Africa Cyber Programme- Project Manager at British High Commission Nairobi

Main purpose of job:

• Reporting to the Africa Cyber Programme Manager, the Project Manager will be responsible for supporting the setup of the Africa Cyber Programme Phase 2 (ACP 2) in Kenya – working with the implementing partners, the Africa Cyber Lead and Programme Management Committee in the UK. The post-holder will provide oversight of all ISF project activities and contributing to stakeholder engagement in the public and private sectors to promote cyber security. The role presents unique opportunities to advance the UK- Kenya relationship on digital access and cyber security for economic growth at a time when these issues are of increasing importance on the international agenda.
• The Project Manager will lead on the design, development, and delivery of cyber related projects for Kenya under the ISF Cyber Portfolio. The ACP is a major UK government investment that will contribute to the UK and FCDO’s vision of thriving, open digital societies powered by trusted technologies, with the UK leading efforts to uphold a free, open, peaceful, and secure cyberspace.
• The Africa Cyber Programme catalyses inclusive, affordable, safe, and secure digital access for underserved populations in Africa; promoting digital ecosystems that stimulate innovations for local development challenges and creating local skilled jobs.
• Programme Primary outcome: Kenya to have increased resilience to cybersecurity threats and reduced impact of cyber harms on their populations.
• Secondary outcome: strengthened cybersecurity capacity ecosystem in Kenya drives inclusive economic growth, opens trade and investment opportunities for UK cyber companies, and enhances UK bilateral cybersecurity relationship with Kenya.
• Programme activity is delivered through a single contract with a prime supplier. ACP 2 is currently in the inception phase (selecting and designing projects). Full implementation is due to start in May.
• The job holder will also be required to understand the Cyber policy landscape in Kenya, supporting the Cyber lead, in monitoring and reporting on developments in country.

 The role will entail the following functions:

• In support of and under the oversight of the Cyber Lead, manage the implementation of the programmes, ensuring interventions are evidence-based and well placed to contribute significantly to the programme’s overall objectives in terms of primary purpose (poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth) and secondary benefits (opportunities for business partnerships with the UK). This will include supporting the design, delivery and monitoring of programme activities through coordinating with the global programme contractors and/or directly with the local implementing partners
• Assist with setting up programme performance tracking systems to ascertain programme performance against plan and resource expenditure, identify deviations from plans and develop corrective actions.
• Assist with project information management and communications. Develop communications material to keep internal and external stakeholders informed of programme progress.
• Compile and maintain thorough project records and lead on the accounting and reporting processes, under the oversight of the Cyber Lead and Programme Management Office in London.

Roles and responsibilities:

Programme coordination and management

• Support the design and implementation of projects to improve cyber capability and reduce harm in Kenya delivered in-house as well as by lead contractors and other implementing partners, in coordination with the central Programme Management Committee, ensuring coherence with bilateral and wider ISF portfolio. This will require an ability to apply project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The jobholder will maintain and build new relationships with the programme’s global contractors, and their local implementing partners and local supply chain to ensure delivery is monitored in coordination with the central Programme Management Committee. This will include pre-empting risks and ensuring that project activities deliver the expected outcomes.
• The jobholder will lead on the internal and external communication on the programme in Kenya, helping to ensure the Programme’s visibility is properly managed and that the UK government gains recognition for its work.
• The post holder will support implementation of the Programme’s communications strategy as approved by the Programme’s governance structure. The post-holder will also support the organisation and delivery of key visits from the UK, related to the implementation and promotion of the Africa Cyber programme.
• The jobholder will need robust project management and coordination experience as well as the skills to work in a team and facilitate a results-oriented working culture. It is important that the post holder has good knowledge of the local context, including experience of working with the Government of Kenya, civil society, business and other stakeholders, in relevant digital access and/or cyber security sectors.
• Contributing to robust programme governance through compliance with PRoF guidelines, e.g. by actively monitoring risks and opportunities, collating accurate progress updates, and ensuring compliance with programme management best practice;

Policy

• The job holder will support the Africa Cyber lead in monitoring policy developments for Cyber, digital and data themes, developing relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to provide an accurate understanding of the landscape. The job holder will support visits/delegations from UK government officials and technology sector partners when necessary and be involved in arranging logistics for formal bilateral dialogues.

Corporate

• As all other staff at post, the job holder is expected to participate in wider British High Commission activities. These may include being active on various committees and in other corporate roles, as well as play a role in crisis management activities on an ad hoc basis

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Postgraduate qualification in at least one of the following field: Cyber security, ICT Policy and Regulation, public policy management, development studies, programme management or related field
• Programme/project delivery skills: particularly complex, agile programmes/projects that translate policy into practical impact
• Experience influencing and collaborating with international delivery partners (e.g. NGOs, consultancies); external stakeholders in commercial, non-profit and public sectors; and other departments across HMG
• Understanding of Official Development Assistance (ODA)
• Experience/understanding of, or interest in, cyber, digital, data or technology policy
• Experience/understanding of, or interest in, Kenya
• Developing and applying tools to support effective project management as well as delivery control of implementing partners
• Experience of developing and executing implementation plans, including linking programme theory of change statements to logical frameworks for projects
• Experience of applying project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience of working in an international development context, including managing/working with development programmes, including in Kenya
• Experience of working in or with government in Kenya
• Experience of working in the private sector or organised civil society in relevant fields (e.g. use of digital for affordable connectivity, use of digital for development)
• Experience at policy, regulatory as well as field level will be considered relevant
• Experience of remote working as part of a larger team