Advisor - Digital Transformation

Job Introduction

Are you excited by the prospect of transforming and developing emerging nations through the application of technology and innovations across the whole of government? Do you have experience consulting or working with government in the technology sector, driving systemic and transformative change in an emerging or developing country?  

The Digital Transformation Advisor role is a unique position, offering the opportunity to lead scoping of new opportunities in Zanzibar under our landmark Technology for Development (T4D) programme, which has been enabled by a dynamic external partner to support governments in developing transformation technology solutions to improve public service delivery.      

TBI’s T4D initiative assists countries to leverage the technological revolution for national transformation. The initiative is organised around advisory and delivery support across four initial focus sectors (Health Technology; Digital Government; Digital ID; and Ag-tech). It is supported by cutting-edge insights from our Technology and Public Policy team, and through collaboration with leading players in the global technology space. 

The T4D role in Zanzibar will see the Advisor working in close collaboration with government counterparts, as well as engaging broader public and private stakeholders, to lead scoping and partnership discussions, identifying areas of catalytic potential that are aligned with presidential priorities. A successful scoping exercise would result in a concrete offer from TBI to relevant government counterparts in support of a transformative technology and digitisation agenda, narrowing in on a few specific opportunities where TBI’s offering provides value and impact.   

The Digital Transformation Advisor will work closely with T4D leadership to develop and iterate the Zanzibar strategy and approach, and tailor the value proposition to the specific needs and opportunities in the Zanzibari context.   

The role will require working closely with senior government representatives and will be responsible for establishing and nurturing relevant stakeholder relationships within the private sector and development partners.    

The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 12 months and based in Unguja, Zanzibar and starts as soon as possible on the identification of a suitable candidate.  Relocation assistance may be provided for the successful candidate if required.

Key Responsibilities

The Digital Transformation Advisor will be responsible for: 

• Representing TBI, our core beliefs and our value proposition 
• Engaging key senior government counterparts on the national/sectoral vision, priorities, and challenges, and assessing entry points where the TBI’s T4D programming adds strategic value to the Government’s objectives  
• Completing an assessment of Zanzibar’s existing digital architecture, including infrastructure, capacity, cloud landscape, financial models and government digital needs. This assessment of the data landscape should seek to understand government activities in both technical and policy terms on areas such as data centres, data sovereignty, and harmonisation 
• Delivery of a scoping report to leadership, identifying targeted initiatives (including exploration of digital health opportunities) for TBI support to the Government of Zanzibar, scoped in line with the guiding T4D principles, framed around impact potential, and aligned with government priorities 
• Aligned with T4D leadership, development of a clear action plan for TBI to support implementation of identified opportunities, with clearly articulated timeframes, milestones and outputs. Oversee delivery of individual workstreams, working closely with government counterparts  
• Build strong relationships with senior public sector stakeholders, maintaining an in-depth understanding of current trends across the technology ecosystem, identifying opportunities for collaboration 
• Develop relationships with actors across the broader tech ecosystem, including private sector and development partners 
• Act as the focal point for all T4D activities in Zanzibar, including supporting recruitment and partnership development activities, as initiatives grow  
• Thought leadership recognised in country/regionally/globally and contribution to TBI’s T4D global offering and playbook

Person Specification

Required Experience & skills: 

• Significant experience in management consulting, government or government advisory, related to digital transformation and advisory programme leadership 
• Experience in the development and operations of robust technology solutions in a public sector environment  
• Substantial general experience across the four T4D focal areas (Health Technology; Digital Government; Digital ID; and Ag-tech).  Candidates who are specialist in one of the areas will also be considered
• Familiarity with policy and regulation needed to foster and enable technology transformation for public good  
• Experience in project identification and strategy development, preferably in the tech sector, or linked to government advisory   
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of government and non-government actors, including the private sector and development partners 
• Bold thinker equipped to be a thought partner and peer to cutting edge technology companies as well as government leadership with an aim to thinking towards the future of innovation  
• Able to work independently, whilst drawing on expertise from colleagues based in the region and globally  
• Outstanding management skills and the proven ability to build and inspire teams to achieve exceptional objectives and contribute directly to outcomes hands-on
• Experience in developing and emerging economies, and sensitive to a diverse range of cultural and regional norms
• Experience working in Zanzibar or East Africa particularly on digital and technology transformation projects for public good would be advantageous but not essential 
• Must be fluent in English  

Education (Qualifications) Requirements: 
 

• A Degree in the field of economics, development, management, technology or other relevant area or equivalent experience
• Computer literacy: Proficient in use of key Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well, they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people.

We do this within two connected divisions:

Government Advisory

Our Government Advisory teams work directly with political leaders and governments around the world to implement reforms that improve the lives of their citizens. It has both non-profit partners and a client base and its outputs cover a range of disciplines and projects across countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South Asia.

Policy Futures

Our Policy Futures work encompasses three broad areas:

• Renewing the Centre: developing a bold and innovative domestic policy programme to help renew the centre ground of British politics;
• Tech and Public Policy: exploring the policy challenges and opportunities presented by the technological revolution; and
• Extremism Policy Unit: creating solutions designed to tackle the threat of extremist ideologies in the UK and around the world.

As an organisation the core beliefs we all embrace are:

• Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork
• Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity
• Optimistic Changemakers: you’ll be focused on results