Tag: ICT4D Job Skills

digital development advisor job description

Job Description: ICT4D Digital Development Advisor

Why do international development organizations need digital development advisors?

The answer is simple: Today, we are doing development in a digital world and we must deliver humanitarian relief services virtually, reaching constituents we’ve never met, engaging them directly, hearing their feedback instantly, and sharing our success (or failure) in real time, using ICT4D solutions.

Digital development advisors are essential for international development organizations. ICT4D advisors play a crucial role in helping international development organizations overcome challenges in implementing ICT4D solutions. They also help host countries develop policies that foster an open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems.

They are instrumental in providing technical guidance, capacity strengthening, cybersecurity best practices, and strategic support to international development organizations, enabling them to effectively implement ICT4D solutions and maximize their impact on development programs.

Position Overview

Senior Digital Development Advisors are key technical and strategic roles within international development organizations, focused on leveraging digital technologies to enhance development outcomes and bridge the digital divide.

Get hired as a Digital Development Advisor!

The Digital Development Advisor works across sectors to implement innovative digital solutions, foster partnerships, and strengthen local digital ecosystems. This position is instrumental in aligning digital initiatives with organizational and programmatic goals to drive sustainable and inclusive impact.

Duties to be Performed

1. Digital Strategy Implementation (40%)

  • Lead Digital Ecosystem Country Assessments, develop implementation plans, and update assessments annually.
  • Design and implement digital development documentation to guide integration of digital strategies across activities.
  • Promote knowledge-sharing through conferences, trainings, and other capacity-building initiatives.
  • Develop partnerships with stakeholders such as NGOs, youth organizations, academia, private sector, and local governments.
  • Provide tailored digital development training to staff and facilitate technical support for mission priorities.

2. Technical Support and Project/Program Management (30%)

  • Provide expertise on digital tools and approaches to achieve programmatic objectives.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to address issues such as cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital inclusion.
  • Develop and adapt digital innovations to advance development goals.
  • Evaluate project successes using data-driven analyses and recommend iterative improvements.
  • Oversee digital interventions, including negotiations with service providers and performance evaluations.

3. Strategic Planning and Support (30%)

  • Identify opportunities to incorporate digital technologies into organizational programming and procurement processes.
  • Scout and integrate innovative approaches from local and international technology communities.
  • Build collaborative relationships with partners and lead digital strategy design to enhance impact.
  • Advocate for new partnerships focused on interoperability, open data, and digital inclusion.
  • Prepare and present technical briefs, concept papers, and reports to promote digital tool adoption.

Qualifications

Education

  • Master’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
  • Certification or advanced training in digital development, data analytics, or ICT is preferred.

Work Experience

  • Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in digital development or related fields, including work with international development organizations, private sector, or government agencies.
  • Demonstrated expertise in implementing digital strategies, working with digital ecosystems, and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships.
  • Experience with data analysis, digital financial services, and mobile or online platforms for development purposes.

Language Proficiency

  • Fluent in English; proficiency in additional local languages is an asset.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce detailed reports and conduct high-level briefings.

Competencies, Skills and Abilities

Technical Proficiency

  • Strong understanding of digital technologies, including cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
  • Familiarity with ICT4D tools such as mobile data collection platforms, GIS software, and digital payment systems.
  • Knowledge of internationally recognized principles like the Principles for Digital Development.

Project Management

  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex digital projects.
  • Expertise in agile methodologies, change management, and stakeholder engagement.

Strategic Vision

  • Ability to align digital initiatives with organizational and development goals.
  • Capacity to analyze trends, develop forward-thinking strategies, and advocate for digital transformation.

Interpersonal and Collaboration Skills

  • Strong client engagement capabilities, with a focus on cultivating partnerships across sectors.
  • Excellent presentation and documentation skills to convey technical information effectively to diverse audiences.
  • Proven ability to work sensitively in multicultural environments and foster collaborative team dynamics.

Adaptability and Innovation

  • Openness to emerging technologies and a commitment to continuous learning.
  • Creativity in problem-solving and the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving digital landscapes.

Additional Requirements

  • Familiarity with digital development policies, digital public infrastructure, and digital inclusion frameworks is advantageous.
  • Willingness and ability to travel to field locations as required.
  • Proficiency in using data visualization tools to communicate complex insights effectively.

