Terms of Reference:

Re-advertisement-Recruitment of a Consultant Project Manager

• Position: Consultant Project Manager in charge of Digital Payments
• Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda
• Duration: One (1) year, renewable
• Deadline: 27^th August 2023 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time

1. About Smart Africa

The Smart Africa Alliance is a partnership among African countries adhering to the Smart Africa Manifesto (hereinafter referred to as “the Manifesto”), the African Union (AU Commission, AUDA, specialized institutions, and Regional Economic Communities), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Private Sector, Academic and Research Institutions.

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Learn more about Smart Africa Secretariat
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The Smart Africa Alliance (or 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 the usage of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). 

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 African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 32 African countries that represent 815+ million people.

The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the center of the continental and national socio-economic development of Member States. This means increasing access to ICT solutions, improving accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT, promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication, strengthening the private sector, and leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development.

The Smart Africa Alliance as an organization is the framework for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Manifesto, designed to make it actionable. The Smart Africa Alliance is not a profit-oriented organization.

2. Project Background for Institutional Support for Digital Payments and e-Commerce Policies for Cross-border Trade (IDECT)

The Project’s main development objective is to strengthen the enabling environment for digital trade across Africa by developing robust/ harmonized e-payment ecosystem policies. The specific objectives are: i) Develop a gender-responsive policy framework to facilitate cross-border trade through harmonized e-Payment systems; ii) Promote dialogue across e-payments stakeholders to increase public-private participation/projects that enhance e-payment ecosystem, and iii) Support targeted countries to develop action plans to enable e-Payments for the facilitation of inclusive digital trade. The targeted countries are restricted to those that are eligible for African Development Fund (ADF) Grant financing.

The project will have three mutually reinforcing components: i) Component 1: Gap analysis and design of a harmonized e-Payment policy framework to encourage cross-border trade and regional integration; ii) Component 2: Institutional Capacity Building and Policy Dialogue with key stakeholders to strengthen e-payment ecosystem; iii) Component 3: Project Management.

Despite the many challenges that digital trade faces on the continent as examined in the project rationale, this project addresses the gaps in the African digital payment ecosystem from policy and capacity-building perspectives. The project being one to build institutional capacity, and its limited budget has contributed to its limited scope. However, project outcomes will inform future interventions which could address other aspects of the African digital trade ecosystem.

3. Responsibilities

The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a full-time Consultant Project Manager in charge of Digital Payments, to lead the implementation of the IDECT Project in selected Smart Africa Member Countries while ensuring effective communications to a diverse range of stakeholders (private sector actors, governments, international organizations, etc.)

Main responsibilities will include:

1. Leading the execution of IDECT Project activities

The PM will lead and provide direction for the following activities:

• Establishment of process and project management milestones and needs for the execution of the project ;
• Establishment and management of the PIU as stipulated in the grant agreement between the donor and SAS ;
• Planning, organizing, and directing the completion of the IDECT Project for the organization while ensuring the IDECT project is on time, on budget, and within scope.

2. The relationship management and alignment of relevant authorities and other stakeholders on the roll-out of the IDECT Project

The PM will lead and provide guidance for the following activities:

• Delivering regional trainings/workshops as described within the IDECT Project’s scope;
• Recruitment and oversight of consultancy firms (for the mapping of stakeholders, feasibility reports, and pilot action plan);
• Organization and moderation of a series of alignment workshops with the relevant stakeholders in participating countries ;

3. Other relevant activities

• Facilitation and reporting on the monthly review of IDECT Project’s implementation activities;
• Documentation of routine progresses, successes, and implementation processes;
• Provide and document analytical learnings from the implementation to ease the scale-up of activities;
• Provide periodical reports on the progress of project activities and issues arising;
• Any other assignments or projects, which will be assigned from time to time by the leadership of Smart Africa.

4. Key Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

• At least a bachelor’s degree (or Master’s if shorter experience) in ICT, Information Systems and Communications, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Electrical or Electronics Engineering or equivalent;
• An active Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience with a Bachelor's in digital transformation projects especially Digital Channels, Digital Payments technologies (cards, mobile money, internet), e-commerce technologies, and Digital Financial Services at the regional level, continental or international level, or 7 years with Masters degree;
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing multi-stakeholder projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated Good technical report writing and presentation skills
• Experience working in a multicultural environment
• Excellent MS PowerPoint and visual documentation skills such as infographics;
• Proficiency in MS Office suite.

General experience and skills:

• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels;
• Experience in results-based management, project monitoring, reporting, and evaluation;
• Demonstrated written, analytical, presentation, and reporting skills as well as familiarity with modern communication systems and solutions
• Ability to work in a multicultural team;
• Candidate must be result-oriented, flexible, agile, and self-starter.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French (oral and written) is required.

5. Duration of the assignment

The appointment will be for One (1) year, renewable subject to the candidate’s successful performance and availability of funding.

6. Reporting requirements

The PM will report directly to the Unit Manager in charge of Digital Trade and Services within the Digital Transformation and Services Directorate.

7. Application Procedure

Please send the following application documents to the following email address hr@smartafrica.org with the email subject “Consultant Project Manager”:

• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the ToR;
• A CV in either French or English with 3 contact information of referees;
• Copies of academic certificates and other relevant professional certificates.

8. Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications is 27^th August 2023 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time.

N.B: Smart Africa is an equal-opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.