Data Economy Advisor in the Digital Transformation Centre South Africa

Reports to: Head of Component Output II, Climate Support Programme IV, GIZ South Africa Climate Cluster

Duty Station: Hatfield, Pretoria

Duration: Until 31 August 2025

BACKGROUND

As an international organization commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH provides international cooperation service for sustainable development in a wide variety of areas, including energy, environment, digitalization, employment, and economic development. We work with partners all over the world across different sectors towards building a future worth living for every individual.

The Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) is part of a global initiative of the GIZ, it is a virtual or physical hub that enables local innovation worldwide and promotes digital solution for sustainable development. The DTC combines innovation, technical know-how, inclusive and collaborative participation, digital knowledge as well as research and entrepreneurial drive. The major goal of establishing DTCs in partner countries is to systematically strengthen the ecosystem and local capacities for digital transformation. There are 9 modules that a DTC can encompass which include Digital Government, Disruptive Technologies, Innovation Promotion, Cyber Security, Digital Skills, Green Digital Transformation, Digital Economy, Digital Health, and Women in Tech.

The establishment of a DTC in South Africa would focus on the module “Green Digital Transformation”, which will include leveraging the use of digital technologies for South Africa’s Just Energy / Climate Transition. In addition, the DTC would support other modules such as Digital skills, Digital Economy, Women in technology, and Innovation Promotion through the existing GIZ projects and initiatives in South Africa. Thereby, the activities of the DTC would evolve around policy advice, the conceptualization of digital technology driven use cases (particularly Blockchain and Data), capacity development for relevant stakeholders.

Data Economy Project

The Data Economy Project is part is part of the Global Programme Digital Transformation, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the overall aim of improving the conditions for a value-generating data economy together with the digital ecosystem at all levels – macro, meso and micro level. In South Africa, the project will be embedded with the DTC, and its activities will be centered around three major components:

  1. Data value-creation focuses on improving the conceptual foundation for scaling data-driven use cases that are geared towards local data value creation. It involves the identification of feasible and economically viable data-driven use cases together with interested actors in the digital ecosystem and building on experiences of relevant actors and initiatives. This includes support for local development of data-driven use cases focused on supporting climate action (e.g., smart energy, green hydrogen supply chain tracking). This involves the identification of locally feasible and economically viable use cases including relevant stakeholders of the digital ecosystem (e.g., civil society, entrepreneurs, policy makers).
  2. It also entails supporting the development of secure and interoperable data infrastructure with the digital ecosystem based on selected principles of data sovereignty.
  3. Data capacities entails strengthening the competences of the national digital ecosystem actors for value-adding data economy. This includes the strengthening of digital and data capabilities based on the needs of various stakeholders, including policymakers and civil society, with a focus on developing workshops and trainings to increase expertise on data-driven value creation and use cases. It covers a broad range of data-related aspects including data protection and regulation, data sovereignty, data value chains, trust mechanisms for data exchange and climate friendly application of data-based approaches. Data Policies component involves empowering Pan African decision makers in the digital ecosystem to shape a value-added data economy by supporting with establishing an enabling regulatory environment in which the data economy can thrive. This includes the provision of technical support in designing national data strategy, data governance frameworks, guidelines, policies, or standards. It also includes support for the regulatory framework for the use of digital innovations to ensure sustainable use of data-driven innovations enabling the digital ecosystem to develop, critically review, and leverage innovative digital solutions for climate action.
  4. Against this backdrop, we seek a committed, motivated, and highly skilled individual to implement the Data Economy Project’s activities within the DTC in South Africa.

RESPONSIBILITIES - see full job description download below

The Advisor is responsible for:

  • Supporting the implementation of the DTC’s activities relating to data-driven use cases,
  • Supporting the implementation of the DTC’s activities relating to enhancing stakeholders’ capacities on utilizing data for value creation and climate action,
  • Develop and foster partnerships across all levels including the public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society,
  • Support the development of secure and interoperable data infrastructure based on selected principles for Just Energy / Climate Transition,
  • Effectively managing a network of local and regional project partners as well as steering of consultants and other service providers,
  • Developing ownership for the overall project concept and its delivery; pro-actively identifying opportunities and supporting the project manager in updating the approach according to the latest developments and the needs of the digital ecosystem
  • Support planning, procurement processes, financial management and monitoring of the project activities,
  • Contribute actively to reports (regular and ad-hoc), PR materials, and other related tasks to reporting and communication for the DTC, and
  • Coordinate closely with the other projects within the DTC and beyond to ensure alignment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Suitable candidates should apply by submitting:

  • A motivation letter (concisely 1 page) stating why they should be the preferred candidate, the value added they will bring to the project and their desired salary range.
  • This should be accompanied by a detailed CV and indicating their nationality.

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de, with the email subject line “Application for Data Economy Advisor - Digital Transformation Centre South Africa” for the attention of Head of Human Resource.

Closing date for applications: 19 February 2024.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!