ACS/Digital Centre for Excellence: Senior Project Manager

Result of Service Strengthens the Programme management capacity of technical capacity of the Digital Centre for Excellence to provide high quality advisory services to countries, based on best practices in the establishment of digital transformation and digital identity management systems globally, and aligned with a regional policy framework.

Work Location Addis Ababa

Expected duration The consultancy service would be for an initial period of 12 months.

Duties and Responsibilities Since establishment in September 2018, the ECA Digital Center or excellence has embarked on a Digital Initiative to support member States in fully harnessing the opportunities of digitalization, and more specifically Digital identity (ID) to facilitate the provision of legal identity for all Africans, and to leverage digital trade in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. Given the critical linkages between digital ID, digital trade, and digital economy, the scope of the work under this Initiative continues to evolve to address digital transformation. This expansion in the scope of the work is in response to the requests from member states to address the fundamental, cross-cutting, and complex impact of digitalization.

Within this context, the Center has been established framed within the core functions of the UNECA. Namely, the Convening, think-tank and technical and advisory support provision. The center has engaged in the advancement of policies and legal frameworks in digital transformation and principles frameworks within the digital ID space. The center has co-led the development and endorsement of the African Continental Digital Transformation Strategy which has been approved by the African Heads of States Summit in February 2020. It has spearheaded, together with partners, the development of the Pan African trust framework for good Digital ID.

Cognizant of these developments and their relevance for African Member States, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is working with the African Union Commission, and in collaboration with partners has launched a Digital Identity and Economy Initiative, to support member countries to fully harness to potential and to exploits the benefits of digitization for the continent’s development. The Digital Identity and Economy Initiative for Africa is spearheaded by the African Digital Center for Excellence at the ECA HQ.

Role of the Centre of Excellence – The next Frontier

The ECA is establishing a Digital Center of Excellence to spearheading The Digital Transformation, Digital Identity and Economy Initiative for Africa. The work of the Digital Center of Excellence is anchored on promoting harmonization of standards, regulation, infrastructure and capacity development on the African continent for the development of digital identity and economy.

The work on harmonization will promote a common understanding and implementation of digital identity systems, as well as the digital economy landscape across Africa. In particular, the work on digital ID will include the definition of the minimum standards to ensure safeguards for Good ID principles and inclusion; as well as to preserve continental goals including the AfCFTA and the digital economy. In addition to a comprehensive strategy for Digital ID and digital economy for Africa will be developed.

The work on Regulation will support the provision of an enabling environment in African countries to support the thriving of digital economy, including minimizing related risks. The work on Infrastructure will help to provide an assessment of infrastructure needs and gaps, as well as bridge a connection with partners who can potentially provide the investments required. The capacity development work will provide the capacity and skills development to member countries in the various relevant areas.

The Digital Centre for Excellence will provide an ongoing source of technical advice for countries on digital ID and digital economy will not deliver identity solutions to countries but will play an advisory and coordination role. Within this context and considering the expanded demand and role of the digital center for excellence the ECA is seeking the services of a Senior Programme Management Consultant to lead the programmatic activities and deliverables of the center.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Senior consultant (Project Manager) will work under the guidance of the Director of the African Centre for Statistics.

The key goal of the senior consultant (Project Manager ) for the Digital Center will be to ensure, over an 18- month period, effective implementation of the work programme of the Center in advancing the various components of digital transformation such as Digital ID, data management and privacy, trust and interoperability, harmonization of policy and legal frameworks as well as capacity development. The Senior consultant will undertake these activities under the overall guidance of the Director of the Division for Data and Statistics. In delivering this role, the Senior Consultant will:

• establish a 24 months’ timeline of implementation priorities, including internal (organizational structure, capacity building and workforce planning priorities) and external (client engagement priorities);
• establish strong working relationships with the member states of the African Union, particularly senior staff with decision authority over the design of digital transformation strategies and digital identity systems at the national level;
• Ensure programmatic alignment with other divisional work of the commission on digital economy, digital trade, technology and innovation as well as private sector development.

• Takes the lead to develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy of the Digital Center for Excellence Digital Center for Excellence; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. Analyzes emerging policy issues for future fundraising efforts.

• support development of a detailed strategy on Digital ID and Digital Economy, working with AUC and other partners, including implementation guidelines for the Framework;

• provide analytical support and help to ensure that the decisions made by these senior staff are well-grounded and based on international experience;
• establish the analytical and advisory products, tools, guidelines and checklists of the Centre as client-facing products;
• create the necessary programme management protocols and workflows for the digital center for excellence to operate smoothly;
• develop a technical knowledge base, including ongoing sources of knowledge on digital transformation, digital identity, and identification of the relevant sources of ongoing data;
• design a capacity building program for African senior officials, leveraging peer-to-peer learning exchanges within Africa;
• establish working relationships with the broader ecosystem of digital identity and economy and data privacy players, including multilateral development banks, civil society, technology vendors.
• Assist in supervising the preparation of reports for donors as well as various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff and consultants; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.

• May perform other duties as required.

  Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, economics, or management or MBA/MPA with public policy focus Experience: - Senior management and consulting experience in the digital transformation policy and programmes within the continent.

• 15 years of experience in Programmes and Projects management as well as policy and strategy in various fields such as digitalization, capacity development, technology, or related fields.
• Familiarity with public sector technology development and procurement processes.
• Familiarity or experience with models of digital identity globally.
• At least five years of professional experience in Africa or concerning Africa.

• Exposure to digital identity policy and regulatory issues, including online identification and authentication, as well as data privacy and security Language: English and French are the working languages of United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

  No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.