Development workers (m/f/d) as Digital Ambassadors

Do you want to help reduce the digital divide in countries of the Global South and actively shape local digital transformations? Do you want to advise municipal multimedia centres or youth clubs in West Africa, improve platforms for climate data in Latin America, breathe life into digital administrative services for municipalities in Central Asia, support micro-enterprises in North Africa in their digital journey, or assist vocational education and training providers in South Asia in becoming more digitally oriented? Do you have experience in the field of digital transformation and have the relevant skills and toolkit? Then you've come to the right place!

Under the motto "promoting inclusive digital change", our Digital Ambassador initiative aims to provide disadvantaged groups, municipalities, and civil society organisations in partner countries with better access to and improving their use of relevant digital technologies. In this way, more people should benefit from the opportunities offered by digitalisation. In particular, the initiative promotes the use of the internet in rural areas, digital literacy among women, girls and young people, and digital support for democratic processes.

In this way, Digital Ambassadors are intermediaries between the digital world, local digital ecosystems, and the realities on the ground. With their work, they support the development of solutions to bridge the digital divides between rural and urban, rich and poor, and men and women.

As part of your service as a development worker, you will take on the following tasks:

• Teaching basic digital skills in partner institutions, developing easily accessible digital information channels, supporting the areas of data protection / cybersecurity, the entrepreneur and start-up scene, Industry 4.0/4IR, as well as digitalisation in vocational education and training.
• Design of digital concepts or media campaigns for NGOs that advocate for democratic participation in digital spaces.
• Development of innovative solutions for access to the internet where there is no broadband or for those who do not have a smartphone with an affordable data plan.
• As a Digital Ambassador, you will often work within a GIZ team with complementary skills, but always together with local partners with whom you will design and develop the solutions together.

• University degree or professional qualification related to digital transformation (social science, public policy, political science, economics, social work, pedagogy, media, ICT, engineering, or similar).
• Practical professional experience in supporting digital transformation processes and initial experience in the field of development cooperation/international cooperation (this could also be within the framework of qualified internships during studies).
• Proven IT/ICT knowledge and experience and understanding of IT developments and IT/ICT projects or proven experience in the teaching of digital skills or digital change management.
• Knowledge regarding the promotion of "digital literacy" and advisory approaches to information and communication technologies as well as interest in cooperation/interface management and process design/implementation (e.g. Design Thinking, Scrum methodologies) and knowledge of current European discussions on digital issues, e.g. on artificial intelligence, transparency of supply chains, data protection (esp. GDPR), consumer rights in the digital space, as well as the UN Principles for Digital Development.
• Experience abroad, preferably in non-European countries, and experience in working in intercultural contexts.
• Sensitivity to and experience with approaches to gender equality in the sense of German feminist development policy.
• Ability to work in a team and networking skills combined with the talent to think conceptually and analytically as well as a structured working style with a high degree of self-organization, flexibility and creativity, and strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Fluent in English or German or, depending on the location, very good knowledge of Spanish or French. Relevant local business language is an advantage.

Location: Capital and provincial cities in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the MENA region

In this case, the specific geographical location depends on the needs of the project. Digital Ambassadors are currently deployed in the partner countries of German development cooperation, e.g. in Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, Viet Nam, Pakistan, Honduras and Egypt.

Please indicate in the subject line of your cover letter if you prefer to apply for a specific region (do not list countries).

The duration of the assignment, including the start and end dates, also depends on the project in which applicants are to be employed. Generally, the duration is between one and two years.

We are pleased to offer you a first impression on topics such as climate, shopping and services, the school situation and health care in the countries.

Further information on country-specific advice from the Federal Foreign Office at 
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/.

At the site of some operations, the particulate pollution occurs to be many time higher than the European acceptable limit. As part of the selection process and during the recruitment examination you will be informed of appropriate protective and behavioral measures.

Length of assignment: 12-24 months (plus 1 month of preparation)

This assignment may be suitable for a gap year. Please contact us.

This is a unsolicited application. After sending the application you will receive an automatic reply with further information. We ask for your understanding if any feedback is delayed.

GIZ's Development Service is looking forward to applications of candidates with a professional qualification and / or university degree and at least two years of professional experience. In addition you hold the German nationality or the nationality of a member state of the European Union.

Willingness to travel on a regular basis is required.

For general questions from dependent partners about local employment - please contact us at: map@giz.de

Please observe the provisions of the country-specific vaccination regulations for entry and work in the country of assignment.

Please understand that we can accept and process in principle only applications via our E-recruiting system. Following the confirmation of your succesful application, kindly check your spam / junk mail folder on a regular basis, since some provider classify emails form our recruiting system as spam.

The basis for service as a development worker is the Development Workers Act (EhfG) and a comprehensive package of benefits based on it. This includes, among other things, targeted professional and personal preparation. We offer the opportunity to work in an innovative, globally active development institution. Your competencies are in demand in an interdisciplinary team on site.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.