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

You want to help reduce the digital divide in Africa and thus actively shape the digital transformation on the ground? You want to advise municipal multimedia centres or youth clubs, improve web platforms or geoinformation systems, set up a makerspace in a remote village? You are familiar with Mesh Networks and Raspberry Pi? Or with social media and data privacy? Then you have come to the right place!

Our Digital Ambassador initiative aims to provide disadvantaged groups, communities and civil society organisations in Africa with better access to the latest digital technologies and enable them to use these better. In this way, more people should benefit from the opportunities offered by digitalisation. In particular, the initiative promotes access to the internet in rural areas, digital literacy among women, girls and young people and digital support for civil society processes.

Digital Ambassadors are mediators between the digital world, digital ecosystems and local realities who, in peer-to-peer approaches, (co-)develop innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural, rich and poor, or men and women, and to encourage efforts to scale up these solutions.

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

• The role of the digital ambassadors depends on specific local needs
• You could, for example, be involved in the area of basic digital literacy, in the development of easily accessible digital information channels, in the area of the entrepreneurial and start-up scene, digitisation in vocational training or in the design of concepts for NGOs that work online to promote democratic participation
• Work could also focus on the challenge of providing innovative solutions for internet access where there is no broadband or for those who do not own a smartphone with a flat-rate mobile data plan
• Digital ambassadors often work in a team with complementary skills, and always cooperate closely with local partners, with whom they jointly design and develop the solutions

• University degree or professional qualification related to digital change (social or political sciences, economics, social work, education, media, ICT, engineering or similar)
• Affinity for digital transformation, combined with initial practical professional experience (possibly through internships completed during your studies) and initial experience in the field of development/international cooperation
• Proven IT/ICT knowledge, as well as experience and understanding of IT developments and IT/ICT projects; Knowledge of promoting digital literacy and consulting approaches in the field of information and communication technologies; Interest in cooperation/interface management and process design
• Experience abroad, ideally in Africa and experience in working in intercultural contexts
• Sensitivity towards, or experience with, approaches to gender equality
• Teamwork and networking skills combined with the talent to think conceptually and analytically; Structured work style with a high degree of self-organisation, flexibility and creativity
• Strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills; Driving licence and driving experience are an advantage
• Very good knowledge of English and French (depending on location), knowledge of German is an advantage

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.

Location: main and provincial cities in sub-saharan Africa

Deployment duration : 12-24 months (plus 1 month preparation)

This assignment is also suitable for a gap-year.

For this assignment, the specific geographic location will depend on project needs. Possible countries in focus are: Ghana, Kenya, Namibia or Tanzania as well as Cameroon
or Côte d'Ivoire. The duration of the assignment, including the start and end dates, also depends on the project end date depends on the project applicants would support. In
Generally, the duration can be between one and two years. This is a speculative application. After sending the application you will receive an automatic reply with further information. We
ask for your understanding if any feedback is delayed.

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 - in particular also regarding COVID-19.

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.

GIZ would like to increase the proportion of employees with disability, both in Germany and abroad. Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.