JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Digital Partnerships Expert (f/m)

Enabel is the Belgian development agency with mission to build a sustainable world where all live under the rule of law and are free to thrive. It implements Belgium’s governmental cooperation. The agency also works for other national and international donors. With 2,100 staff, Enabel manages about 200 projects in twenty countries, in Belgium, Africa and the Middle East.

We have over 20 years’ experience in areas ranging from education and health care to agriculture, environmental protection, digitalisation, employment and governance. Enabel’s expertise is eagerly sought-after by partners around the globe – ranging from the Belgian government, European Union institutions, governments of other countries and the private sector. We work with civil society, research institutes as well as businesses and we foster fruitful interaction between development policy and other areas.

The D4D Hub was launched in December 2020 by the European Commission, European Heads of State and the D4D Hub partners with Enabel as the responsible for the coordination of the Africa branch. It serves as a strategic platform that fosters digital cooperation based on a human-centric model of digital transformation between “Team Europe” and its partners global countries.

The aim is to coordinate European digital development efforts globally; regionally and nationally, strengthen and promote the European human-centred digital transformation approach while enhancing knowledge development and the sharing of best practices. The Overall Objective of the D4D Hub is to contribute to the fulfilment of the EU’s global ambition of promoting a fair, inclusive, gender responsive, sustainable and human centric digital transformation worldwide.

The D4D Hub serves as a Multi-Stakeholder platform ensuring dialogue and coordination among EU Member States (MS), EU Commission, high-tech companies and civil society to promote, implement and boost the European way of a human-centric approach to the digital transformation in partner countries.

Among the objectives of the Africa branch, there’s “encompassing the specific needs and contexts of Sub-Saharan Africa partners by promoting a bottom-up approach to project design” and “support the establishment of policy dialogue in identified priority areas”. For this, close collaboration with continental and regional key African stakeholders will be essential, such as Smart Africa, the African Union Commission and other Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

Smart Africa is a pan-African institution, based in Kigali (Rwanda), aiming to drive the continent’s digital transformation. It is the result of a joint commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, by strengthening Africa’s knowledge economy through affordable access to high-speed internet and the use of information and communication technologies.

The Secretariat of the D4D Hub, based in Brussels, is formed by staff recruited by EU member states’ agencies to work in support of general coordination and policy dialogue, the thematic working groups, the advisory groups and the geographic branches.

At the Secretariat, you will be part of the “Africa branch” team, with colleagues from the three EU agencies co-leading the branch: Enabel, Expertise France or AICS (Italian Cooperation and Development Agency). You will report to the Africa branch Coordinator and will work in close collaboration both with DG International Partnerships (European Commission) and Smart Africa.

To support the implementation of its activities Enabel is looking for a (f/m) Digital Partnerships Expert.

Duty Station:Kigali, with possible missions (on a quarterly basis) in the countries where the dialogues or events take place.

Duration of the contract: Fixed term employment contract ending on 31/11/2025 – local contract according to the Rwandan labour law. This contract may be extended subject to agreement on subsequent financing.

Expected starting date: Mid-August 2024

Responsibilities:

As a Digital Partnerships Expert based in Kigali, under the supervision of the Africa branch Coordinator (located at the D4D Hub Secretariat’s office in Brussels) and under DG INTPA steering, you will:

Be the direct liaison for the D4D Hub Secretariat with Smart Africa for the development of constructive partnership with Smart Africa, supporting and facilitating exchanges from/to the D4D Hub environment.
Be responsible for developing the D4D Hub engagement with Smart Africa, built on prior contacts as well as providing relevant expertise and contributing to policy dialogue,
Actively support any event or activity jointly organised between the Africa branch Secretariat and the Smart Africa Secretariat (SAS),
Support and advice SAS in their engagement with the D4D Hub
Liaise with other relevant regional organisations to promote a human-centric digital transformation approach, such as the African Union Commission (AUC) or the Regional Economic Communities (RECs),
Support the Africa branch coordinator with the setup of eventual regional donor coordination groups in the field, as exchange platforms working on advancing a human centric digital transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa,
Foster connections between the D4D Hub Secretariat and relevant stakeholders in the African digital ecosystem, supporting them to understand the D4D Hub environment and the Team Europe approach, where needed.
Follow the progress of African (continental & regional) strategies on digital transformation, in close coordination with the knowledge management expert and the Project facilitator (both based in Brussels) and their action plans,
supporting the mappings of projects, programmes and initiatives ongoing on the continent.
collecting information that may afterwards serve to take strategic decisions by the D4D Hub members in their relations with African stakeholders.
You must have a solid understanding of the EUs human centric approach to digital transformation and previous experience on the topic is desirable, to ensure an adequate engagement in policy dialogue and partnership building.
Profile:

Requested qualifications.

EAC Citizenship (valid work permit required)
Master’s degree in international relations, Politics, Social or Economic studies or related field or equivalent professional experience.
A relevant PhD is an asset.
Required experience

Relevant professional experience of at least 15 years in international cooperation, of which 5 years proven experience in policy dialogue,
At least 5 years of experience working with/for stakeholders
At least 5 years of relevant experience directly or indirectly related to the digital transformation /new technologies and its impact on societies and economies,
Strong experience in liaising, relationship building and partnership development, by preference including experience working with African governments and/or public sector and/or RECs
Experience and knowledge in collaborating in multistakeholder partnerships.
Previous experience in collaborating with the African digital ecosystem
Previous experience organising or supporting the organisation of international events
A good level of understanding of development cooperation and the EU mechanisms for international partnerships
Previous experience with African RECs would be an asset
Previous experience working with EU funded projects or EU institutions in Africa would be an asset
Required skills and knowledge

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build trust with partners (facilitation, coaching, negotiation, flexibility, empathetic attitude, networking) and ensure strong collaboration with colleagues based in Brussels,
Self-organisational, open to change and continuous learner,
Proactive and results-oriented,
Team player,
Broad and in-depth understanding of the various aspects of development cooperation and sustainable development,
Good knowledge of the establishment of multi-actor proactive partnerships and of knowledge management,
Excellent writing and oral communication skills both in English and French (at least CEFR level C1); knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset
Adaptability and flexibility with the ability to set priorities,
Applicants are also required to commit to the vision, mission and values of Enabel (https://www.enabel.be/content/enabel-vision-mission-values) .

We offer:

A stimulating and varied job in an international environment.
Salary package according to our salary grids (class 7 – Strategic Leadership Expert ) From 875.422RWF monthly gross salary, adjustable depending on the number of years of relevant experience,
Additional benefits:
Insurance coverage (medical and group workers protection)
Option for remote working depending on the nature of the job
Personal Learning and development, on the job and outside
Opportunity for internal mobility
Following this procedure a recruitment reserve of successful applicants may be constituted which may be sourced in the next three years for similar job openings.

Every person who fulfils the conditions listed in our job advertisements may apply. Enabel is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in its workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability status or any other factor other than competence.