Information Systems Interoperability” in the subject line:

• A detailed CV with 3 contacts of professional referees.
• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the responsibilities and requirements for this position.
• Copies of academic degree, professional certificates, and other relevant training certificates

The deadline for submitting applications is November 6th,2022 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time.

Only selected candidates for interview will be contacted.

Any late application will be automatically rejected.