Vacancy Announcement

Drones & Data Advisor

For Triangular cooperation for Digital Innovation made in Africa

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digital Transformation and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

The project ” Triangular Cooperation for Digital Innovations Made in Africa” main goal is to achieve both in the following areas: cooperation with the private sector, in the areas of data and drone technology, and agriculture, as well as South-South-North trade. Partners from Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire and Germany are involved in the project “Triangular Cooperation for Digital Innovation Made in Africa”.

The three pillars of the project are:

  1. Cross-border cooperation for data-driven digital innovations “Made in Africa.“

  2. Use cases of data-driven digital innovations ” Made in Africa ” (implementation of pilots in the field of the use of drones and data for agricultural and forestry projects)

  3. Capacity building in the field of drones and data

In Rwanda, Triangular cooperation for Digital innovations made in Africa is hosted under the umbrella of the GIZ Digital Transformation Center under its focus area “Drones and Data”. The activities in Rwanda focus, among others, on the implementation of trainings in the drone and data sector, the development of drone use cases, and Cross-border cooperation for digital innovations between Rwanda, Ivory coast, and Germany.

GIZ Rwanda and Triangular cooperation for Digital innovation made in Africa are searching candidates for the position as Drones & Data Advisor for the drone component.

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

FixedTerm: 31.12.2025

The drone and data advisor performs the following responsibility and tasks:

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance to project partners on drone and data applications for agriculture, forestry, and climate.
• Coordinate and support the Rwanda drone Community of Practice.
• Capacitate and advise local partners (Drone operation center) in developing their strategies, guidelines and services.
• Conduct regular coordination and steering meetings with stakeholders in Rwanda, Germany, and Ivory Coast.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards across project activities.
• Assist in knowledge transfer within the Triangular Cooperation team.
• Design and execute workshops and events to meet project objectives.
• Monitor project quality control and ensure compliance with agreed standards.
• Conduct regular coordination and steering meetings with stakeholders in Rwanda, Germany, and Ivory Coast.
• Contribute to the implementation local and regional exchange programs with a focus on women in Drones.
• Guide and conduct quality control of local and international consultancies as well as grant agreements implementing the project activities; where necessary, procure and steer local consultancies.
• Oversee the planning and execution of workshops and events.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience

Qualifications and professional experience

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, information technology, information systems, data science, remote sensing, or related field
• At least 5 years’ professional experience in a comparable position
• Strong understanding of drones and emerging technologies such as AI more broadly, including its opportunities and challenges in the context of sustainable development
• Experience in digital transformation in the fields of agriculture, biodiversity, and climate.
• Experience working with public sector and government officials.
• Experience in setting up multi-stakeholder dialogue processes and networks.
• Demonstrated experience in workshop and event planning and facilitation.
• Experience in organizational development is considered a plus.

Other knowledge and additional competences

• Finely tuned organizational skills and ability to work on one’s own initiative.
• Ability to build and manage internal and external relationships and build strategic partnerships and networks.
• Proactive in the development and implementation of ideas and proposals
• Willingness to and experience in working in a multi-national and partly remote team.
• Able to work under little supervision but at the same time being a real team player.
• Good knowledge of English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French and/or German is an asset.
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed.
• Good knowledge of and relationships with key stakeholders in the Rwandan tech and drone ecosystem is an asset.