Terms of Reference for the recruitment of Project Manager, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Position
Project manager in charge of Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy
About Smart Africa
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 affordable access to Broadband and usage of Information and Communications Technologies.
The Transform Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda on 28th-31st October 2013 culminated in the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto document by seven (7) African Heads of States (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso) in which they committed to providing leadership in accelerating socio-economic development through ICT’s.
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 the 54 African countries.
The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 30 African countries that represent 750+ million people. The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the Centre of National Socio-economic development agenda of member countries; improve access to ICT especially Broadband; to improve accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication; to put the Private Sector first, and to leverage ICT to promote sustainable development.
About Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Africa comprises 54 countries with 1.3 billion people, generating over $4 trillion annually in combined consumer and business spending and the world’s youngest population.
Digitalization offers new opportunities to increase intra-African trade and boost the economy (through e-commerce), reduction of red tape and trade costs (through e-government and the digitalization of public services), and enabling Africa to leapfrog and participate in the 4th industrial revolution.
The growth potential has been well documented and can add between 2% and 4% to the GDP of countries that embrace digital trade. Digital information flows—which were practically non-existent just 15 years ago—now exert a larger impact on GDP growth than the centuries-old trade in physical goods, according to a McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, Digital globalization: The new era of global flows.
Despite these opportunities, there are several limitations that African countries continue to face, some of which relate to the lack of cybersecurity infrastructure, lack of data protection legislation and regulation, and low levels of cross border data flow.
Following the formation of SMART Africa and the roadmap articulated in the ‘Smart Africa Manifesto’, recognizing information and communication technology (ICT) as a crucial enabler of growth across all economic sectors, significant achievements have been made over the past six years in enabling ICT, in particular addressing mobile infrastructure and access to the internet.
Internet widespread adoption and integration into our lives over the last 20 years and our increased use of mobile devices in the previous ten years has led to personal data being created and captured than ever before, globally, and across Africa. Higher instances of and transactions with Personal Data have also meant higher risk levels to individuals and their privacy.
However, there remains a need for policies harmonization across the continent to take advantage of the rapid changes in technology that are becoming increasingly affordable for all Africans. Cybersecurity, Personal Data Protection, and Privacy laws, when harmonized, will enhance trust and security in cyberspace and will enable safer intra- and cross border information and data flows, commerce, thereby integrating Africa and moving towards the Single Digital Market.
Position Description
The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Manager (PM) in charge of Cybersecurity and Data Privacy initiatives responsible for the management of various strategic projects, in close consultation with stakeholders and partners.
The PM will lead, coordinate, and implement the defined activities across Smart Africa Member States while ensuring effective linkages to the Smart Africa core objectives and activities.
More precisely, the PM will define and execute global strategies and initiatives on various projects. This includes working on harmonization of policies and regulations to promote business in Africa, data protection and governance, development of a cybersecurity blueprint for Africa, Content development, and funding for pilot projects through collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The PM will also be assigned other Smart Africa projects as required.
The PM will provide 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 primary duties of the Project Manager will include:
- Preparing an annual national Work Plan for submission to the Head of division.
- Working to develop the blueprint for Cyber Security and Data Privacy for Africa
- Planning, supervising, implementing Smart Africa projects/initiatives activities, providing proposals and plans (including work plans, procurement, consultancies, recruitment, logistics, budgeting, and disbursements).
- Establishing close collaboration, working arrangements, partnerships with Governments, the Private sector, Non-Government organizations, Academia, and other professional associations, to ensure good coordination, collaboration, and timely conduct of Smart Africa activities.
- Liaising with government and other key stakeholders to promote enabling ICT policy and regulatory environments that facilitate initiatives under his/her supervision.
- Following through mobilization of funds /resources from development partners and institutions to complete the Smart Africa projects’ financing, especially those under his/her supervision.
- Providing periodical reports on the progress of project activities and issues arising.
- Participating in regional project meetings and workshops, and other activities as required.
Other responsibilities will include:
- Prepare the terms of reference of consultants/institutions that will undertake assignments under the approved annual Work Plan.
- Monitor and supervise the work of consultants, institutions, government staff, and other partners, facilitate meetings, and, as far as possible, ensure the timely and responsive delivery of outputs and reports.
- Provide to institutions/consultants visiting or engaged in assignments, including preparing itineraries, appointments, and assisting with travel, and other logistical arrangements.
- Conduct any other assignments or projects assigned from time to time by the leadership of Smart Africa.
Key qualifications
Education:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Data Protection or Information Law or a related field with recognized experience of at least five years of technical expertise.
- A Masters’ Degree in an Information Security, Privacy, or Information Governance related field and certification in Cyber Security, Data Protection or Information Rights will be an added advantage.
- A Project Management Certification from a recognized International Project Management Certification Body such as the Project Management Institute (PMI).
- Excellent Knowledge and Fluency in both French and English (reading and writing).
- Good working knowledge of another language such as Portuguese or Arabic will be an advantage.
General experience and skills:
- Relevant experience in the field of Policy in areas related to cybersecurity, data protection, data privacy, and data governance, etc.
- Strong management skills including the 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 (Ministry, development partners, private sector, NGOs, and Academia);
- Experience working within project coordination.
- Demonstrated written, analytical, presentation, reporting, and computing skills and familiarity with modern communication systems (internet, worldwide web, email, etc);
- Demonstrated experience with projects of the same nature would constitute an added advantage.
- Good knowledge of matters related to international Data Protection policy, regulation, and implementation.
- 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).
Duration of the assignment
The appointment will be for one year, subject to probationary period and performance, and extendable (renewable) as necessary to reflect the project’s ultimate completion date and subject to availability of funds.
Reporting
The Project Manager will report to the Head of Digital Infrastructure of the Smart Africa Secretariat.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda.
Application Instructions
- A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the ToR;
- A CV with 2 contact information of referees.
You will send your Curriculum Vitae, and cover letter in either French or English.
All the above should be sent to the following email address: to hr@smartafrica.org not later than 11th January 2021, 5:00 pm Kigali time.
