Chemonics seeks a short-term information and communications technology (ICT) specialist for USAID's ongoing five-year Strengthening Educational Performance-Up (STEP-Up) project in Zambia. This project assists the Zambian Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training, and Early Education to undertake educational management reforms to improve learner performance, and leverages mobile technology to collect and distribute educational data for the ministry. The ICT specialist will create a road map on what mobile technologies are available, analyze how these technologies can be integrated into the ministry's work, and identify the best points of information dissemination. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare a brief work plan for the road map based on discussions with the STEP-Up technical team and ministry staff
- Review relevant project documentation; USAID and World Bank studies on successful online initiatives, such as the MEducation Alliance; and similar publications on the state of mobile technology in Southern Africa's social sector, especially in Zambia, for commercial and non-commercial purposes
- Review and understand leading reports, such as USAID’s mobile for education report, World Bank’s ICT report, and the ministry's ICT strategy
- Conduct a desktop analysis of current and future bandwidth demand and respective telecommunications protocols for interactive two-way data flow
- Prepare a comparative matrix of mobile solutions for scaling up access in Zambia's telecommunications sector, taking into account the type of technology, coverage, and cost and quality of services
- Interview ministry officials, the Zambian Information and Communications Technology Agency, mobile carriers, other education ICT project staff, and other stakeholders to gather and summarize the state of communication and information needs in Zambia's education sector
- Review the ministry’s ICT strategy in coordination with the Directorate of Information to review its adequateness in light of current and future information demands
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in telecommunications and mobile technology required; an educational degree in education, economic development, information technology, ICT systems development, ICT for development, rural telecommunications, or other relevant field preferred
- Extensive experience in ICT for development applications and technologies in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Zambia, preferred
- Proven knowledge of state-of-the-art mobile and telecommunication technologies and their application in the social sector, particularly in education
- Experience with knowledge management and data analysis for decision-making in the public sector
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate complex technical concepts to the general public
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Excellent written and oral English language skills
Application Instructions:
Send electronic submissions to STEPUP.ICT.Specialist@gmail.com by October 7, 2015. Please include "ICT specialist" in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.
In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only "ICT specialist - STEP-Up" in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.
