Terms of Reference

Recruitment 

Resource Mobilization Expert Consultant, SADA 

• Position: Resource Mobilization Consultant, SADA
• Duration: Up to December 31, 2023
• Location: Kigali, Rwanda (flexible)
• Deadline: 8 October ,2023 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time 

1. About the Smart Africa 

The Smart Africa Alliance is a partnership among African countries adhering to the Smart Africa Manifesto (herein after referred to as “the Manifesto”), the African Union (AU Commission, AUDA, specialized institutions and Regional Economic Communities), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Private Sector, Academic and Research Institutions. 

The Smart Africa Alliance (or Smart Africa) is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through the usage of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). 

On 30th-31st January 2014, the Smart Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa beyond just the 7 original signatories at the Summit to all African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 32 African countries that represent 815+ million people. 

The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the center of the continental and national socio-economic development of Member States. This means increasing access to ICT solutions, improving accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT, promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication, strengthening the private sector, leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development.

The Smart Africa Alliance is a multilateral organization and serves as the framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Manifesto, designed to make it actionable. The Smart Africa Alliance is a not-for-profit organization. 

The organization develops continent-wide goals and milestones as well as best practices to guide the implementation of the Smart Africa Initiative. Considering the above, each adhering country develops and implements flagship projects with clear targets and milestones. These need to be strongly aligned to the Smart Africa Alliance principles. The Alliance provides technical support to countries in the development and implementation of the flagship projects. The organization also assists governments to the extent possible to mobilize funding from development partners and the Private Sector to implement their flagship projects. 

Visit https://smartafrica.org/ for more information about Smart Africa 

2. About the Smart Africa Digital Academy 

The Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) is the delivery vehicle of the Smart Africa capacity building and skills development activities across the various digital skills spectrum. It is a pan-African dynamic learning ecosystem in which African citizens of all ages and social classes can gain or improve their digital skills, gain qualifications, meet the emerging talent needs of employers, industry or be self-reliant. 

The birth of SADA was driven by the need to meet a genuine need of sustainable jobs driven by the fact that 15% of the world’s working-age population are expected to be from Africa by 2030. The governments of the Smart Africa Member States recognize the urgency to drive inclusion and economic growth through the development and adoption of strategies for education and skills development to build this required future workforce. Digital skills development at all levels – from basic to competency-based – is required to allow the uptake of new technologies in the economy, increase productivity, support growth while avoiding unnecessary disruptions in the labor market and society. 

SADA is currently implemented across 12 countries in the Alliance, and aims to reach all Smart Africa Alliance member states by 2030. 

3. Duties and Responsibilities 

The Smart Africa Secretariat would like to recruit a Resource Mobilization expert consultant to develop and implement strategies to increase fundraising and resource mobilization for the Smart Africa Digital Academy expansion. The consultant will work closely with the Smart Africa Alliance leadership team, under the Strategy and Growth directorate, to perform the following tasks :  

• Develop and refine the Smart Africa Secretariat resource mobilization and partnership strategy
• Work with Project team and leadership to assess the organization's current resources efforts, generate key information, data and analysis on Smart Africa priorities, resources mobilized, funding gaps and develop models to strengthen narrative with partners;
• Develop a comprehensive action plan highlighting all required tactics and activities to support the resource mobilization strategy and implementation; project documents, briefs, investment cases and communication/advocacy strategies (content preparation/editing, layout) as required,
• Support the development of effective concepts for engagement with donors and partners.
• Develop standard operating procedures and ensure fundraising guidelines are in place and adopted to track resource mobilization efforts.
• Facilitate development/operationalization of formal partnerships with public sector, private sector in collaboration with programs and in line with Smart Africa procedures (due diligence, etc);
• Increase engagement internally and externally to ensure visibility of Smart Africa’s work and needs, and attract new partners;
• Support the development and implementation of programs/projects donor recognition and visibility plans;
• In conjunction with the branding and communication department, ensure donors visibility and drive engagement from partners, donors, and the broader public.
• Contribute to the development of visibility materials as needed (factsheets, human-interest stories, newsletter, briefs, social media publications, reports, brochures, multimedia assets) and ensure dissemination to highlight impact of Smart Africa actions.
• Develop procedures and monitoring tools to ensure quality control, knowledge management and follow-up on donor interest and engagements as well as Smart Africa resource mobilization efforts and needs.
• Implement capacity-building sessions and supporting materials for Smart Africa staff to reinforce skills and knowledge on partnerships and resource mobilization.
• Other relevant support as required by Strategy & Growth Directorate. 

4. Position requirements 

1. Education 

• A Master or more in one of the following fields is required: Accounting, Finance, Business, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant field. 

b. Experience

• Five (5) years or more of relevant professional work experience in partnerships, external relations, resource mobilization, communication.
• Ability to develop financial strategies by guiding Smart Africa Secretariat to establish goals, and matching goals to situation with appropriate financial plans.
• Solid background of offering quality advice regarding financial management information.
• Strong ability to work under pressure.
• Review of best practice and successful partnerships in project preparation
• Experience in recommending partnership models, criteria and input/contribution requirements of potential strategic partners to ensure a cost effective and sustainable model

c. Knowledge/Skills required

• Experience working with multilateral or bilateral donors and the private sector and drafting, editing, and proof-reading concept notes, strategies, and projects documents.
• Demonstrated experience in developing programs and projects proposals
• Strong Analytical and Strategic planning skills
• Familiarity with Donor management and resource mobilization tools and software
• External communications experience would be an asset.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Fluency in French and English.
• Advanced ability to conceptualize, plan and implement ideas and concepts clearly and concisely orally as well as in writing.
• Self-starter, flexible and can work independently. 

d. Duration of the Assignment

The consultant will conduct the assignment over a period up to December 2023. Average numbers of hours per week will be subject to contract negotiation 

e. Reporting

The Resource Mobilization Consultant will work under the Strategy and Growth directorate, and will report to the Senior Director/Chief Strategy & Growth Officer. 

f. Location

Kigali, Rwanda. 

g. Application Instructions

Candidates should send the following documents to the following email address: hr@smartafrica.org, with mention of “Resource Mobilization Consultant” in the subject line:

• A detailed CV
• A one-page cover letter with a motivation statement in relation to the responsibilities and requirements for this position.
• Copies of academic degree, professional certificates, and other relevant training certificates

The deadline for submitting applications is October 8^th, 2023 at 5:00 PM Kigali (GMT+2) time.

Only selected candidates for interview will be contacted.

Any late application will be automatically rejected.