Experts For Data Governance In Africa Joint Initiative (Multiple Positions)

Experts for data governance in Africa joint initiative (multiple positions) HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd (HAUS) is a state-owned company, which provides training and development services to the state administrations. HAUS is a state stakeholder unit under the steering of the Ministry of Finance of Finland. HAUS has substantial experience on international projects in the field of public sector reforms and development. We have implemented more than 50 international projects in more than 20 countries with increasing focus on digital transformation. We are currently looking for candidates for several positions in a new Data Governance in Africa joint initiative by 5 EU member states and the European Commission, aiming at:
Strengthening comprehensive and harmonised policies and regulations on personal and non-personal dataLeveraging data use and cross-border data flows to create value and inform regulations in selected sectorsEnhancing partnerships for investments in green and secure data infrastructure promoted through the Digital Investment Facility (DIF).Digital cooperation is the cornerstone of the African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) strategic partnership and a key component of the Joint Vision for sustained and sustainable economic growth. Within this frame of reference, the EU and the AU agreed to leverage the potential of the data economy while avoiding the misuse of data and potential fragmentation of data markets. Europe and Africa have both addressed themes related to data governance through several policy developments in the recent years.
Finland has joined the initiative and engaged HAUS to manage the agreed project activities in close cooperation with other EU member state agencies. Finland through HAUS is focussing on the following two components of the initiative:Data use and cross-border data flowsandEnhanced partnerships for investments in green and secure data infrastructure, in the latter of which, Finland is also assigned as the Component Co-Lead.
We are now seeking candidates for the following positions of the initiative:
1. Digital Social Innovations Expert, 36 months, to be located in South Africa, Pretoria
2. Digital Investment Facility (DIF) Manager (36 months), located in Helsinki, Finland
3. Digital Investment Facility (DIF) Experts (36 months each) (2 positions), located in South-Africa or Kenya
Data use and cross-border data flows component:1. Digital Social Innovations Expert, 36 months, to be located in South Africa, PretoriaThe focus of the Expert's work will be on developing a joint Call for Proposals mechanism to identify and support upscaling of data-driven Digital Social Innovations (DSI) originating from "not-for-profit" actors as well as from the private sector together with the implementing partners of the project consortium. DSIs are defined as data-driven innovations that involve the use of digital technologies in the development and implementation of products, services, process, and business models that seek to improve the well-being and agency of socially disadvantaged groups and/or address social problems. Finland's contribution will be directed in particular to identifying and supporting innovations generated by the private sector and extending the funded activities to Southern Africa.
A successful candidate will have the following qualifications and skills: Advanced University degree in a relevant area such as economics, international business administration, public policy, governance, law, finance, innovation management, partnership management, or related field.
At least 5 years of experience in the area of supporting or managing either grant or investment funds, for not-for-profit or for-profit actors either globally, in Africa, and/or in Europe. In addition, the candidate may have experience in innovation management, including public-private partnerships.
Experience in Digital Social Innovations is an additional advantage as well as work on enhancing the innovative capacities of not-for-profit or private sector actors in Africa, and/or in Europe, and/or globally.
The candidate should have a contextual grasp of policy areas relevant for data use and cross-border data flows in value creation. The candidate should also understand the needs and opportunities for improved inclusion through increasing digital skills among youth, women and other vulnerable groups (including older people, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant workers).
Working experience in Africa is considered as an asset.
Language skills: Excellent written and oral communication in English and Working knowledge of Finnish language.
Enhanced partnerships for investments in green and secure data infrastructure promoted:2.Digital Investment Facility (DIF) Manager (36 months), located in Helsinki, FinlandThe initiative will establish a Digital Investment Facility (DIF) to facilitate investments in green and secure data infrastructure under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) and other funding sources from Member States. The DIF will focus on promoting enhanced partnerships between the public and private sector, as well as financing institutions, facilitating interactions between European and African actors.
The regional coverage of the DIF is Sub Saharan Africa, and the resources of the facility will be prioritized to regions that show the highest demand and capability to develop feasible infrastructure projects and where also markets show sufficient demand for sustaining the infrastructure in an economic viable way.
The DIF will contribute to building a favourable environment for European investments into African data infrastructure markets. For this, African key stakeholders' capacities on sound project design will be enhanced and project developers, promoters and operators supported in unlocking European and other funding opportunities for public and private entities working in partnerships. On this basis, promising investment opportunities will be scoped, pre-evaluated and discussed regularly with European financiers and investors. Ultimately, the DIF will deploy project advisory services on integrated project design including pre-feasibility assessments.
