Strategic Advisor - Targeted Skills Development job at The Tony Blair Institute
JOB DETAILS:

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


Focus of the Role
The Tony Blair Institute in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) is recruiting a Strategic Advisor to support the Government of Rwanda in talent identification, skills pipeline development, partner coordination and preparation of the human capital aspects of investment deals with a focus on skills development for the Vaccine Manufacturing, Global Business Services, as well as Tourism and Hospitality sectors.

Job Introduction
For this role, we are looking to hire a Strategic Advisor with experience and expertise on government advisory, particularly on issues of employment policy, job creation and skills gap analysis and development. The Strategic Advisor will lead and drive the implementation of policy instruments, strategies, and special projects on skills with the Government of Rwanda. The post holder will join a fast-growing team of TBI Rwanda and will work closely with the Delivery Manger and report to the Country Director.
The post holder will directly support two key institutions within the Government of Rwanda in targeted skills development, namely the Rwanda Development Board Chief Skills Office as well as the Office of the Hon. Minister of State within the Ministry of Education.
The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 2 years 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
The post holder will receive an overall guidance from the Country Director and will be directly working with the Country Delivery Manager as well with the senior counterparts in the Rwanda Development Board and the Ministry of Education in setting out the strategic and implementation plan for the workstreams. The overall responsibility of this post-holder will include setting out workplans and implementation strategy; driving implementation with respective counterpart institutions and stakeholders; preparing periodic updates and reports; developing and managing relationships with direct counterparts and key actors in the ecosystem; and actively looking out for opportunities for TBI’s further in-country program development. The specific workstream related duties include:
Support the preparation of the skills component of the opening of Rwanda’s biopharma industry
• Provide immediate support to the office of the Minister of State in charge of ICT and TVET at the Ministry of Education to prepare the skills component of the opening of Rwanda’s biopharma industry, including support towards the operationalisation of the African Biomanufacturing Institute and other strategic projects
• Work closely with TBI Advisor Manufacturing and Vaccine Manufacturing taskforce on the human capital workstream for upcoming manufacturing plant establishment
• Work with Universities and TVET providers in developing workforce pipeline (incl. assessment chains and related logistics)
• Develop regular skills snapshots to senior counterparts

Assess implementation status of National Skills Development and Employment Promotion Strategy (NSDEPS)
• Work with counterparts in the RDB Chief Skills Office to prepare regular implementation update of NSDEPS
• Support mid-term evaluation of NSDEPS
• Work with RDB CSO and implementing stakeholders to fast-track implementation of agreed upon actions in the strategy

Support RDB CSO and Hon. MoS in charge of ICT and TVET in skills pipeline development
• Support/Lead the development of a system within RDB for carrying out a National Skills Audit across national priority areas and sectors
• Develop in-house capability to run a periodic National Skills Audit
• Assess the existing system and propose areas to be strengthened in order to carry out labour market analytics, analyse skills needs, assess skills gaps and forecast future skills with regard to future prospects for employment in terms of economic sectors, occupations, qualification and skills
• Lead the analysis of various skills datasets (including from the councils) to be used for policy, curriculum, program designing, decision making and so forth
• Supporting RDB in providing skills advisory service for different line ministries, sectoral institutions, investors and the academia establishments
• Working towards bringing Rwanda into the skills map through listing of Rwandan talent on the ‘World Skills Organisations’ (WSO).

Supporting the Sector Skills Council in carrying out their function
• Establishing a Secretariat and instilling a system for bringing together and supporting the functions of the sector skills councils
• Supporting the operationalised Sector Skills Councils in carrying out their core functions – identifying needed skills.


Requirements
Person Specification
We are searching for an experienced Strategic Advisor to work closely with RDB and MINEDUC to unlock the full potential of the Rwandan workforce, both in-country and the diaspora. The Advisor will benefit from being part of the TBI Rwanda team, a network of experienced advisors based at the centre of government and in key ministries and institutions supporting the government’s agenda for economic transformation.
This is a role in a fast-paced government, working within complex policy areas that are highly scrutinised. Therefore, the successful candidate for the role should be able to display the majority of the following:
• A BA or Master's degree in Education Management, Economics, Political Science or a related field
• Significant experience in project implementation in the areas of employment policy, job creation and skills development in Sub-Sahara Africa
• Broad and comprehensive experience in a related field such as policy development and/or in education, project design and management with multiple stakeholders across various sectors and have good skills to work closely with Skills Development sector partners
• Experience in advising senior stakeholders including government counterparts on issues of social policy, education, economic policy. Preferably in Sub-Sahara Africa
• Strong reporting, organisational and communications skills, ability to meet deadlines, flexibility, resourcefulness, patience, time management, facilitation skills, diligence and ready to work under pressure
• A proven ability to inspire, coach and develop others, including people from different backgrounds and cultures
• Strong understanding of the context of funding arrangements and models from development partners

JOB DETAILS:

Job Description
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.