This position offers an opportunity to play a pivotal role in harnessing digital tools and technologies to drive impactful, inclusive, and sustainable development outcomes globally.

ict4d job qualifications skills

A Recruiter’s Inside Tips for Breaking Into an ICT4D Career

I am an award-winning ICT4D practitioner. I’ve coached countless professionals on how to transition into digital development. I’ve seen what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to standing out in this competitive field. Here is hard-earned cover letter and resume wisdom that will help you on your journey to digital development sucess.

Tell Your Story with Purpose

Your CV lists your accomplishments, but your cover letter? That’s where the magic happens. It’s your opportunity to weave a compelling narrative about how your unique background, perspectives, and experiences is exactly what the organization needs – even if they don’t know it yet. Stay authentic as you connect your past experiences and the future role with this company.

Embrace Your Non-Traditional Background

Here’s something that might surprise you: you don’t need to meet every single requirement in a job description to be the perfect candidate. Take it from someone who started as an accountant and now works in ICT4D – sometimes the most innovative solutions come from unexpected places.

Invest in your self with career coaching.

The key is articulating how your skills transfer. Maybe your experience managing a local community project taught you more about user-centered design than a traditional tech role would have. Own that story.

Master the Art of Presentation

Let’s be real – recruiters often wade through hundreds of applications for a single position. Making your application easy to digest isn’t just courteous – it’s strategic. Keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Stick to two pages maximum. If you haven’t captured interest by then, adding more pages won’t help.
  • Use clear, consistent formatting throughout your resume. You may want to test what your CV looks like as just text too, since many online submission forms will auto-generate a version of your CV from a text version of your Word or PDF document.
  • Highlight key achievements and skills using numbers to quantify your accomplishments.
  • Structure your content logically so someone can skim your CV and understand your career trajectory

Mind the Details

Job hunting can be exhausting, but attention to detail matters. I’ve seen brilliant candidates stumble because they didn’t proofread their applications. True story: I regularly receive cover letters addressed to the wrong organization or mention the wrong job. These small oversights can make a big difference.

Stay the Course

Perhaps the most important advice I can offer is this: be patient and persistent. The hiring process in international development organizations can move at a glacial pace. It’s not uncommon for recruitment cycles to stretch over several months.

Remember, this isn’t a reflection of your worth or capabilities. Keep applying, keep refining your approach, and keep believing in your potential. The right opportunity isn’t just about timing – it’s about being prepared when that timing arrives.

ict4d dream job opening

5 Signs That Dream Digital Development Job Isn’t Really Yours

We’ve all seen it—a job posting that seems tailor-made for your skills, aspirations, and career goals. As you scroll through the description, you envision yourself thriving in the role. But then a nagging doubt creeps in.

Is this job wired for someone else?

In the competitive world of international development, especially in niche fields like digital development, not all job postings are as open as they appear. Many organizations already have a candidate in mind, and the hiring process is more about meeting procedural requirements than truly casting a wide net for the best talent.

You may need to reassess your job search process. That’s okay. I can help!

Here are five signs that your “dream job” might already have someone else’s name on it.

1. The Dream Job Opening: Too Good to Be True

When a job description feels like it’s been plucked straight from your career bucket list, take a moment to scrutinize it. Jobs that sound too good to be true often are. Perhaps the posting reads like a utopian combination of a high-impact role, a prestigious organization, and a compensation package that seems unusually generous.

In reality, such postings are often crafted with a specific individual in mind—someone already within the organization or a trusted external consultant. The “perfect match” vibe could be because the role was tailored for that person. While organizations are required to post job openings publicly, the process can sometimes serve as a formality rather than a genuine search for candidates.

To protect your time and energy, approach these dream job postings with cautious optimism. Apply if you genuinely meet the qualifications, but don’t be discouraged if you never hear back. It’s not necessarily about you—it might be about internal politics.

2. The Blink-and-You-Miss-It Application Window

One of the biggest red flags that a job is wired for someone else is a very short application window. For instance, a position that’s only open for seven days screams exclusivity. Most organizations in digital development aim to attract a diverse pool of applicants, which takes time. Short windows suggest that they’re not really looking for candidates—they’re fulfilling an internal requirement to publicly advertise the job before offering it to their preselected choice.

Here’s what this means for you: unless you’ve been following the organization closely and can drop everything to craft a stellar application on short notice, the odds aren’t in your favor. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s better to recognize the signs early and allocate your efforts elsewhere than to waste time chasing a role that’s already spoken for.

