Digital Economy and ICT Advisor

Brief Description of the Project

Ethiopia is undergoing a major economic shift away from a state-led economic model towards a more liberal, market-based one. This transformation is driven by Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda 2.0 (HGER 2.0) and accompanying macroeconomic reforms initiated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which aim to promote private sector-led economic growth, achieve macroeconomic stabilization, and initiate structural transformations. This includes the liberalization of key sectors, the promotion of foreign investment, and the integration of Ethiopia into the global economy.

The project “Private Sector Development in Ethiopia” (PSD-E), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Government and co-financed by the European Union and the Netherlands, contributes to Ethiopia’s reform efforts to promote private sector-led economic transformation. The project specifically aims to strengthen the Ethiopian private sector to become more competitive and resilient. This is achieved by strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of local transformative companies with high growth potential and scalable business models, start-ups in the growth phase, and other MSMEs – especially those acting as service providers, suppliers, or customers of transformative companies. In addition, the project supports financial institutions and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) to improve access to finance, as well as the Ministry of Revenue (MoR) and the Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC) to enhance selected customs and tax procedures. Furthermore, the project strengthens the resilience of, in particular, women-led MSMEs in (post-) conflict regions by improving their business performance and creditworthiness.

Intervention Area

The relevant intervention area for this position is to support a portfolio of transformative companies operating in the Digital Economy and ICT field, particularly in areas such as ICT services (e.g. software development, AI, cybersecurity, FinTech), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), enterprise digitalization, and digital and audiovisual content creation and distribution (including film, series, animation, gaming, immersive technologies (VR/AR), and digital marketing and social media content).

Transformative companies are defined as ambitious companies with strong growth potential and scalable business models that contribute to job creation at scale, increased local value addition, stronger and more sustainable supply chains, and greater participation in local, regional, and international markets. In addition, these companies are expected to act as transformative development partners, generating broader development impacts beyond their own operations, including positive spillovers for other market actors and contributions to sector-wide transformations.

To support the above-described intervention area, the PSD-E project is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and proactive Digital Economy and ICT Advisor (m/f) with a strong background in private sector development and a solid understanding of digital and ICT-related sectors, combined with project management experience in international development cooperation, preferably within GIZ. The role is explicitly oriented towards a business and market development perspective, focusing on strengthening companies’ competitiveness, business models, and market positioning through digital solutions, rather than solely on technical IT experience

Advisory Service:

• Provide targeted technical advisory support to selected transformative companies in the digital economy and ICT sector, e.g. in enterprise digitalization (ERP/CRM systems), digital service delivery models, and digital content production and distribution.
• Support companies in identifying opportunities for digital transformation, innovation, and business model development, including the development and scaling of digital products and services and the integration of emerging technologies such as AI and data-driven solutions.
• Support companies in strengthening BPO service delivery models and capabilities, including process optimization and service standardization.
• Facilitate linkages between companies and relevant ecosystem actors, including technology providers, innovation hubs, investors, and industry associations.

Project Management and Coordination

• Coordinate the implementation of tailored technical assistance packages for each company
• Recruit and technically steer national and international consultants/consultancies or manage financing/grant agreements supporting the selected companies
• Coordinate the design and implementation of joint initiatives with selected companies that generate wider development impact, including spillovers and contributions to sector-wide transformation.
• Monitor, document, and report on implementation progress and results in line with project requirements.
• Work closely with other PSD-E components, including active engagement in the project’s AI and Digitalization team, to ensure alignment and coherence of interventions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with private sector actors, industry associations, government institutions, and development partners to strengthen the digital ecosystem.
• Contribute to cross-cutting tasks such as knowledge management, communication and visibility, and event organization.
• Where appropriate and reasonable, the position holder shall perform tasks outside the scope of the job description

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in business administration (with a focus on ICT/digital economy), information technology, information systems, digital innovation, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in digital economy, ICT, or technology-driven private sector development.
• Minimum of three years of experience in project management or technical advisory roles within international development cooperation, preferably with GIZ.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following areas: software development, AI/data-driven solutions, cybersecurity, FinTech, BPO services, enterprise digitalization, digital content production, or digital marketing.
• Strong understanding of digital business models, market systems, and private sector dynamics in Ethiopia.
• Experience in providing technical advisory support to companies and managing external consultants (incl. ToRs, contracting, and quality assurance).
• Excellent IT (particularly MS Office) and presentation skills; experience with SAP/S4HANA is an advantage.

Soft skills:

• Proactive and self-reliant working style
• Strong results orientation and problem-solving ability
• Ability to prioritize, structure tasks, and work under pressure
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset and willingness to support colleagues

Language Proficiency:

• Excellent command of English and Amharic, both written and spoken.