Etsimme vastuullista ja huolellista asiantuntijaa, jolla on vahva halu olla mukana kehittämässä digitalisaatiota Afrikan ja Euroopan eri maissa. Toivomme sinun olevan oma-aloitteinen ja työtehtäviin ammattimaisesti suhtautuva henkilö, joka pystyy toimimaan tehokkaasti haastavissa, monikulttuurisissa ja koordinaatiotaitoja vaativissa verkostomaisissa olosuhteissa. Työsi jälki on hyvää, etkä tingi positiivisesta asenteestasi tai laadusta. Kokemus yksityiseltä sektorilta ja erityisesti rahoittajien ja sijoittajien tuntemus nähdään eduksi. Alla tehtävän tarkempi kuvaus. Tehtävän täyttäminen edellytttää rahoitussopimusta Ulkoministeriö-HAUS välillä. Asiantuntija toimii kansainvälisten palveluiden tiimissä. 

We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the fixed-term position of Expert (Innovation Policy) to work in Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge 2.0 (AEDIB 2.0) Global Gateway initiative, co-funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The position is based in Kigali, Rwanda.

Background:

Team Europe Initiative on Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge 2.0 is aimed at strengthening digital transformation and green transition in Africa through enhanced partnerships for digital entrepreneurship and innovation. The initiative has the following Specific Objectives (SOs):

SO1:     Enhance digital entrepreneurship and innovation policies 

SO2:     Strengthen Digital Innovation Ecosystems for Digital Transformation and Green Transition

SO3:     Improve access to finance for innovative (including women-led) ventures supporting Digital Transformation and Green Transition

The selected candidate will act as Innovation Policy Expert providing technical expertise, facilitating cooperation, and planning and coordinating Finnish activities under SO1. The Expert will work in close collaboration with the European implementing partners, national and regional African partners, HAUS Project Manager and other HAUS staff recruited for the project.

The activities under SO1 will focus on improving the policy and regulatory landscapes by addressing critical gaps, particularly the misalignment between existing STI and digital entrepreneurship policies and rapidly evolving digital ecosystems. A major barrier to innovation is the lack of inclusive, research-based policy frameworks or insufficient implementation of relevant policies that can respond to the fast-paced developments in digital entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and the green transition. To overcome this, the activities will prioritize public engagement to include the voices of all citizens and ecosystem actors and the generation and use of data-driven insights to inform policy development, ensuring that policies are not only reactive but also inclusive, forward-looking, and contextually relevant.

Finland is responsible for strengthening capacities of policy makers and ecosystem leaders to inclusively design, implement, monitor, update and evaluate digital entrepreneurship and innovation policies. Planned activities include developing inclusive collaboration framewokrs and supporting pathways tailored to regional and sectoral needs through consultation and co-creation sessions. Additionally, technical assistance will be provided in the form of policy implementation support to policy-makers, government bodies and ecosystem leaders in cooperation with other European implementation partners.

Key responsibilities:  

• Provide Technical Expertise and guidance on innovation and digital entrepreneurship policy development, ensuring alignment with international best practices, regional needs, and project goals under Specific Objective 1 (SO1)
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement andorganize and support inclusive, multi-stakeholder policy co-creation sessions, national dialogues, and consultations involving policymakers, academia, civil society, industry, and underrepresented groups to ensure diverse perspectives are integrated.
• Identify and utilize tools developed under open platforms (e.g., policy repositories, templates, best practice libraries)
• Facilitate collaboration between Finnish stakeholders, European implementing partners, African public and private institutions, and regional bodies to ensure coherence, impact, and sustainability of policy efforts
• Plan procurements of external services, provide guidance for sub-contracted partners and monitor progress of the contracted services
• Work closely with the HAUS Project Manager and other implementing partners to ensure effective planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting of HAUS-led activities under SO1, in line with broader project objectives

Qualifications and skills required:

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Innovation Management, Economics, International Development, Political Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in innovation policy development, digital transformation, or related field.  
• Previous experience in working with or within public sector institutions on policy design and implementation, preferably in an international or development cooperation context.
• Experience with multi-stakeholder engagement, including government, private sector, civil society, and academia
• Strong understanding of innovation policy frameworks and digital entrepreneurship ecosystems
• Knowledge of inclusive policy development practices and participatory methods
• Experience in facilitating policy processes and using research and data to inform policy design
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across cultures and sectors
• Strong coordination and project management skills, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Familiarity with online tools and platforms for virtual collaboration, training delivery, and policy knowledges-sharing (e.g. webinars, podcasts, eLearning, digital libraries, open-source tools and templates)
• Exceptional written and oral communication in English and Finnish.

In addition, the following are considered as additional advantages for the applicants:  

• Experience in public sector project implementation and donor-funded project frameworks
• Prior involvement in developing or managing repositories, knowledge platforms, or policy toolkits
• Familiarity with gender equality and inclusivity in innovation
• Knowledge of Finnish digitalization and innovation policies and frameworks
• Familiarity with Finnish and EU development policies.
• Proficiency in French, given the regional scope of Africa
• Previous experience in working and living in Africa long-term

Duration: 36 months or as otherwise agreed. The fixed-term contract is tied to the project.

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Submission details:

In order to apply for this position, please send your motivation letter and CV (max. 3 pages) in English through our Recruitment portal  latest on 19 June 2025.

Interview process will be started already during the application period, and the position will be filled immediately after finding a suitable candidate.

CV and motivation letters will be shared among the interview panelists.

About HAUS:

HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd (HAUS) is a state-owned company, which provides training and development services to state administrations. HAUS is a state stakeholder unit under the steering of the Ministry of Finance of Finland. HAUS has also substantial experience on international projects in the field of public sector reforms and development having implemented more than 50 international projects in more than 20 countries.