TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR EXPERTS FOR THE SINGLE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT (SPIU) FOR THE RWANDA DIGITAL ACCELERATION PROJECT
1. Background
Rwanda has distinguished itself as a country that is deeply committed to leveraging digital transformation as a means to accelerate growth and reduce poverty. Government is committed to using digitally enabled solutions, wherever possible, to leapfrog traditional approaches and support innovation in service delivery. Beginning as early as 2000, Rwanda began charting an ambitious course for achieving rapid digitization, through a series of five-year plans – culminating in the SMART Rwanda Master Plan. These policies have resulted in the progressive roll-out of digital infrastructure, impressive public e-services expansion (though from a very low base), as well as initiatives to support digital skills and to position Rwanda as a regional ICT hub, underpinned by government institutions and leadership committed to this agenda. Today, Rwanda continues to articulate ambitious strategies in relation to many of these areas.
The Government of Rwanda (GoR) is set to receive funding from the World Bank (WB) to accelerate country-wide digital transformation, as well as facilitate Rwanda’s integration in the emerging regional digital market. The proposed “Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project” project (henceforth referred to as the ‘the project’) will expand digital adoption, bringing more Rwandans online by addressing the major barriers that dampen demand for digital services and spearheading a series of interventions that promote digital inclusion. The project will also enable Rwanda to leverage critical enabling digital platforms and data-driven solutions to improve the efficiency of public service delivery and expand the adoption of digitally enabled services. Finally, the project will also increase Rwanda’s capacity to support digital innovation and productivity gains, by strengthening the local digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting tech firms to move from start-ups to growth, and adopting digital technology in key sectors.
The Project will be coordinated through the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), with Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) as the Project implementing institution. A dedicated Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) is thus being set up and operationalized at RISA that will have overall responsibility for supporting project preparation and implementation.
RISA seeks to hire a series of high-performing and qualified experts to fill the positions of the SPIU, who will drive the successful and effective preparation and delivery of this project. The job profiles, roles, and responsibilities, and reporting requirements of the said consultants are indicated below.
2. Summary of Needed Experts
Experts hired will be under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RISA. The consultants will work in close collaboration with the Management and Staff of RISA and MINICT, as well as many other key project stakeholders throughout the project cycle – from identification through to implementation – supporting planning, contracting, oversight, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and project reporting on progress.
Given the coordination role played by RISA on the digital agenda in Rwanda and the coordination role that the SPIU will play in the relation to the project, all successful candidates will need to possess strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
To be successful, experts will also need to possess strong technical expertise in their respective fields and excellent project management skills, including a track record of managing large and complex donor-funded projects.
Below are detailed job roles and required qualifications for the different experts which the SPIU currently plans to hire as part of its initial set-up.
3. Job Profiles and Description
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Job Profiles for the Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project
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Job title
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Job profile (Needed Qualifications, Skills and Experience) |
Duties and Responsibilities
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Number of Positions
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1
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SPIU Coordinator
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Selection Criteria:
- Master’s degree preferred (minimum acceptable is a bachelor’s degree) in Telecommunications, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Economics, Business Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent.
- At least 8 years of relevant work experience in managing projects/programs, for a bachelor’s degree graduate and at least 5 years of relevant work experience for a master’s degree graduate.
- A globally recognized professional certificate in Project Management (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2 among others) is desirable.
Technical competencies:
- Track record of effectively leading and managing large teams, complex and technical projects of similar nature, size, and scope;
- Proven ability to engage with complex policy and strategic issues is essential;
- Demonstrates sound technical knowledge of Rwandan’s ICT and Innovation sector, including familiarity with issues tackled by the project;
- Proven ability to develop and sustain highly effective relationships with development partners and other stakeholders, adopting a highly inclusive and collaborative approach, building strong networks with the range of stakeholders;
- Demonstrated experience in development and management of government or development partner funded programs/projects (previous experience of managing WB-funded, and digital development project is preferred);
- Familiarity with policies and procedures of donors would be an added asset, and prior experience of WB-funded project an added advantage;
- Staff supervisory experience and demonstrated excellent team management, leadership, communication, and organizational skills;
- Demonstrable working knowledge of fiduciary operations in program/ project management (Financial Management; and Procurement);
- Experience in implementation and oversight of projects and programs and in the Monitoring and Evaluation of these programs;
- Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to think strategically and innovatively about the role of digital technologies for socio-economic development and for transformation in other sectors of the economy;
- Strong business judgment and analytical decision making, analyzing facts and data to support sound and logical decisions.
