JOB ADVERT

Project Manager – Digital Entrepreneurship & Innovation Policy

• Position title: Project Manager in charge of Digital Entrepreneurship & Innovation Policy 

• Contract Duration: initial contract will be for a period of one year, and may be renewed for three years

• Duty station: Kigali, Rwanda

• Applications submission deadline: 31st January 2026 at 11:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2)

1. Background

Smart Africa is a pan-African alliance of 42 Member States committed to accelerating sustainable socio-economic development through ICTs with the vision of a Single Digital Market for Africa.

To operationalise this vision in the entrepreneurship domain, Smart Africa established SANIA, Smart Africa Network of Incubators and Accelerators, built around three pillars:

1. Policy Support – improving regulatory frameworks, supporting policy reforms, and promoting harmonized startup and innovation policies.
2. Ecosystem Support – strengthening incubators, accelerators, and other Innovation Support Organizations (ISOs).
3. Capacitating Fund Managers – enhancing access to finance by training investment actors and encouraging inclusive, green-responsive investment practices.

2. About AEDIB 2.0

The Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB 2.0) is a joint initiative between the European Union and key African partners to strengthen digital innovation ecosystems across both continents. It focuses on three core components: policy development, ecosystem support, and improved access to finance, bringing together governments, innovation actors, and development institutions to promote collaboration, policy alignment, and capacity-building.

Smart Africa is implementing activities across all three AEDIB components; however, for the purposes of this role, the focus is on Specific Objective 1 (SO1), which centers on enhancing digital entrepreneurship and innovation policies. This includes conducting regulatory assessments, guiding policy reforms, convening multinational policy forums, establishing partnerships with African and European knowledge institutions, and sharing open data and research.

Through this role, Smart Africa reinforces the policy pillar of SANIA, ensuring that startups benefit from a supportive regulatory environment that fosters innovation, competitiveness, and cross-border growth.

This is a strategic, high-impact position at the heart of Smart Africa’s policy transformation agenda. The Project Manager will directly influence how African countries shape Startup Acts, innovation policies, and digital entrepreneurship frameworks, working across ministries, innovation ecosystems, and international partners.

3. Purpose of the Position

The Project Manager will:

• coordinate all AEDIB 2.0 SO1 policy interventions delivered by Smart Africa;
• provide high-level technical assistance to Member States on startup and innovation policy reform;
• ensure production and dissemination of regulatory assessments, support pathways, research products, and policy insights;
• manage partnerships across Africa and Europe;
• ensure alignment between SANIA’s policy objectives and EU-funded actions.

4. Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager in charge of Digital Entrepreneurship & Innovation Policy will lead and coordinate all activities under SO1, ensuring high-quality policy analysis, evidence generation, and multi-country collaboration.

i) Regulatory and Policy Assessments

• Lead regulatory environment assessments related to digital entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Identify policy gaps and opportunities for harmonization.
• Produce diagnostic reports and policy recommendations.

ii) Policy Reform and Technical Assistance

• Develop and maintain technical assistance pathways for innovation and startup policy reform.
• Guide member states through reform processes aligned with continental priorities.
• Provide expertise on Startup Acts, innovation policy, and digital regulatory frameworks.

iii) Multinational Forums and Knowledge Exchange

• Organize regional policy forums on innovation, digitalization, and green transition.
• Lead content development, stakeholder coordination, and workshop facilitation.
• Promote cross-country knowledge sharing and policy dialogue.

iv) Partnerships and Collaboration

• Establish and manage partnerships with think tanks, academia, NGOs, research groups, and industry actors.
• Support co-creation of MOOCs, policy resources, and research materials.
• Strengthen Africa–Europe cooperation on innovation policy.

v) Research, Data, and Insights

• Lead collection and dissemination of open data and policy research via the SANIA platform
• Prepare policy briefs, insights, and evidence products.
• Monitor African and global innovation policy trends.

vi) Project Management

• Develop and track work plans, budgets, and deliverables.
• Prepare progress reports and risk mitigation plans.
• Maintain internal coordination and stakeholder communication.
• Represent Smart Africa in relevant regional and international events.

vii) Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage policymakers, ecosystem actors, and development partners involved in innovation policy.
• Support advocacy efforts for policy alignment and harmonization.
• Contribute to Smart Africa’s broader innovation and digital policy agenda.

viii) Other Responsibilities

• Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisors.

5. Key Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s degree preferred, in Public Policy, ICT Policy, Law, Economics, Innovation, Digital Governance, or related fields.
• Minimum eight (8) years of relevant work experience in digital or innovation policy, regulatory analysis, or digital transformation programs.
• Proven experience delivering similar policy or technical assistance work under donor-funded or grant-funded programmes (e.g., EU, World Bank, AfDB, GIZ, USAID, or equivalent).
• Experience working with African governments, multistakeholder initiatives, and international partners.
• Strong background in policy research, regulatory assessments, or coordination of policy initiatives.

Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent analytical, research, and policy writing skills.
• Strong organizational and project management capacity.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders across multiple countries.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage complexity, and adapt to fast-paced environments.

6 .Languages requirements

• Fluency in English and French (required).
• Working knowledge of Arabic or Portuguese (asset).

7. Duration and Duty Station

• The initial contract will be for a period of one year, and may be renewed for three years, subject to satisfactory performance, professional conduct, relevance of the position and availability of funding.
• Duty station: Kigali, Rwanda

8. Reporting Line

The Project Manager reports to the Director of Digital Transformation and Services (DTS).

• Motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copies of academic and professional qualification certificates