Capacity Building and Digital Literacy Advisor (RISA)

Focus of the Role

Scaling up support to governments in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, the Tony Blair Institute’s Tomorrow Partnership works with political leaders and governments to bring tech and digital solutions to their biggest challenges, because we believe tomorrow will belong to those who responsibly harness the power of technology for the good of all people, and to leave no one behind.

Through The Tomorrow Partnership, we broker strategic partnerships between governments and leading tech organisations and innovators to help foster environments that enable tech to deliver practical change in people’s lives.

Job Introduction

As part of the Tomorrow Partnership programme in Rwanda we are looking for an experienced Capacity Building and Digital Literacy Advisor to join a fast-growing team working in the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) to help deliver on Rwanda’s ambitions in building the capacity of Chief Digital Officers and of government staff in ICT.  

Reporting to the ‘Tech Policy Advisor – RISA’, this role will interface with senior RISA leadership, and leverage knowledge from across the Institute to support MINICT’s and RISA’s efforts in advisory, scoping, developing, implementing and monitoring interventions that enable Rwanda to implement the government digital capacity building programme.

The successful post-holder will develop strong relationships with key private and public stakeholders, undertake landscape and feasibility assessments, and support the development and implementation of interventions such as the establishment of the Rwanda Government Digital Academy and working to ensure that RISA and Chief Digital Officers are always engaged in relevant capacity building programmes.

This role will be a one year assignment, with the possibility for extension.

Key outcomes of the assignment

• Support the implementation of the Rwanda Government Digital Academy  
• Provide expert advice to MINICT and RISA leadership on the implementation of Rwanda’s strategy on capacity building for government ICT staff
• Assist the RISA leadership to develop innovative partnerships to support the implementation of the Rwanda Government Digital Academy and other capacity building programmes for Rwanda governments ICT staff

The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 12 months and based in Kigali, Rwanda 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

Responsibilities covering the above will include:

• Scoping: Identifying transformative opportunities to improve current or implement new initiatives on capacity building for government ICT staff

• Feasibility Assessments: Assessing short-term and long-term feasibility of identified opportunities for data centres and cloud infrastructure, taking into account Rwanda’s infrastructure, skills, policy and regulatory frameworks, funding and other enabling factors for the successful rollout of each opportunity

• Partnership Identification: Identifying and pursuing partnership opportunities with stakeholders having the capacity to support capacity building opportunities, or enabling factors around scoped opportunities

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

• Implementation: Provide technical expertise to RISA and other relevant stakeholders on capacity building programmes scoped out, including relevant assessments of legislative and policy frameworks, evaluation of hard and soft infrastructure, and human capital development

• One TBI: Working with TBI teams across East Africa, including regional advisors, the post holder will extract learnings from ongoing work in other TBI-supported countries that are relevant to Rwanda’s capacity building of government ICT staff

Person Specification

Additional skills and competencies required include:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or equivalent.
• Significant experience working directly or in-directly with governments on capacity building programmes

• 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 strategic planning, and project management practices
• 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 English (oral and written)

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 works with a variety of partners 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 Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results 

TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work.  It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\'re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.