The DIF manager will be instrumental in spearheading the initiative, operationalising the DIF concept and managing the work towards the set objectives, as well as coordinating the work of the DIF team consisting of in total 6 Experts working in 3 African countries: Kenya, South-Africa and Senegal. The DIF Manager will work closely with HAUS and GIZ Programme Leaders in Europe and represent DIF to clients and potential partners in Europe and Africa.
Qualifications and skills required: Advanced University degree in a relevant area such as economics, international business administration, public policy, governance, law, development studies, partnership management, or related field.
General professional experience: At least 8 years of experience in the area of programme management and leadership, and/or designing bankable data infrastructure projects and/or identifying investment opportunities for green and secure data infrastructure as well as knowledge of development finance and investments. Knowledge of EU's and/or Finland's development policy and development cooperation is considered as an asset.
Specific professional experience:
The candidate has experience in forging and maintaining partnerships and coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives. Experience in managing multi-partner initiatives and platforms in development finance and/or digital infrastructure sector is an asset.
The candidate has knowledge of Finnish initiatives relevant to digitalisation and development, such as Business Finland's or MFA Finland's Developing Markets Platform (DevPlat), Finnpartnership, Fingo's Powerbank-initiative, the Southern African Innovation Community SAIC network, or other similar facilities, and of development finance institutions, such as Finnfund.
The candidate easily interacts with global institutional and private investors; understands an investment case for public and private sector including public-private partnerships; and is capable of matching potential investors and data infrastructure projects.
The candidate is familiar with feasibility studies, human rights and economic impact assessments, gender analysis, and market assessments of potential data infrastructure projects.
The candidate should have a grasp of policy areas relevant for promoting investments in green and secure data infrastructure at the national, regional and/or continental levels. The candidate should also understand the needs and opportunities for improved inclusion through increasing digital skills among youth, women and other vulnerable groups (including older people, people with disabilities, refugees and migrant workers).
Working experience located in Africa is an asset.
Language skills: Excellent written and oral communication in English and in Finnish, knowledge of French is an asset.
3.Digital Investment Facility (DIF) Experts (36 months each) (2 positions), located in South-Africa or KenyaIn addition to the DIF Manager, HAUS recruits two Experts – Data Infrastructure & Data Infrastructure Investment – to work in DIF country teams in South-Africa and Kenya. The Experts are responsible for managing and implementing the DIF activities, with close coordination of the rest of the DIF country team and in line with the broader DIF and Data Governance Initiative framework.
Qualifications and skills required for both positions: Advanced University degree in a relevant area such as economics, international business administration, finance, innovation management or related field.
General professional experience required for both positions: At least 7 years of experience in the area of financing for development, where desirable emphasis is on EU's development financing, and/or designing bankable data infrastructure projects and/or identifying investment opportunities for green and secure data infrastructure.
Desired professional experience:
1) experience in assessing and advancing investments in data or other digital infrastructure and / or
2) experience in implementing projects or capacity development to public and/or private sector to design secure and green data infrastructure.
Experience in managing partnerships and/or policy dialogues that engage governments, regional communities, investors and/or other key players.
The candidate easily interacts with global and private investors for co-financing; understands an investment case for public and private sector and public-private partnerships; and is capable of matching potential investors and data infrastructure projects. The expert has a good grasp of the intricacies of financing, notably in the context of global and private investment.
The candidate is familiar with feasibility studies, human rights and economic impact assessments, gender analysis, and market assessments of potential data infrastructure projects. S/he is a keen supporter of the DIF seeking to benefit youth, women and other vulnerable groups.
The candidate should have a grasp of policy areas relevant for promoting investments in green and secure data infrastructure at the national, regional and/or continental levels. The candidate should also grasp needs and opportunities for inclusion through increasing digital skills among youth, women and vulnerable groups.
The candidate has knowledge of Finnish development policy and initiatives which can call for EU partners to collaborate with African partners as well as of global and private development financiers, such as Finnfund.
Knowledge of European Union development financing and working experience in Africa is an asset.
Language skills: Excellent written and oral communication in English and Working knowledge of Finnish language.
To apply for these positions, please send your motivation letter and CV (max. 3 pages) in English, indicating clearly to which position(s) the application is targeted, to Kirsi Aaltola (****** ) cc. Kati Tanninen (****** ) by 12.00 (UTC+2) on28thOctober 2023. The filling of these positions is subject to signing of the financing agreement between the European Commission and the Data Governance in Africa Consortium Partners.
CVs and motivation letters will be shared among the interview panelists.
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