We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

We are seeking a talented and experienced professional to become an integral part of our dynamic team in Ethiopia as a Capital Markets Advisor on Technology and Skills Development. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of knowledge spanning across technology and experience in advisory on government digital transformation. Working closely with the Director General of the Ethiopian Capital Markets Authority (ECMA), the Advisor will provide strategy and technical support to ensure the implementation of a coherent and impact-driven digital transformation roadmap and implement capacity building initiatives on digital literacy and skills for ECMA to promote the integration of tech-enabled solutions and utilisation of digital technologies.

The Advisor will work with TBI Ethiopia Distributed Ledger Technologies/Blockchain Advisor embedded at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange to develop policy and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies in capital markets that can be reviewed and tested at ECMA’s regulatory sandbox. Additionally, the Advisor will leverage support from TBI Ethiopia’s Digital and Tech Transformation team working across eGovernment, Digital ID, Digital Infrastructure and Data Governance under the day-to-day technical guidance of the Manager, Digital and Tech Transformation. The role will capitalise on the wide range of expertise and resources across TBI, those in our Global Client Solutions (GCS), Global Innovation Unit (GIU) and Partnerships & Initiatives (PI) team, to bring the best of TBI to our government clients.

This is a full-time, 12-month contract (with the possibility of extension) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role will require working closely with senior counterparts within government.

We would consider supporting applicants not currently based in, or with a right to work in, Ethiopia to relocate for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy development

• Collaborate with the ECMA team to conduct a gap assessment of the ECMA technology landscape
• Provide strategic guidance in developing and implementing a comprehensive 5-Year Digital Transformation Roadmap to advance the modernisation and growth of Ethiopia’s capital markets
• Support research and development on emerging technologies (including blockchain), platforms and regulatory frameworks to inform ECMA’s technology adoption
• Support change management initiatives to ensure the smooth adoption of new technologies and processes
• Promote a culture of innovation within ECMA that supports exploratory digital and technology projects and proofs of concept using emerging technologies

Capacity building

• Lead the development and implementation of an integrated digital literacy program to enhance the ECMA’s proficiency in Big Data analytics, blockchain, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for market surveillance, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection in financial markets
• Coordinate IT procurement in collaboration with the IT team, focusing on the integration and interoperability of new systems with existing infrastructure while promoting solutions that enhance local capacity and expertise
• Establish partnerships with technology firms, educational institutions, and other capital markets to foster innovation, share best practices, and access new technologies and training resources for ECMA and its stakeholders

• Build the capacity of ECMA’s IT team by providing skill development training and coaching young professionals

• The Advisor will be required to work with other advisors in TBI Ethiopia and GCS from time to time.

Person Specification

• Experience

  • A minimum of 10 years’ experience in management consulting or capital markets advisory related to technology and digital transformation
  • An understanding of capital markets products and operations, including business and systems perspectives, as well as regulatory and business knowledge
  • Proven experience evaluating and implementing emerging technologies in capital markets such as digital trading, investment, and market surveillance platforms
  • Working knowledge and experience of Big Data Analytics
  • Prior experience working on digitisation programmes/projects in financial markets and institutions (such as capital market regulators, investment banks or other market participants) is highly desirable
  • Proven understanding of the policy context, how to shape policy and the discretion and judgment needed to navigate a complex political environment
  • Experience in planning and conducting business and technical stakeholder interviews, undertaking requirements analysis, performing current state technology analysis, and developing digital strategies
  • Prior experience working on digitisation programmes/projects in emerging markets, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, is highly desirable

• Skills and Competencies

  • Strong grasp of financial technology (Fintech) trends and tools
  • Proven ability to leverage statistical analysis and modelling techniques to solve complex problems and extract actionable insights from complex financial data with added skills in data visualisation
  • Ability to stay current on regulatory developments in the financial technology and digital space
  • Understanding of capital markets products such as equities, bonds, derivatives, and other financial instruments is desirable
  • Excellent verbal and writing skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences
  • Excellent project management skills, including prioritising tasks, managing resources, and mitigating risks effectively
  • Ability to work flexibly and be adaptable and open to changing approaches in response to evolving situations
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and independently with minimal supervision
  • Must be fluent in English. Working knowledge of Amharic is an added advantage

• Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
  • Relevant certifications in the field of Information Technology
  • Relevant capital markets certifications or qualifications are desirable

Closing Date:

2024-04-17