Digital for Development Expert (LAC Branch)

Work Objective

Responsible for supporting LAC Branch for the facilitation of national D4D coordination Hubs in partner countries and for the formulation of new joint Actions.

Content of the assignment

The Digital for Development (D4D) Hub serves as a multistakeholder platform ensuring dialogue and coordination among Member States (MS), EU Commission, private sector, and civil society to promote, implement and boost the European way of humancentric approach to the digital transformation in partner countries. The D4D Hub is the key instrument to foster a Team Europe approach with unprecedented levels of coordination, advancing multistakeholder dialogue with private sector and civil society to leverage expertise and resources and share best practices. The Overall Objective of the D4D Hub is to contribute to the fulfilment of EU global ambition of promoting a fair, inclusive, gender responsive, green, and human centric digital transformation worldwide. The D4D Hub was launched in December 2020 by the European Commission, European Heads of State, and the D4D Hub partners. In January 2023 the D4D Hub Secretariat was formally set up as neutral entity to implemented D4D Hub identified activities. Italy joined the MPCA in December 2023.The Secretariat is co-funded by the EC, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain and Italy through a Multi-Partnership Contribution Agreement (MPCA). The Secretariat of the D4D Hub is formed by staff recruited by EU member states agencies to work in the general coordination, the geographic branches the thematic working groups and the advisory groups. A specific component to be implemented by Italy under the MPCA is the operationalization of the Informal Digital Hubs in selected priority countries identified by EC and Member States. These hubs are integral to the EU’s digital diplomacy agenda, aiming to facilitate the local and regional implementation of Council Conclusions on digitalization. In that context, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is seeking for a Digital for Development Expert, responsible for supporting the LAC Regional Branch covering the geographical areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. Under the coordination of AICS HQ, the expert will act as focal point for the Italian participation to the D4D Hub with special focus on LAC Branch. Within the D4D Hub Secretariat, the expert will operate under the supervision of the D4D Hub Secretariat Global Coordinator and will be based in Bogotá at AICS premises.

Main tasks and responsabilities

The Digital for Development expert, in close collaboration with the LAC Branch Coordinator appointed by AECID and DG INTPA will be in charge of the coordination and implementation of all the activities under the responsibility of AICS. 1. Coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the activities under AICS responsibility in the Regional Branch foreseen by MPCA. 2. In close coordination with the EEAS, the EU Delegations, DG INTPA, the Global Coordination Expert and in collaboration with the LAC Branch Coordinator, support and facilitate the creation of informal national pilot D4D coordination Hubs in partner countries in LAC. 3. Act as interlocutor for D4D Hub Member States and DG INTPA, in close cooperation with the Coordinator of the Branch and the D4D Hub Working Groups. 4. Facilitate exchange and partnerships between and among relevant D4D stakeholders from the European Commission, EU Member States, EU private sector and partner region governments, institutions, private sector, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders at LAC level. 5. Support DG INTPA and MS in conducting national donor coordination activities: Prepare, facilitate, and follow up on regular meetings, workshops, and events involving EU Member States, EU institutions, international financial institutions, and other donors and/or representatives of partner countries. 6. Support DG INTPA, EU MS, regional bodies and partner countries in the formulation of future new regional and national joint EU and EU MS D4D Actions. 7. In close cooperation with the Coordinator of the Branch: • Develop a consensual workplan for the Regional Branch. • Prepare, facilitate and follow-up the plenary meetings of the LAC Branch and LAC Branch items at the Board of Directors, including support to INTPA. • Participate in D4D Regional working and advisory groups. 8. In collaboration with AICS Bogotá Field Office, facilitate networking with other AICS Filed Offices in the LAC region.

Essential requirements

To be admitted, the candidate must meet the following essential requirements: a) being at least 18 years old; b) being medically and psychologically fit to perform the duties involved in the position; c) full enjoyment of civil and political rights; d) in the three years prior to the expiration date of the Call for Applications, not having been classified as insufficient (“Seriously Insufficient” or “Insufficient”) in the work assessment carried out within the framework of employment contracts signed with foreign Offices from AICS; e) not having criminal convictions, not being subject to preventive measures, and not being involved in criminal or accounting proceedings in Italy or abroad; f) not having been dismissed, dispensed, declared lapsed or fired from employment or other work relationship with public administration in Italy or abroad; g) Italian or EU Member States citizenship; h) having a master’s degree in political sciences/international Relations, Development Cooperation, Economics, Law, Engineering, Statistics, Digital, and/or related field, or other degrees of the same level may be taken into consideration if accompanied by at least five years of working experience in the field of international cooperation for development and/or in the digital transition sector. Alternatively, Three-year Bachelor’s Degree/First Level bachelor’s degree in political sciences/international Relations, Development Cooperation, Economics, Law, Engineering, Statistics, Digital, and/or related field accompanied by at least five years of working experience in the field of international cooperation for development and/or in the digital transition sector; i) having at least five years of professional experience implementing or coordinating complex multi-partner international development cooperation projects; j) having at least three years of professional experience in managing or implementing international development cooperation projects, in partner countries (not intended as a mainstream experience of other sector); k) having at least one year of specific professional experience in digital for development sector; l) fluency (equivalent to C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference) in written and spoken Spanish and English; m) proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications.

Preferential requirements

a) university Master, PhD or Higher Education Courses recognized in the sector of interest or in the field of Digital transformation, International Development Cooperation, Sustainable Finance, Circular Economy, Green Transition, additional to the minimum requirement indicated in 2.1 above; b) previous working experience at the European Commission or at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) or at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS); c) previous working experience in Latin America and Caribbean Countries; d) previous working experience in European Union Delegated Cooperation sector; e) more than one year of professional experience in digital for development sector; f) more than five years of professional experience implementing or coordinating complex multi-partner international development cooperation projects; g) more than three years of professional experience in managing or implementing international development cooperation projects, in partner countries; h) a good level of knowledge of the European Commission’s policy work on Digital4Development and of EU development cooperation policy and implementing projects procedures; i) expertise facilitating collaborative work with diverse project partners engaged in complex projects; j) B2 Level (Common European Framework of Reference) in written and spoken Italian; k) B2 Level (Common European Framework of Reference) in written and spoken Portuguese; l) ability to work efficiently in a team environment as well as independently.

Gross annual income: 75.664,00 Euros
Gross annual compensation due to increases (recognized only in case of tax residence outside the country where the service is provided): 76.758,00 Euros