TECHNICAL ADVISOR – Entrepreneurship-Ecosystem Support for MakelT in Africa – GIZ Botswana

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Project Description

GIZ implements the project “Tech Entrepreneurship Initiative MakelT in Africa” on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is part of the BMZ initiative “Digital Africa” and aims at improving the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the digital economy. In its second project phase Make-IT supports tech start-ups in their early growth phase and strengthens public and private intermediaries of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2022 we are starting to implement MakelT as well in the southern part of Africa with a main base in Windhoek, Namibia and another duty station in Gaborone, Botswana. We are looking to strengthening the team and for you to represent MakelT in Africa in Botswana to closely collaborate with the local tech entrepreneurship ecosystem and with the GIZ SADC team. The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH therefore invites suitably qualified, experienced, innovative individuals to apply for the position of:

TECHNICAL ADVISOR – Entrepreneurship-Ecosystem Support for MakelT in Africa

Job Title : Technical Advisor – MakelT in Africa Job Category : Professional, Band 4 Location          :                 Gaborone, Botswana

Project                :    GIZ – Entrepreneurship-Ecosystem Support for MakelT in Africa

Duration             :    immediately until 30.04.2024

Key Responsibilities;

1. Co-create the regional MakelT in Africa Desk Southern Africa

• Developing an engagement strategy for startup and innovation hubs as well as intermediaries supporting tech entrepreneurs in the region support; draw up an operational plan and oversee implementation thereof
• Co-developing a strategy to strengthen Southern African digital innovation ecosystems with a focus on i.e. angel investment networks, private sector partnerships, academia, policy initiatives and the media
• Coordinate the implementation of start-up support programs or matchmaking formats, including planning, design and quality assurance of program implementation, e.g. in AgriTech, GreenTech or SmartCities
• Build a portfolio of partners and associates to help run sustainable programs on behalf of the network and or to build corporate startup partnerships
• Conduct and facilitate community management of the network and anchor it in the SADC region and the SADC Secretariat

2. Build and support the community and a network of regional Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) and relevant other stakeholders

• Planning (also collaborate), executing and reviewing events and programs, pre- and post-event communication with participants and stakeholders
• Drawing up project budgets, support in raising funding and preparing project accounts for community projects and programs

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• Building a database of sectorial digital innovation communities to guide strategic decisions
• Maintaining both the ESO base and virtual communities that constantly engage and participate in the network’s activities.
• Leading community research to identify needs and expectation of the tech entrepreneurship community and ecosystem.
• Improve awareness of the ecosystem’s potential as well as leverage this potential to showcase the and amplify the work of hubs and entrepreneurs

3. Communication and networking

• PR, brand development, marketing and communication of MakelT in Africa in regional startup ecosystems in collaboration with headquarter communications team in Germany
• Event management and creation: identify local events with co-creation potential, create and organize own events

4. International Collaboration and Exposure

• Establish and manage new cooperation formats (‘exposure projects’) between European companies and startups in the region
• Strategic cooperation with the Make-IT Alliance partners in the partner countries
• Establish close exchange formats with relevant Digital Innovation Hubs (AEDIB)
• Drafting of reports and statements

Requirements:

Qualification

• University degree in a technical field (computer science, data science, ICT is an added advantage), economics, business, communications/marketing or a similar subject

Professional experience

• At least four years of professional experience in the field of startup promotion, digital innovation, communication, network management and cooperation with the private sector in the SADC region
• Proven sectorial knowledge in Agri- and or Greentech or Smart Cities
• Having run your own (tech) startup in the past is an added advantage
• Ideally work experience with an extensive network in Green/Blue Tech or Smart Cities

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Extensive knowledge of digital transformation in Africa and of the regional digital startup eco-systems.
• Proven experience in facilitating business partnerships between established companies/ corporates and innovation actors, such as start-ups
• Knowledge of major digital technologies (incl. digital platforms) and thorough understanding of aspects of technical interoperability
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills
• Ability to work independently, structure your tasks, familiarize yourself with new topics quickly and comprehensively.
• You have excellent writing and communication skills and a great interest in ICT and technology; you are very flexible and are able to work under pressure.

Business fluency in English is vital. Knowledge of German and Portuguese would be an advantage