Digital Specialist

Job Category: Programs

Requisition Number: DIGIT01575

Posting Details

Posted: November 24, 2020

Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Rwanda Main Office
Kigali, RWA

Job Details

Description

TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A nonprofit organization operating in 29 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.

Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the ImpactMatters charity ratings agency.

Program Description:
The Rwanda Ikawa Nziza Cyane (INC) project seeks to equip coffee washing stations (CWS), exporters, and government agencies with new tools, strategies, and policies to drive greater efficiencies and unlock new market opportunities in specialty coffee. Funded by the European Union in conjunction with Rwanda’s MINECOFIN, the Rwanda INC project will run for 4 years. Some of the primary project components include (1) digital tools for CWS business management and farm extension monitoring; (2) new mechanisms for input financing and distribution (e.g., fertilizer, lime, new varieties); and (3) new market research, quality
standards, and policy recommendations to strengthen Rwanda’s positioning as a preferred origin for specialty coffee.

Job Summary:
TechnoServe seeks a Digital Specialist to support the successful implementation of Rwanda INC’s ambitious impact agenda. The Digital Specialist will support the selection, integration, and implementation of tools and technologies used in the Rwanda INC program. These platforms perform a range of functions, from providing extension services to farmers, to creating the ability for working capital lenders in Rwanda to better monitor coffee washing station working capital loans, to providing washing station managers themselves the tools needed to improve the operational efficiencies and quality of the coffee they produce – all with the ultimate goal of contributing to lift smallholder farmers out of poverty.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Manage the, selection, adaptation, testing, pilot, and evaluation of all ICT tools and platforms used in the Rwanda INC program, including but not limited to:
• Tablet and phone-based digital tools used to deliver agronomic extension services
• Virtual Business Advisor digital solution to the Rwandan coffee context (e.g., dashboard for coffee washing station managers)
• Loan portfolio management tools for financial institutions, exporters, and coffee washing stations.
• Evaluate technologies already in use by different stakeholders in the coffee value chain (e.g., exporters, government agencies, lenders) to identify challenges and solutions for greater alignment.
• Create “heat maps” and dashboards from these digital tools to be shared with key stakeholders for the purpose of strengthening the Rwandan coffee sector.
• Identify opportunities to pilot both new and existing technologies for the Rwanda INC program to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the program implementation model.
• Develop internal knowledge materials; support internal knowledge sharing activities and the development of TechnoServe innovations frameworks and initiatives.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Business Administration, computer programming, or other relevant fields.
• At least five years relevant IT project management and delivery experience including systems
  support, implementation, operations, maintenance, and support activities within a relevant field (e.g. Access to finance, Microfinance, Farmer outreach, mobile payments).
• Experience developing digital strategies and business cases for technology investment.
• Comfort with data analysis and visualization (e.g., via dashboards).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Database management; back-end integration of mobile platforms and/or software development
  experience
• ICT program management (especially ICT4D)
• Proven communication skills (presentation and writing skills)
• Coffee industry knowledge (esp. coffee washing station familiarity)

Required Languages – Fluency English

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong market orientation, entrepreneurial, and innovative thinker.
• Proven ability to work independently, delivering high-quality end products.
• Ability to structure and manage complex tasks
• High integrity and honesty
• Flexible and able to maintain effective relationships and networks
• Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn
• Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts
• Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations, both verbally and in written communication including Analysis, Research and Report Writing
• Strong decision making and problem solving skills, including internal client focus
• Results oriented
• Effective time management and planning
  Strong business acumen

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

We recognize that maximizing the inclusive economic growth requires the full and unencumbered participation of women. This requires us to not only systematically integrate gender in our project participation but also within all levels of our staffing. For more information, visit www.technoserve.org

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.