Technical Advisor Software Developer

Fixed Term: 1 year and 8 months (renewable upon review)

Position: one (1)

Start date: 01.10.2026

B. Responsibilities

• Design and execute digital projects in Africa with a thematic focus across digital economy and digital sovereignty areas.
• Drive digital economic development across sectors and countries by leading multiple digital initiatives in parallel, translating regional policy ambition into tangible outcomes.
• Strengthen strategic coherence across the GIZ Smart Africa portfolio, serving as the operational connective tissue between thematic teams and key accounts.

C. Tasks 

• Drive the end-to-end delivery of continental digital economy initiatives: from design through implementation by holding accountability across partner organisations, service providers and GIZ country office networks
• Convene and lead multi-stakeholder processes that turn policy ambition into results and partnerships, with Smart Africa as the central delivery platform 
• Own the operational rhythm of selected digital initiatives by translating strategy into actionable plans and results, steering execution in close cooperation with Smart Africa
• Identify and activate partnership opportunities for co-investment and co-implementation of your digital initiatives in close cooperation with the Technical Advisor on Cooperation with the Private Sector
• Strengthen the backbone of the GIZ Smart Africa portfolio by contributing to strategic portfolio engagements, cross-theme synthesis and progress tracking that keep the portfolio coherent and forward-looking
• Build and maintain the portfolio's key account architecture by mapping partner needs, defining service offerings, theme insights and shaping engagement rhythms across the portfolio's key relationships
• Serve as interface between the GIZ Smart Africa portfolio and the GIZ AI Hub, ensuring thematic alignment across digital economy, DPI and AI workstreams.
• Position Smart Africa and GIZ as credible actors in continental and global digital governance shaping Africa's voice on digital sovereignty, AI, cross-border data flows and DPI architecture vis-à-vis the EU Tech Offer, Global Gateway and multilateral digital fora.
• Provide support to other tasks and duties deemed relevant at the request of management

D. Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience

Qualifications and professional experience

• Master’s degree in economics, Business Administration, Political Science, Technology, Finance, Law or a related field with a clear connection to digital economydigital governance or international cooperation 
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience designing and implementing digital economy initiatives across sectors, with demonstrated experience in African regional contexts 
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience leading end-to-end implementation of digital initiatives in multi stakeholder networks involving governments, private sector, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations etc.
• Experience in portfolio management, key account management or strategic coordination functions in a multi-stakeholder environment 
• Experience in advisory or consulting roles, with the ability to provide frank, evidence-based counsel to senior counterparts in both public and private sector organisations
• Deep knowledge in one or more of the following areas: digital economy, digital sovereignty, AI, Digital Public Infrastructure/Digital Public Goods (DPI/DPG), cross-border data governance, digital trade, digital finance or adjacent fields 
• Familiarity with continental and global digital governance frameworks, including the AU Digital Transformation Strategy, AfCFTA digital protocol, Global Digital Compact, EU Tech Offer, Global Gateway and relevant G20 and multilateral digital fora 
• Understanding of Africa's digital investment and financing landscape, including the role of development finance institutions and private sector co-investment mechanisms

Personal Competencies 

• Carry outstanding work ethic and service-oriented thinker: you act reliable, dedicated, and disciplined without much guidance and supervision. 
• Intellectually curious and solutions-oriented: you bring critical thinking and problem-solving to complex challenges without waiting to be directed
• Analytical rigour and intellectual range: you synthesise complex information across themes and translate it into clear, strategic intelligence for leadership and key accounts
• Extroverted and relationship-oriented: you build trust quickly across very different actors and sustain it across complex, multi-year partnerships
• Operationally self-directed: you manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, set your own rhythm and deliver without close supervision in a fast-paced, ambiguous and demanding environment
• Diplomatically sharp: you navigate sensitive institutional dynamics, competing interests and political complexity with professionalism and discretion 
• Culturally fluent: you operate with ease across African, European and multilateral institutional cultures 
• Strong written and verbal communication in English: you write with clarity and authority; French is an asset
• Prior experience working with GIZ, Smart Africa, the African Union or other pan-African institutions is an asset
• Familiarity with GIZ systems, processes and international cooperation instruments is an asset

GIZ will only assess applications which meet the following criteria:

• Cover Letter must clearly state your motivation for applying for the position and outline your competencies why you are the best suited candidate addressing qualifications, competencies and experiences asked for in this advert. Cover Letter must not exceed one (1) page and be submitted in PDF Format.
• CVs must include three professional references of previous employment including contact details and must not exceed four (4) pages to be submitted in PDF format. 

E. How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references), via our electronic job portal by using the button “apply”; until 6th September 2026 at 4:00 PM. All attachments should be put together in one PDF file not larger than 2 MB.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation. We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities. 

This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, in order to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please let us know, if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to consider, when considering your application. 

Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu 

P.O. Box 59, Kigali, 

Rwanda

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