Junior Technical Advisor (Digital Innovation and Ecosystem Support) at GIZ Nigeria

Vacancy No: 29

Background
GIZ. Solutions that work:

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our approximately 23,500 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national personnel, work in a round 120 countries (July 2020) GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974. From 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city Abuja. Currently 361 national and 66 international employees, 19 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists and 3 development workers are working in the country (June 2020).

The Project
Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Programme:

• The Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria (DTC Nigeria) is cofunded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
• The project focuses primarily on digitalisation and entrepreneurship. The aim of the project ‘is to improve the capacities of the innovation ecosystem for the growth of the digital economy in the following areas - policy implementation, performance improvement of organisations and networks service providers of the digital economy, scalable digital solutions, and digital skills.

The project will focus on the following outputs:

• Output 1 - Cooperation between political actors and actors in national and international innovation ecosystems is improved: By promoting innovation-friendly framework conditions for the digital economy by improving cooperation between policy actors and actors in the innovation ecosystem from the private sector, science, and research as well as civil society.
• Output 2 - Innovation support organisations are developed and supported to offer a range of services to MSMEs to implement digital innovations leading to digital transformation of MSMEs.
• Output 3 - Validated digital solutions are available to the Nigerian economy: Promoting the production and validation of new and existing innovative digital solutions for use by MSMEs in Nigeria.
• Output 4 - The skills of women and young people to use digital solutions for their economic activities are improved through the harmonization of digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Responsibilities & Tasks

Responsibilities

• The Junior Technical Advisor for Digital Innovation Ecosystem Support will work in close cooperation and with the guidance of the Technical Advisor Digital Innovation and Ecosystem Support in the implementation of Output 2 activities, as well as supporting and cooperating with the Project Team on other related activities.

Tasks
The Junior Technical Advisor performs the following tasks:

• Develop and test a model of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) in line with the AEDIB framework and tailored to Nigerian MSMEs needs: Supporting Innovation Hubs on matters related to networking joint activities and strategic guidance agreed upon collaboration areas
• Implement capacity-building training to strengthen the capacities of existing innovation support organisations regarding their mandate to support start-ups, innovative SMEs and MSMEs: support the development and implementation of Capacity building interventions for relevant innovation support organisations such as networks, innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators and (sectoral) associations to develop and conduct tailored trainings/upskilling courses for MSMEs (including female-led MSMEs), start-ups and young entrepreneurs and founders.
• Support to ADIH and other hubs: Support the development, implementation and monitoring of project/programme plans and activities in his/her designated competencies in close consultation and collaboration with Technical Advisor and Project Lead.
• Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, in collaboration with project Team
  • Manage knowledge transfer and sharing within the project,
  • and with other project/programmes working on similar topics.
  • Develop and contribute to the development of ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, and capitalisation documents.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of implemented measures in line with metrics of performance and project indicators.
• Support in project workplan development and implementation
• Provide technical input and implement project/programme activities in the field
  • Provide technical advisory services to beneficiaries and project partners.
  • Develop technical documents e.g., concept notes and Terms of References in his/her domain
  • Oversee consultant objectives and ensure that deliverables are submitted in accordance with contract timelines and requirements included in the Terms of References (ToR)
  • Contribute to technical documents’ creation and use by other team members and in other project domains
  • Work with administration and finance team to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities pertaining to the defined area of responsibility
  • Is responsible for quality assurance of project activities within assigned areas with respect to of GIZ quality standards
• Execute other tasks as required by the Project Lead.

Required qualifications, Competences and Experience
Qualifications:

• University Degree (B.Sc. / BA & M.Sc / MBA) Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Education, Public Relations, Social Sciences, Digital Transformation Regulation, Digital Innovation, Economics, Business Informatics or a similar subject.

Professional Experience:

• One to three years of general work experience
• One-year professional experience in the field of digital innovation/technologies, support of tech start-ups and MSMEs,
• and entrepreneurship, business management, and content development.
• Working experience with digital business service provider is desirable
• Knowledge of innovation and digital transformation in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of organizational development and networking.

Desired additional qualifications, competencies, and experiences:

• Very good technical understanding of digital technologies
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills
• Ability to work independently and in teams, structure tasks, familiarize with new topics quickly and comprehensively
• High social competence and ability to work in an international team
• Open minded and ability to engage partners and stakeholders
• Business fluency in English is vital. Knowledge of local languages would be an advantage.
• Previous experience in working with Government entities
• and/or international development organizations is an advantage.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 3