Team Leader – Digital Connectivity in Central Asia

Expertise France is the French public international cooperation agency. It designs and implements projects which aim to contribute to the balanced development of partner countries, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the priorities of France’s external action.

The Global Gateway flagship initiatives on Water, Energy and Climate, and on Digital Connectivity, established during the Samarkand summit in November 2022, underscored a significant milestone in the partnership between the EU and Central Asian countries. In the digital realm, the ubiquity of information and communication technologies has become indispensable, shaping the fabric of everyday life. Despite advancements, Central Asian nations continue to face obstacles in internet accessibility, particularly in rural areas, due to geographic constraints, infrastructure limitations, and economic factors. Recognizing these challenges, the Digital Connectivity Team Europe Initiative was conceived to address the digital divide by harnessing the potential of satellite connectivity. Through a nuanced approach encompassing policy reform, regulatory frameworks, digital innovation and community-focused interventions, the initiative aims to foster universally accessible, affordable, and secure broadband across the region, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the digital strategies across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Expertise France will take the lead in coordinating the « soft » pillar of this TEI within the European consortium. This involves overseeing the project across its four components, in collaboration with CPVA (Lithuania), e-Governance Academy (Estonia), HAUS (Finland), and CFLA (Latvia). The project components, corresponding to 4 specific objectives are:

(i) To enhance the policy and regulatory framework enabling the development and the deployment of sustainable and inclusive satellite connectivity and its middle-mile terrestrial infrastructures;

(ii) To foster transparent and inclusive access to public and private connectivity services to the “last-mile” through increased use of open, affordable, safe and secure broadband for everyone, with a focus on rural areas and stronger efforts for reaching the most marginalized right holders;

(iii) To foster local digital innovation with a specific technical focus on satellite connectivity;

(iv) To build cybersecurity capacity, promote cybersecurity awareness among stakeholders, and establish a comprehensive cybersecurity framework.

As the Team Leader for the Digital Connectivity project in Central Asia, you will be responsible for managing the project team in Astana, overseeing project implementation, and ensuring the achievement of project objectives. You will need to be able to travel to meet with stakeholders and contribute to the smooth running of the project. The position implies a high degree of autonomy and interpersonal skills appropriate to working in an international and multicultural environment, as well as strong managerial skills.

Key Responsibilities (non-exhaustive list, subject to changes):

·         Lead the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of the project in Central Asia across all 4 components;

·         Manage project resources, including budgets, timelines, and human resources, to ensure efficient and effective project implementation;

·         Consolidate and coordinate the work of staff and experts, both hired by Expertise France and the other consortium agencies;

·         Coordinate with Expertise France headquarters, other Member State agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with organizational strategies and policies;

·         Ensure the smooth running of the project office in Astana and recruitment of local staff;

·         Coordinate evaluation and closure activities after the end of the implementation period;

·         Represent the project vis-à-vis the EU Delegation, the project beneficiaries, and the partners;

·         Represent the project in steering committees and events, workshops and conferences;

·         Liaison with European partners and relevant national and regional counterparts to ensure a smooth implementation of the action, avoid overlapping and maximize synergies;

·         Report to the EU Delegation in Astana on strategic and operational updates;

·         Represent Expertise France and the consortium in meetings, conferences, and other events, showcasing project achievements and fostering collaboration with external partners.

Internal and external project coordination

·         Ensure day-to-day coordination between Focal points and Technical Experts;

·         Coordinate the project’s implementation between countries, provide backstopping support, and approve key documents;

·         Day-to-day coordination between European implementing agencies.

EF internal liaison

·         Ensure the interface between the project and EF HQ;

·         Ensure compliance with the specifications/contract, anticipate and manage risks and developments relating to the project and alert hierarchy if necessary;

·         Represent EF in the various bodies involved in project monitoring;

·         Report regularly to HQ (monthly, quarterly and annual reports).

Skills and qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as international development, economics, engineering, or information technology;
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in project management, preferably in international development projects funded by the EU;
• Proven experience in the field of digital connectivity, ICT infrastructure development, or related areas;
• Proven experience managing large international development projects, including budget management, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation;
• Strong leadership and team management skills;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders;
• Demonstrated understanding of the political, social, and economic context of Central Asia, particularly in relation to digital connectivity and ICT development;
• Fluency in English and Russian is required, knowledge of French is desirable;
• Willingness to travel within the region and internationally, as required.

Soft skills

• Multicultural teamwork and adaptability
• Sense of diplomacy, empathy and conflict management skills
• Sense of responsibility, initiative and reactivity;
• Result-oriented
• Excellent communication skills

WHAT WE OFFER

• An exciting job in an international environment
• A contract for a term of 18 months (renewable) based in Astana, with field visits in the countries of implementation. The full duration of the project is estimated in 48 months.
• A salary package that comprises the monthly gross salary, in accordance with our salary scales, expatriation allowance and other benefits. The exact salary will be defined according to relevant recognised experience for the function.

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