General Competencies (management, leadership, communication, problem-solving, monitoring, coordination, stakeholder management, etc.)
- Strongly results-oriented and able to manage a complex and multi-faceted workload with minimal supervision;
- Ability to lead and work in multi-disciplinary teams;
- Excellent team-building, interpersonal relationship management and negotiation skills, and ability to resolve conflicts constructively;
- Demonstrated ability to listen and integrate ideas from diverse views, create partnerships and collaborate with others, advocate and influence, resolve conflicts constructively, and work effectively across boundaries even without active guidance from the management;
- Ability to maintain a strategic overview and manage priorities yet be detail-orientated within a dynamic, fast-paced environment;
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills;
- Strong problem-solving abilities;
- Ability to make forward-looking and practical decisions and operate effectively in a results-oriented and implementation culture;
- Fluency in English is essential;
- Solid IT skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
- Should demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and integrity.
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- Manage the SPIU and provide effective steer in the development and implementation of the project;
- Maintain a strategic overview of all aspects of project design and implementation (fiduciary, M&E, technical, etc.) ensuring coherence and quality assurance, as well as timely delivery of key documents and outputs by the SPIU, with input from other SPIU members.
- Lead the needs identification, planning and budgeting process for the funded activities to be implemented, and ensure that all activities are planned, budgeted for, and executed in line with project agreements in a timely manner, meeting key project milestones established;
- Coordinate and manage the hired team of SPIU experts and specialists, by ensuring appropriate performance management systems in line with GoR and RISA policies, procedures, and guidelines in place;
- Ensure the SPIU team’s effective delivery of the project against the Financing Agreements, including the formulation and periodic review and update of the Project Implementation Plan, as needed, furnishing requisite reporting to the WB;
- Ensure adherence to WB guidelines and procedures and effective disbursement of project funds;
- Establish and maintain effective, inclusive, and collaborative coordination and working relationships with development partners and other key project stakeholders, serving as the main interlocutor on issues related to the overall project design and implementation;
- Promote activities enhancing awareness of the project and contribute to knowledge-sharing, representing the project in relevant internal and external for an as and when needed;
- Design an overarching risk mitigation plan for the project and regularly review the performance to ensure that risks are adequately identified, and that mitigation is effectively and promptly applied, including but not limited to those related to fiduciary, stakeholder engagement, environmental and social aspects of the project;
- Ensure timely, high-quality project reporting in line with RISA’s agreements with its development partners and stakeholders;
- Support the implementation of recommendations from the development partners and stakeholders’ assessments of the Project;
- Staying abreast of sectoral-wide development that may reasonably be expected to impact the project, including but not limited to action taken by Government or other donor-funded activities in the sector;
- Ensure delivery against cross-cutting project priorities and commitments related to citizen engagement, gender and inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, etc.;
- Ensure that all requisite processes for smooth project implementation and robust supervision are established, including but not limited to drafting and managing ad hoc updates to the Project Implementation Manual, establishing an M&E and reporting system, formalizing relationships with project beneficiaries and stakeholder, calling and preparing steering committee meetings, with the support of the wider SPIU team.
Reporting:
The SPIU Coordinator will report to the CEO of RISA.
Deliverables:
- Project Implementation Manual (within first three months of contract signature)
- Progress report (every month)
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4. Duty Station
The experts will be stationed at the RISA-SPIU office in Kigali. Ad hoc home-based work may be permitted, in the context of Covid-19 but will be based on wider Government policy on this matter.
5. Appointment – duration
The appointment will be on a contract basis of 1 Year renewable based on need, performance, and funds availability.
6. Appointment – type
If not otherwise stated, contracting is expected to be full time.
7. Equipment and services
The project will provide a furnished and equipped office with a computer and accessories, internet service in the office, and airtime for mobile telephone.
Application Guidelines:
Interested experts should apply online (recruitment@risa.rw) and upload application documents including an Application letter, Curriculum Vitae, Identification card, copies of degree certificates, and professional certificates.
Only online applications shall be considered, and the folder containing application documents MUST be saved under the name of the job position applied for.
For any inquiries/clarification use the above email.
Address all applications to the Chief Financial Officer of the Rwanda Information Society Authority.
Deadline for application: Friday, December 11th, 2020.
