Terms of Reference for the recruitment of
Project Manager, One Africa Network Engagement & Implementation
Position
Project manager in charge of One Africa Network Engagement & Implementation.
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 Center of the 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.
Background of the One Africa Network
Since the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto by seven African Heads of State in 2013, a growing number of countries have expressed an interest in the vision of accelerating socio-economic development through technology, growing the membership to 30 member states with about 750 million population.
The “One Africa Network (OAN) initiative” was created in line with the vision to facilitate and increase exchanges of voice traffic and value-added services between participating African countries. This initiative is expected to boost economic growth, as it will make it easier to exchange services across borders within the Smart Africa space.
The objectives of the initiative are as follows:
- To make international voice and data communications affordable between the countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.
- To maintain African voice and data flows on the African continent by establishing intra-African cross-border links/connections.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the various players in the industry (Regulators, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), International Call Carriers (ICCs) and Reconciliation Clearing Houses (RCCs)) have been identified as key players and will be working closely with the secretariat on the creation of One Africa Network project in order to guarantee the use of existing infrastructures while keeping African traffic in Africa in ensuring the use of existing infrastructures and in a spirit of harmonization to accelerate the interconnection of member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.
As a key pillar to achieving digital Inclusion and Regional Integration, it is envisaged that we will achieve the following at the end of the project:
- Improved quality of communications
- Reduced roaming and international communications costs
- Digital interconnection between these countries
- Reduced plastic roaming and introduced roaming like at home across Africa without using Over the Top (OTT) applications and service.
- The sovereignty of African countries over their voices, SMS, and data.
In light of the above, the secretariat has identified key stakeholders in the value chain namely; Telecom Regulators, Mobile Network Operators (MNO), International Call Carriers (ICC), and reconciliation clearing houses (RCC)) to support the delivery of this historic project.
Position Description
The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Project Manager (hereinafter referred to as the “PM”) to assist the Smart Africa Secretariat with responsibility for the management of various strategic projects in relation to the One Africa Network, in close consultation with stakeholders, partners, and the Member States.
The PM will provide required 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 PM will support activities between Smart Africa, countries, and relevant partners with three main objectives:
- Under the Head of the Digital Infrastructure Division, lead/support in the development and implementation of One Africa Network (OAN).
- Implement the decisions of the Smart Africa Board in coordination with the Member States.
- Maintain contact and strengthen relationships with Telecommunication Regulatory Authorities and private Sector working on implementing Projects and Programmes.
- Support and enhance Smart Africa Secretariat operations.
- Follow up of One Area Network (Free Africa Roaming Zone) with Regulators, Operators, and Stakeholders.
- Assume support for all aspects of the Operation and Implementation in view of Transfer of Technology.
- Establishing and formulate recommendations on implementation policies.
Other responsibilities will include:
- Prepare the terms of reference of consultants/institutions that will undertake assignments in accordance with 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.
- Any other assignments or projects, which will be assigned from time to time by the leadership of Smart Africa.
Position Requirements
Our ideal candidate is a creative and strategic thinker with deep experience in the telecoms industry. Our top candidate will understand the key issues related to roaming and international communications. Our successful candidate will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge in engineering, maintenance, operation of networks of mobile telecommunications operators in order to achieve digital Inclusion and Regional Integration to support the development objectives of the One African Network. Our top candidate will be passionate about public service and serving people, especially the most vulnerable. Most importantly, this role requires someone who thrives on collaboration and is an excellent communicator.
Key Qualifications
- A minimum of graduate qualifications (Master’s degree) in a relevant discipline (e.g. in ICT/Telecoms, Engineering in Networking or Programming),
- Familiarity with different telecoms aspects,
- Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills,
- Excellent project management and team management skills,
- Professional work experience in Engineering, Maintenance, Operation with Mobile Telecom Operators
- In-depth knowledge of technical issues on Roaming
- Ability to review, analyze and recommend involvement in project management from a variety of industries
- Good knowledge of the ICT sector, in particular the technical set up of Systems and Networks.
- A willingness to travel, domestically and internationally,
- 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
- At least 7-15 years of relevant experience particularly working with country governments in developing ICT policy and/or implementing ICT strategies,
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with all partners in order to act as an effective catalyst,
- Ability to developing proposals, concept notes, business plans and for the attention of development partners and investors
- Problem-solving skills, including the ability to draw meaning and trends from data and recommend actions to address issues,
- Strong technical skills in standard software programs (such as MS Office), web-based applications (such as Google suite and Microsoft Teams),
- Ability to interact with people from diverse, multi-cultural backgrounds,
Duration of the Assignment
The appointment will be for 1 year, subject to probationary period and performance, and extendable (renewable) as necessary to reflect the ultimate completion date of the project 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.
