SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR, DIGITAL INCLUSION

JOB SUMMARY:

CARE is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor (STA) in Digital Inclusion for a high-visibility, five-year, $60M+ digital inclusion program — Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) — launched in October 2023 and initially funded by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiative will directly support the scale up of evidence-based solutions to effectively close the gender digital divide. This position is responsible for providing technical assistance to local organizations, technology providers, and other stakeholders funded by WiDEF to help with program implementation, capacity building, and impact measurement.

As the STA, you will work closely with program leadership and the operations and finance teams to ensure the WiDEF portfolio of funded projects are well-supported with the expertise to successfully achieve program objectives. You will be expected to work closely with new and first-time awardees to prioritize and procure technical assistance, help with project reporting, create knowledge sharing amongst awardees, and generally troubleshoot program-related challenges. Depending on the applicant, this role will also have some research and thought leadership components, such as working on evidence base data and assisting with MEL activities.

Ideal candidates for this role are well-versed in digital development research and programming. You have a deep knowledge of what works and does not to increase digital inclusion. You can discuss important initiatives, entities, and trends in gender digital divide work, and are passionate about helping others close the gender digital divide. We are looking for an applicant with both professional and lived experience in sub-Saharan Africa and/or South Asia, great program management and organizational skills, someone who is self-directed and will take initiative, and someone who can be supportive of a range of organizations globally.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Identify and support digitalization priorities across WiDEF Programming

• Work with WiDEF team and consortium members to identify and prioritize digitalization/digital development opportunities that will contribute to scaling and impact goals
• Identify needs and opportunities to recommend digital solutions and tools to advance innovation goals of GJ programming and digital literacy skills
• Integrate digital technologies into existing programming to expand impact and reach, especially in the areas of social norms and gender-based violence (including Online GBV)
• Develop new digital development strategies that create opportunities for gender justice and
  integrate with CARE’s focus areas

Provide Technical support across WiDEF programs

• Provide expertise, guidance, and technical support to CARE’s GJ team in the areas of digital inclusion and effective digital gender equity programming, including training and guidance to the gender cohort in digital inclusion
• Expand content and connectivity reach to extend the reach, impact and scale of GJ programs
• Ensure that CARE’s gender transformative principles and practices are reflected and integrated in digital programs in CARE’s other impact areas
• Promote the Principles of Digital Development at the CO level (https://digitalprinciples.org/)
• Help COs measure the impact of closing the gender digital divide

Support resource mobilization efforts to advance digital innovations in WiDEF

• Support proposal development that incorporates effective digital development strategies and help support the implementation of these strategies
• Support WiDEF-involved Country Offices to seek and position themselves for new funding and business opportunities across the digital development sector
• Actively track the larger gender and technology sub-sector, evaluating applicable products, trends, and partnership/donor opportunities
• Promote Gender Digital Divide KPIs

Provide technical support and thought leadership COs in the area of technology and gender

• Train CO staff on tools and strategies to measure the gender and tech gap, and the known effective practices to close it
• Mentor and support County Office staff through strengthening their knowledge of the gender digital divide and its manifestations, as well as the capacity and confidence to implement technology in the service of gender transformation
• In coordination with WiDEF leadership and consortia, ensure that staff continue to build on and enhance the impact of digital innovation approaches and deliverables by creating a learning platform for sharing best or promising practices, innovations, and learning, highlighting effective practices at the CO and regional level

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in relevant discipline: gender studies, social sciences, social development, international development, human geography, or other relevant fields of study.
• 5-8 years of working directly on digital inclusion programs, especially those addressing the gender digital divide
• Experience working with USAID, foundation, and/or technology funders
• Confidence to bring a greater voice to program activities, and make substantive program recommendations
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills, including experience working with globally distributed teams in disparate countries and time zones
• Strong relationship skills
• Exceptional attention to detail, process development and management
• Flexible, creative and solution-orientated approach
• Strong team player, able to develop and maintain effective working relationships within a distributed and dynamic team, and with partner organizations.
• Must be fluent in English with skills in written communication and report writing
• Sensitive to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across different cultural contexts