Team Leader/ Digital Transformation Center Kenya - Strengthening intermediaries of the Kenyan digital innovation ecosystem

The Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) Kenya was set up to improve the country’s preconditions for a digital transition towards a sustainable digital economy. Hereby the DTC capitalises on the existing innovation ecosystem, seeking to strengthen it, while also looking at the wider societal impact of digital technologies. This part of the GIZ project seeks to improve the structural capacities of intermediaries of the digital and innovation ecosystem to strengthen digital and entrepreneurial skills of SMEs and start-ups. Intermediaries are hereby defined as technology and innovation hubs, entrepreneurship and SME support organizations (ESO), support institutions of universities, research and technology organisations, as well as start-up and SME associations. The project foresees a twofold approach:
 a) Digital skills development, access to finance and start-up promotion:

• The first approach of the project targets intermediaries that are providing support services to SMEs and start-ups in Kenya. For the implementation of the approach, the DTC has entered into a strategic partnership with the Association of Start-up and SME Enablers Kenya (ASSEK) which brings together and represent the interests of over 40 ESOs supporting the development and growth of start-ups and SMEs in the country.

• Work Package 1 will focus on developing digital solutions and approaches to improve the digital skills of ASSEKS’ target group, start-ups and SMEs,  and assist ASSEK in digitising their services to their members. Further, ASSEK members should be assisted thorughout their innovation cycle, e.g. by facilitating acces to finance and improving entrepreneurial skills. The latter shall mitigate the impact of the pandemic on strained MSMEs.

b) Kenyan Digital Innovation Hub to help SMEs digitize:

• The second approach of the project seeks to improve the digital transformation of local SMEs’ by supporting the establishment of a Kenyan Digital Innovation Hub as part of the African-European Innovation Bridge (AEDIB). Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) are one-stop shops for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and mid-caps within a specific sector that wish to become more competitive with regard to their business and production processes as well as products and services using digital and innovative technologies. Given the nature of the Kenyan business land-scape the Kenya DIH shall also cover micro enterprises, hence MSME.

• With the African-European Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB), EU Member States and the European Commission plan to establish a Pan-African Network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs). This network is aimed at encouraging joint ventures between Africa and Europe and provide technical, digital and innovation expertise and experimentation for small and mid-size enterprises. The Kenyan DIH shall therefore also serve as a vehicle to connect the Kenyan manufacturing industry to the African and European DIH network.

• Work Package 2 will assist in building up a locally owned Kenyan DIH and facilitate the connection of the DIH via the AEDIB with other African and European DIHs

Job description

The Team Leader will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, including the planning, coordination of the various inputs, ensuring outputs are delivered and the overall quality of the services provided is maintained. The Team Leader will have overall responsibility for the smooth running and timely implementation of the project and the efficient use of project funds. In addition, the Team Leader will be responsible for coordination with the central stake-holders and networks locally, nationally, regionally and internationally.
Tasks of the Team Leader:

• Overall responsibility for the work packages of the contractor, including the fulfilment of indicators linked to the activities and outputs under the contractor’s scope of work
• Ensuring the coherence and complementarity of the contractor’s services with other services delivered by the project at local and national level
• Overall responsibility for all activities related to the development and piloting of digital and entrepreneurial skills trainings through intermediaries of the digital and innovation ecosystem
• Design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of capacity development measures for local partners
• Taking cross-cutting themes into consideration (for example, gender equality)
• Staff management, in particular identifying the need for short-term assignments within the available budget, planning and managing the assignments and supporting local and international experts
• Ensuring that monitoring procedures are carried out
• Regular reporting in accordance with deadlines
• Responsibility for checking the use of funds and financial planning in consultation with the officer responsible for the commission at GIZ
• Supporting the officer responsible for the commission in updating and/or adapting the project strategy, in evaluations and in preparing a follow-on phase

Qualifications

• Education/training: Master’s degree business, economics, innovation management
• Languages: English C1 (Common EU Framework of Reference for Languages)
• General professional experience: 10 years of professional experience in digital innovation, entrepreneurship support and skills development
• Specific professional experience: 5 years of professional experience in digital and entrepreneurial skills development, experience working with entrepreneurship support organisations (ESOs) and other intermediaries of the digital ecosystem
• Leadership/management experience: 3 years of management/leadership experience as project team leader or manager in a company managing large-scale projects
• Regional experience: 3 years of working experience in the East African Community (EAC region), of which 1 year in Kenya (country)
• 2 years of experience working on DC projects
• 2 years of experience in financial management with substantial local subsidies.