Artificial Intelligence Education and Research Advisor at GIZ Rwanda. Deadline 9th November 2021

Internal Vacancy Announcement

Artificial Intelligence Education and Research Advisor

for

Digital Solutions for Sustainable Development (DSSD) Programme

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy, and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

The GIZ Digital Transformation Center promotes digital transformation in Rwanda and is an important bridge between the government, the economy, and civil society. The project supports MINICT and the implementing organization RISA in building capacity to promote digital transformation in Rwanda. At the same time, the Digital Transformation Center supports the partners in developing and implementing digital solutions to social challenges. From 2019 to 2021 alone, 17 digital solutions were developed and 585 people received training on topics like the internet of things, machine learning, and project management. More than 80 events took place with over 4,000 participants.

One of the focus areas of the Digital Transformation Center is Artificial Intelligence. The Center contributes to sustainable and open approaches to AI in Rwanda and at the regional level. This includes skills and capacity building, creating and opening up AI training data, and developing policy frameworks to promote AI adoption in Rwanda. A specific objective is to make AI solutions available for the Rwandan population in Kinyarwanda. Therefore, the Digital Transformation Center contributes to creating AI training data sets and piloting AI-based solutions in the areas of natural language processing (e.g. voice assistants) and machine translation.

GIZ Rwanda is searching candidates for the position of Artificial Intelligence Education and Research Advisor for the Digital Transformation Center.

Location: Kigali

Fixed: one (1)year

Position: (1) one

A. Responsibilities

• Planning and implementing selected activities in the area of artificial intelligence and machine translation, with a specific focus on AI capacity building and education, as well as applied AI research projects
• Advising partners from government, academia, and private sector on how to best leverage AI approaches in Rwanda, including building and maintaining relationships with programme stakeholders
• Contributing actively to effective project management, including planning and budgeting, steering of contractors, communication, and monitoring and evaluation
• Identifying and using synergies with other GIZ projects in Rwanda, especially those in the Digital Transformation Center

B. Tasks

The AI Education and Research Advisor performs the following tasks:

1. Technical 

• Coordinate the design and implementation of project activities in the area of artificial intelligence, with a specific focus on AI skills and education, and applied AI research. This includes, among others, creating training and educational programmes focusing on machine translation, and applied research projects on artificial intelligence in collaboration with universities and other key stakeholders.
• Advise partners from government, academia, and the private sector on how to best leverage AI for sustainable development in Rwanda
• Contribute to the scaling of best practices from Rwanda to other countries in Africa

2. Project management and communication: 

• Preparation of contracts, including Terms of Reference and other project documents
• Management of subcontractors and supervision consultancies and studies
• Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of activities
• Manage meetings, workshops, and events with stakeholders and service providers (preparation, implementation, follow-up)
• Support in the field of communication, public relations, preparation of fact sheets, including social media and newsletters
• Facilitate administrative and logistical procedures for activities in coordination with the GIZ administration team

• Support and execution of any other tasks assigned to by the management

C. Required qualifications, competencies, and experience

Qualifications

• Bachelors’ in computer science, information systems, artificial intelligence, or other relevant field

Professional experience

• At least 6 years professional experience in a comparable position
• Strong understanding of AI and emerging technologies more broadly, including its opportunities and challenges in the context of sustainable development
• Experience in designing and/or implementing educational programmes and trainings in the area of emerging technologies
• Experience working in/with academic institutions and universities
• Experience in organizing and implementing events and workshops
• Experience in project management, ideally in the area of digital transformation and/or international cooperation
• Experience working with public sector and government officials is an advantage

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Proactive in the development and implementation of ideas and proposals
• Able to work under little supervision but at the same time being a real team player
• Finely tuned organizational skills
• Ability to build and manage internal and external relationships and build strategic partnerships and networks
• Good knowledge of English
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates, and references) until 09th November 2021 at 4:00 PM, by e-mail to recruitment-rw@giz.de The email attachment (max. size 2 MB) should be a PDF file. Please quote the job title in the subject

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu

P.O. Box 59, Kigali,Rwanda

GIZ Office Rwanda reserves all rights!!