Vacancy Announcement
Advisor to the Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative for
The Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative – Sustainable Growth Cluster
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 Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative aims to strengthen an enabling environment for cross-border digital trade, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and at the EAC level. Focal aspects of the project are:
- Capacity building for companies, intermediary organizations and other stakeholders looking to utilise e-Commerce to increase sales
- Improving the regulatory and business environment for digital trade, including the implementation of national and regional (EAC) e-Commerce strategies. Particular pillars for implementation of PeCI in Rwanda include increasing trust in e-Commerce, advising on national regulations for e-Commerce and developing an e-Payment ecosystem conducive for the facilitation of cross-border e-Commerce
- Exchange on innovative approaches (including on increasing environmental sustainability) for improving participation by MSMEs in digital trade
The main project office is in Eschborn, Germany with regional offices in the respective countries.
Location: Kigali
Fixed term: June 2023 to December 2025
Position: One (1).
A. Responsibilities
The Advisor to the Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative (PeCI) in Rwanda will perform the following responsibilities:
1. Technical:
- Establish and manage collaboration between PeCI and stakeholders in Rwanda
- Gather and disseminate relevant information to stakeholders in Rwanda, East Africa, and Europe
- Contribute to and lead elements of PeCI’s technical advisory to relevant partners and stakeholders on facilitating cross-border e-Commerce in Rwanda
2. Project Management:
- Ensuring that the activities are closely coordinated with the programmes related to e-Commerce in Rwanda, East Africa, Germany and worldwide
- Support actively the Monitoring & Evaluation efforts of the programme
- Support effective communication of the Initiative and network proactively with relevant stakeholders
- Support financial planning, monitoring, and reporting for the project in Rwanda
- Manage and steer the engagements of short-term experts engaged by PeCI to implement activities in Rwanda
- Contribute actively to reports (regular and ad-hoc), PR materials, requests from GIZ HQ and for the preparation of political and economic delegations
3. Administrative:
- Ensure that logistical and administrative elements of the project run smoothly and aligned to existing processes
The Advisor performs and supports the following tasks:
B. Tasks
1. Technical Advisory
- Establish and manage collaboration between PeCI and stakeholders in Rwanda
- Contribute to technical advisory to relevant partners and stakeholders on facilitating e-Commerce in Rwanda, with a particular focus on building sustainably the e-Commerce capacities of SMEs and intermediary organizations, increasing trust in e-Commerce in Rwanda, and improving the e-Payments ecosystem
- Gather and disseminate relevant information on Rwanda-specific aspects of the project
- Align specific needs in Rwanda with the overall/regional goal of the Initiative
- Liaison with relevant e-Commerce platforms and associations
2. Communication and networking
- PR and communication of PeCI in Rwanda
- Event management: identify appropriate events for engagement and manage/assist in the management of events for the Initiative
- Relationship management of established contacts with companies and other stakeholders
- Establishing and maintaining contacts with all other relevant stakeholders
- Representing the Initiative within Rwanda
- Document approaches, implementation, and results and distribute/present them
3. Finance and Accounting
- Assist in preparation of budget planning for the Initiative in Rwanda
- Support reporting to headquarters and the commissioning party, monitor output-related budget allocations and expenses
- Manage and monitor the expenses of any partner organisation supported through a local subsidy agreement
- Manage financial aspects of the Initiative in Rwanda
- Check travel expense statements of staff for approval
- Check requests for funds before release
4. Administration
- Take responsibility for administrative tasks according to GIZ rules and regulations (P+R), including assisting in and autonomously preparing bookings, bidding procedures, contracts of experts / external consultants and ensuring documentation of the procedures
- Be responsible for logistical aspects of project activities (meetings, workshops etc.)
5. Project management, monitoring and evaluation
- Monitoring and evaluation of the achievements of the Initiative indicators
- Support to regular and ad-hoc reporting, PR requests as well as requests from GIZ HQ and for the preparation of political and economic delegations
- Ensure that knowledge generated by the Initiative is captured and disseminated as appropriate
- Actively support the preparation of fact sheets, web pages, presentations, articles for GIZ intranet and other publications for presenting the programme to the public
- Guide, liaise with, and support consultants working for the programme on specific topics; ensure quality management and control of the services and tasks delivered
- Operational Planning and follow up on an ongoing basis with all counterparts
- Cooperate closely with other initiatives (GIZ projects)
- Support and execution of any other tasks assigned by the management
C. Required qualifications
Qualifications and Professional experience
- University degree in Commerce, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Trade, Information Technology or related field. Post-graduate qualification preferred
- At least three years of professional experience in the field of trade, logistics, private sector development, digitalisation, or sales – ideally in the private sector. Experience with cross-border trade is highly desirable
- Strong knowledge of digital modernization in Africa and of Rwanda’s digital ecosystem
- Excellent organizational and coordination skills. Project management skills and experience would be a strong asset
- Experience in the administration of a project or in an office
- Ability to work independently, remotely, and with minimal supervision, structure tasks, and to become familiar with new topics quickly and comprehensively
- General understanding of financial planning and accounting
- Experience with digital payments and regional payment systems would be an asset
- Excellent writing and communication skills and a great interest in ICT and digitalisation
- Flexible and able to work under time constraints
- Business fluency in English is vital. Knowledge of German and/or French would be an advantage
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and high commitment to integrity
- Skills in business planning, financial management, and project management are a strong asset
- Good working fluency with ICT and computer applications (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Teams)
- Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management
Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) until 23rd May 2023, by e-mail to [email protected]. 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
GIZ Office Rwanda reserves all rights!!
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