Individual consultant- Digital Infrastructure Initiatives Expert at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 9 February 2025)

Individual consultant- Digital Infrastructure Initiatives Expert at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 9 February 2025)

Terms of Reference

Recruitment

• Position: IndividualConsultant- Digital Infrastructure Initiatives Expert
• Duration: Fixed Term-1 Year (extendable based on project requirements)
• Location: Kigali, Rwanda
• Deadline: February 09^th2025 at 11:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2)

About SmartAfrica

Africa is reshaping its narrative from one of poverty to progress, showcasing impressive economic growth, technological innovation, and a young population. Nevertheless, digital transformation faces obstacles such as limited access, insufficient investments, and a digital divide, which also offer opportunities for growth through better accessibility, efficiency, and job creation.

Smart Africa is an alliance of 40 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs.

With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of State who seek to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market. Launched in 2013 by seven (7) African Heads of State, the Alliance now has 39 member countries, representing over 1 billion people and over 50 Private Sector members committed to the vision and the advancement of Africa.

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.

Visit https://smartafrica.org/ for more information about Smart Africa

II. Project Background

The African Union Commission, the European Union Commission, Smart Africa Alliance (SAS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have engaged in the creation of a political initiative entitled the EU-AU Data Flagship with the main objective of unlocking the social and economic potential of data across the African continent and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights. The flagship is designed to work on five pillars of intervention: data policy frameworks, data innovation, data infrastructure, data against pandemics and data professionals.

In line with the data infrastructure pillar, Smart Africa in collaboration with GIZ are committed for the development of Digital Infrastructure in Africa, by promoting innovative initiatives in digital infrastructure financing and Continental Connectivity Backbone for Smart Africa Member States. The consultant will work closely with the consultancy firm to be recruited, in crafting a Pan-African guideline for Digital Infrastructure Financing and provide support to two member countries in designing actionable policies for creating dedicated funds to develop digital infrastructure. In addition, the consultant will work with the Smart Africa team in developing the wholistic approach and implementation roadmap towards creating a special purpose vehicle for the Smart Continental backbone.

III. Scope of Work

The consultant will work extensively on

Strategic Guidance:

• Advising the Smart Africa team on the landscape of existing instruments for digital infrastructure financing in Africa and elsewhere as well as the continental connectivity backbone among Smart Africa member states.
• Ensuring the deliverables of the project aligns with the Smart Africa Objectives of developing a practical policy that will help to create a fund for digital infrastructure financing.
• Develop a landscape mapping of all projects across the continent, tackling the missing connectivity links in relation to the Smart Continental Backbone.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Follow up closely with countries to ensure a timely delivery of the project within the grant timelines with respect to the digital infrastructure financing.
• Prepare and update the management of Smart Africa and the Grant managers on the milestones achieved while he/she works closely with the consulting firm to ensure timely project closure.

Feasibility Studies:

Evaluate the economic, technical, and regulatory feasibility for fund establishment, based on the inputs from the consultancy firm and his/her own experience.

Any other assignment within the scope of digital infrastructure that may be assigned to the consultant by the supervisor.

Required Skills

• Expertise in Digital Infrastructure: Proven experience in the digital economy, especially in digital infrastructure development (e.g., broadband, data centers, submarine cables, satellite connectivity, etc.).
• Policy and Fund Management Experience: Familiarity with policy formulation and management of development funds in an African or international context.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of investment models, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and fund-raising for large-scale projects.
• Stakeholder Relations: Track record of working with multilateral organizations, governments, and private investors.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Strong skills in analyzing data, drafting policies, and developing implementable strategies.

Key Deliverables

Oversight and Quality Assurance

Evaluation of Consultancy Outputs:

• Provide detailed assessments of the consultancy firm’s deliverables to ensure they meet the project’s objectives and standards.
• Highlight gaps, inconsistencies, or opportunities for enhancement in outputs like frameworks, feasibility studies, and financial models.

Compliance Reviews:

• Verify that all recommendations, frameworks, and models comply with regional and international best practices, particularly in the African context.

Alignment and Strategic Guidance

Strategic Alignment Reports:

• Ensure that the consultancy firm’s work aligns with your broader vision and the strategic goals of the fund, Smart Africa, and relevant stakeholders.

Coordination Plans:

• Develop and implement processes to align the consultancy firm’s activities with stakeholder expectations, project milestones, and regulatory requirements.

 Stakeholder Engagement Facilitation

Stakeholder Reports:

• Summarize key takeaways and action items from meetings or workshops facilitated by the consultancy firm, ensuring all perspectives are incorporated.

Engagement Monitoring:

• Track the firm’s stakeholder engagement efforts to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness, advising on improvements when needed.

Advisory Recommendations

Strategic Briefings:

• Provide high-level insights and recommendations on the consultancy firm’s proposed strategies, ensuring they are feasible, sustainable, and innovative.

Risk and Opportunity Reports:

• Identify risks or missed opportunities in the consultancy firm’s plans and suggest mitigation or optimization strategies.

Process Oversight and Milestone Monitoring

Workplan Validation:

• Review and approve the consultancy firm’s workplan, ensuring that timelines, deliverables, and dependencies are realistic and well-structured.

Progress Reports:

• Provide bi-weekly or monthly reports summarizing the consultancy firm’s progress, highlighting any deviations from the plan and recommending corrective actions.

Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building

Advisory Sessions:

• Conduct briefings or workshops for your internal team or stakeholders to enhance understanding of complex deliverables, such as financial models or governance frameworks.

Documentation Review:

• Ensure all outputs from the consultancy firm are documented in a clear, accessible, and actionable format for future use by your organization.

Final Assessment and Handover

End-of-Project Report:

• Deliver a final assessment report on the consultancy firm’s performance, including an evaluation of whether project objectives were met and recommendations for future actions.

Continuity Plan:

• Provide guidelines for sustaining and scaling the fund initiative after the consultancy firm’s engagement ends.
• A document detailing a wholistic approach to the success of the Smart Continental Backbone project, including the roadmap and implementation plan to setting up a special purpose vehicle.

Education and Experience requirements

• Advanced degree in Telecommunication, finance, economics, ICT policy, or related fields.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in broadband, digital infrastructure financing and policy development, particularly in African contexts.
• Strong knowledge of public-private partnership models and international best practices.
• Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder engagement and drafting regulatory and policy frameworks.
• Relevant experience in project management.
• Proficiency in written and oral communications skills in both French and English.

Duration of the Assignment

The appointment will be for One (1) Year extendable based on project requirements

Reporting

The consultant will work closely within the digital infrastructure team and report directly to the Smart Africa Secretariat’s Director of Digital Infrastructure, Skills and Empowerment. Frequent updates will be shared with relevant stakeholders from the selected countries.

Duty Station

Smart Africa Secretariat in Kigali, Rwanda.

Application process

• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the ToRs.
• A CV with 3 contact information of referees.
• Send applications to [email protected] with “Individual Consultant – Digital Infrastructure Initiatives Expert”in the subject line.
• Deadline for submission of applications is February 09^th, 2025, at 11:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2)