Tech and Digitisation Advisor

Job Introduction

Are you excited by the prospect of transforming developing and emerging nations in Africa through the application of technology and innovations? Do you have experience of consulting or working in the digital infrastructure sector and leading teams to drive systemic and transformative change in an emerging or developing country?  Do you thrive on driving the end-to-end delivery of transformative projects?  If so, we want to hear from you.

Scaling up its support to multiple governments across Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, TBI is collaborating with governments to accelerate reforms and progress, through better delivery support, technology and private sector engagement. Enabled by a dynamic external partner, the main objective in this strategically important role is to support the Government of Angola to deliver its digital transformation agenda, focussing on Angola’s national digital infrastructure.

As a Tech and Digitisation Advisor, working closely with the Country Head, as well as the Global Tech for Development team, you will scope, develop, implement and monitor digital infrastructure initiatives as part of TBI’s holistic in-country offering, ranging from last mile connectivity, to government digital infrastructure.  Bringing substantial sector expertise, and in line with Presidential priorities, you will help develop strong relationships with key public and private stakeholders, undertake landscape and feasibility assessments, and support the identification, development and implementation of digital infrastructure interventions.

Focussed on delivery in Angola, the Advisor will be expected to travel  across the region in support of other T4D interventions in Southern Africa.

This role will be on a one-year contract with possibility of extension.

Key Responsibilities

Successful delivery of the role will include:

• Considering issues related to connectivity and networks, data storage, cloud strategy and computation, deliver a comprehensive assessment of Angola’s existing digital infrastructure, and identify opportunities for improvement
• Support the development of a comprehensive digital blueprint, with national digital infrastructure a core component – ensuring infrastructure needs and solutions are aligned to the government’s broader digital ambitions  
• Based on the assessment, drive forward the implementation and monitoring of digital infrastructure initiatives,  supporting the Government of Angola to fully harness innovative and pragmatic technological solutions in its public service delivery
• Strengthen Angola’s digital policy and legislative frameworks, to facilitate digital infrastructure investments 
• Develop innovative partnerships, with Development Finance Institutions and digital service providers to enable the roll-out of accessible and affordable digital services for citizens, businesses and government, country-wide

The Tech and Digitisation Advisor will be responsible for:

• Digital Infrastructure Assessments: Assess feasibility of digital infrastructure opportunities, taking into account TBI’s T4D value proposition, considering  financial models, policy frameworks, workforce skills, levels of digitisation, end-user need and potential use cases. Sustainability will need to be embedded at the core of any infrastructure initiative 

• Partnership Identification: Identify private and public partnership opportunities to support digital infrastructure development. Develop relationships with key partners, with a specific focus on national and regional actors 

• Initiative Proposal and Delivery Plan: Based on the identified opportunities, develop initiative delivery plans, including timelines for implementation, milestones, as well as risks and challenges to implementation

• Implementation: Provide technical expertise to digital infrastructure initiatives, advising relevant ministries and agencies on questions related to legislative and policy frameworks (including questions of data sovereignty and data protection), international best-practice with regards design and deployment of digital infrastructure projects, and  required human capital development

• Reporting: Regularly inform TBI country-level and central T4D colleagues of progress through reporting and engagement sessions, and proactively escalate issues for further support as needed

Person Specification

The successful candidate must demonstrate a good understanding of the  e-commerce/digital economy ecosystem and digital transformation space in Sub-Saharan  Africa countries. Prior work with the Governments in the region is highly desirable. Additional skills and competencies required include:

• Experience working directly or in-directly with governments on digital infrastructure projects

• Expertise in issues relating to networks, connectivity, data storage or computational requirements
• Prior experience working on digitisation programmes/projects in emerging markets, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa is highly desirable
• Experience of comprehensive engagement with public and private sector stakeholders to support programme delivery
• Ability to present information in a concise, insightful and structured manner, in written and oral form
• Problem-solving and analytical skills, including sound knowledge of data analysis, strategic planning, and project management practices
• Experience in analytical and research studies in the state sector, within public reforms, national and investment projects
• Experience in development and/or implementation of risk management/matrix frameworks
• Ability to coordinate with team members across multiple locations, and develop relationships with multi-disciplinary advisors
• High quality communication, drafting and presentational skills
• Excellent relationship building and management skills, including the ability to navigate complex political environments
• Fluency in Portuguese and English (oral and written)
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or equivalent STEM discipline

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