Focus of the Role
The Tony Blair Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is recruiting a Strategic Advisor to support the implementation of the e-commerce policy, operationalization of its instruments, and increasing exports to China and other international markets.

Job Introduction
We are looking to hire a Strategic Advisor with experience and expertise on government advisory, particularly on international trade. The Strategic Advisor will lead and drive the implementation of policy instruments and special projects on E-Commerce with the Government of Rwanda. The post holder will join a fast-growing team of TBI Rwanda and works closely with the Delivery Manger and reports to the Country Director.
The post holder will directly support two key institutions within the Government of Rwanda in, namely the Rwanda Development Board as well as the Ministry of Trade & Industry.
The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 2 years 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
The post holder will receive an overall guidance from the Country Director and will be directly working with the Country Delivery Manager in setting out the strategic and implementation plan for the workstreams. The overall responsibility of this post-holder includes setting out workplans and implementation strategy; driving implementation with respective counterpart institutions and stakeholders; preparing periodic updates and reports; developing and managing relationships with direct counterparts and key actors in the ecosystem; and actively looking out for opportunities for TBIs further in-country program development. The specific workstream related duties include:

E-Commerce Workstream – support to MINICOM
• Conduct analysis of the policy coherence with other relevant policy instruments in support to e-commerce adoption, and provide input on the draft policy
• Perform analysis of existing legal instruments to ensure that there is conformity of E-Commerce related laws to international best practices specifically in online consumer protection, validity and enforcement of electronic communications and contacts, cyber security related issues and protection of intellectual property rights
• Operationalize the National E-Commerce Council as an oversight, supervisory and coordination body of e-commerce sector
• Undertake a multi sector wide capacity needs assessment and make a proposal on required capabilities across all e-commerce actors
• Provide support in setting up a mechanism for e-commerce data collection and dissemination to inform industry monitoring and performance
• Assist in the development of roadmaps and strategies to leverage Rwanda’s partnerships, logistics and trade facilitating agencies, innovation hubs and funds, towards positioning Rwanda as a reginal e-commerce hub

E-World Trade Platform (eWTP) Workstream – support to RDB
• Provide strategic advice to RDB on the implementation of eWTP and identify additional opportunities to drive e-commerce and support Rwandan firms to engage in global trade
• Conduct economic analysis and develop strategies to boost Rwanda’s trade and export competitiveness, particularly:
• Conduct economic analysis of trade statistics, sectoral performance, market and microeconomic analysis for exporting firms/companies to enhance export competitiveness
• Support RDB in repositioning of Rwanda with regards to export diversification and value addition, with a focus on the Chinese and the middle east market
• Develop a sales and marketing strategy to increase Rwandan exports:
• Structure and drive the online and on-ground marketing strategies to increase Rwandan product sales volumes on eWTP with Alibaba Group and through other 1-2 top trade platforms in the Middle East
• Identify top 20 firms with potential and design a suitable marketing strategy to increase sales in the China under the eWTP and another 10-15 companies for sales in the Middle East market
• Assist RDB in organizing and coordinating online and offline promotional events, facilitating B2B sessions with Chinese and middle east buyers and advising Rwandan Exporters to meet buyers' requirements
• Structure and drive tourism marketing to increase tourism through e-commerce platforms (post Covid-19)

Requirements
Person Specification
We are recruiting an experienced Strategic Advisor to work closely with MINCOM and RDB to tap into the full potential of e-commerce and the special partnership with Alibaba Group, and to position Rwanda to access greater global trade opportunities in the post-Covid investment climate. The Advisor will benefit from being part of the TBI Rwanda team, a network of experienced advisors based at the centre of government and in key ministries and institutions supporting the government’s agenda for economic transformation.

This is a role in a fast-paced government, working within complex policy areas that are highly scrutinized. Therefore, the successful candidate for the role should be able to display the majority of the following:
• A BA or Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Marketing, Business, or a closely related field
• Experience in working with/in government institutions in implementing policies and ideally with some experience within the private sector
• Experience working with the Asian/Chinese, Middle East market and international investors is an advantage
• Strong analytical & research skills; excellent marketing, business writing, presentation skills, negotiation and verbal communication skills (in English)
• Proficient in oral and written English; knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and/or Arabic is an added advantage
• Flexibility, resourcefulness, and a can-do attitude
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of your team and the Institute