Terms of Reference
Recruitment
- Position: Project Manager in charge of Startups Ecosystems Development
- Duration: Fixed Term, renewable
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- Deadline: January 11th, 2024 at 11:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time
- Context and Background
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 39 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.
- 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 number one priority 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) strategic areas of focus in its Technology-driven Entrepreneurship program :
- 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.
- Ecosystem support: assist with the development of the broader ecosystem including the startup support organizations (innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, startup studios for example).
- 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).
- Duties and Responsibilities
The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Manager in charge of Startups Ecosystems Development who will be primarily responsible for the second area of focus in the tech-driven entrepreneurship program, which is ecosystem support.
More precisely, the PM will help develop the Smart Africa Network of Incubators and Accelerators – SANIA. SANIA facilitates and coordinates linkages in Africa between incubators and accelerators on one side and all startups support organizations and governments on the other side, with the aim of growing and scaling-up tech enabled startups across Africa. SANIA ultimately supports the growth of business partnerships between tech enabled African startups on the continent and facilitates investment and market linkages to regional and international markets.
The PM will provide required technical and administrative support to coordinate and implement activities under SANIA initiative across Smart Africa Member States while ensuring effective linkages to the Smart Africa core objectives and activities.
Responsibilities include:
- Coordinate building the concept and value proposition for SANIA.
- Coordinate the development of the SANIA platform and its content.
- Undertake identification and assessment of relevant candidates for the network and its activities.
- Coordinate building and implementing capacity building programs for the beneficiaries.
- Follow through mobilization of funds /resources from other development partners and institutions to complete the financing of SANIA.
- Support the initiative’s global annual performance.
- Design and document Smart Africa evolving strategy for Startups ecosystem development in Africa, including produce relevant slides, presentations, and key messaging.
- Review and prepare analysis and research on the ecosystem, using regional and global resources including academia and industry.
- Help Smart Africa bring new allies and strengthen the commitment of existing partners.
- Establish close collaboration and working arrangements with an interdisciplinary team composed of experts from Governments, Private sector, non-government organisations and other professional associations, to ensure good coordination, collaboration, and timely conduct of SANIA.
- Provide periodical reports on the progress of project activities and issues arising.
- Participate in regional project meetings and workshops and other activities as required.
- Steering processes and communication channels with policymakers and stakeholders.
- Reviewing ICT start-ups ecosystem analysis and developing policies.
- Planning (also collaborate), executing and reviewing workshops, pre-and post-event communication with participants and stakeholders.
- Drawing project budgets.
Other:
- Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
- Key qualifications
Education
- A Master’s degree in Information Technology, technology sciences, entrepreneurship, business administration, marketing, and other relevant fields
Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in Entrepreneurship and startups ecosystems development both in concept and implementation levels.
- Experience working in multistakeholder development environments on the African continent with international partners,
- Experience in project coordination,
- Experience in ICT policy and regulation,
- Excellent knowledge of African Tech Startups Ecosystem dynamics, actors, and challenges.
Knowledge 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.
- Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and solve problems quickly and effectively.
- Experience in creative writing.
- Ability to work in a team.
- Strong competence in the use of standard software productivity tools.
Languages
- Fluency in both French and English is essential
- 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.
- Duty Station
The position will be based in Kigali, Rwanda.
- Reporting
The Project Manager will report directly to the Unit Manager in charge of Technology Driven entrepreneurship within the Directorate of Digital Transformation and Services.
- Application Instructions and Deadline
Candidates should send the following documents to this email address: hr@smartafrica.org, with mention of “Project Manager-Startups Ecosystems Development” 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
- A PPT presentation (20 minutes max) on an action plan and budget to operationalize SANIA in 2024.
The deadline for submitting applications is January 11th 2024, at 11:00 p.m. Kigali (GMT+2) time.
Any late application will be automatically rejected.
We look forward to receiving your applications!!!
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