3. Highly Specific Requirements: The Unicorn Candidate

Some job descriptions read like they’re searching for a mythical being. A PhD in AI software development and donor fundraising expertise? Fluency in three languages and a decade of experience in a highly specialized sector? These overly narrow qualifications might not reflect the actual needs of the position but rather the unique profile of a pre-selected candidate.

This tactic is common in organizations that need to justify their hiring choice by pointing to a highly specific skill set. By crafting the job requirements to fit their preferred candidate, they minimize the risk of being challenged during the hiring process.

If you meet the qualifications, go ahead and apply. But if you find yourself wondering whether you’re “enough” for the role, it’s likely because the bar was set to exclude most applicants, not to identify the best one.

4. Location-Specific Constraints: The Must-Be-Here Clause

In a world where hybrid and remote work have become the norm, location-specific job postings can be a red flag. If the posting insists the candidate must work out of a specific city—especially if that city aligns with where a potential internal candidate already resides—it’s worth considering whether the requirement is a covert way of narrowing the applicant pool.

Digital development roles often involve work in international or remote contexts, where location-specific requirements don’t necessarily make sense. Insisting that a hire be physically present in one office suggests that the organization already knows who they want—and that person lives nearby.

If you’re willing to relocate and meet the qualifications, don’t hesitate to apply. However, understand that this could be another sign of a wired job.

5. Logical Next Step: Promotion as an Open Search

Have you ever read a job description and thought, This sounds like a natural next step for someone already in the organization? That’s because it often is. Wired jobs frequently serve as promotions in disguise, designed to elevate an internal candidate from a junior or mid-level role to a more senior position.

These postings often feature language that mirrors the responsibilities of the candidate’s current job, with a few additional duties tacked on for good measure. The organization can point to the posting as evidence of an open search while quietly advancing their internal succession plan.

If you’re an external candidate, this dynamic can be incredibly frustrating. However, understanding that the game might already be rigged can help you manage your expectations and focus on opportunities where you have a real chance.

If you’ve read this far, please consider career coaching to improve your job search.

ict4d skills ict support

What Training Do I Need for Digital Development Careers?

Question: What ICT4D training do I need?

I’ve worked in ICT Support for 4 years and I am looking to gain more skills, education and experience. I want to move into ICT4D. What training can I take or what formal education programs can position me for a career in digital development?

Grab a career coaching session to have your questions answered today!

Ask a different question

You may want to start with asking where you want to be in 3-5 years. Once you’ve identified what you want to be doing, where you want to be working, and at what level, you can then start seeking out people who have the job you desire.

Then comes the hard part – asking for informational interviews with them to understand what their day is like, where they see the profession going, and crucially, how they got their position.

In an informational interview, you want to be learning from your interviewee, not selling them on hiring you. You want to learn what they believe are the prerequisites for your dream role.

Once you know prerequisites..

If you ask 20 people and all of them say you need a Masters Degree in artificial intelligence or a doctorate in public health, then you know what your next step is. However, they will most likely say that its a mix of education and experience that is best for promotion – not education or training alone.

Training courses

I am a big fan of TechChange courses for practical, hands-on learning of key concepts for digital development project management. However, if you need hard-core software development skills, you made want to join one of the many software development boot camps. Overall, I would look for well-known organizations that utilize facilitators that you can Google-trace to their classroom and alumni.

Experience

Since you already have a job, you can volunteer for new roles within your organization to get additional experience. Be the person who always says, “yes” to new projects that interest you, and work more and harder to succeed with those projects. This is the easiest way to get more experience.

Another way is to seek out organizations working in your desired areas and find out what their needs are. Then suggest a volunteer consultancy – that is a consulting engagement that is just as rigorous as a paid engagement, but trade exposure and connections for your time, instead of money.

Switching careers is hard

There is no way around the central problem in your question: you wan to switch careers from IT support to ICT4D. It is not impossible, but like any career switch, there will be work and pain involved, and it may take you a year or more to make the transition. However, if you really think it will make you happier with your work life, then its a worthy sacrifice.

It took me two years to make the transition from dotcoms to ICT4D and every minute of the pain (and several rounds of crying over rejections) was worth it for me. I love my work, every minute of it.

phd college degree ict4d

What is the Value of a PhD Advanced Degree in ICT4D?

Get personalized responses to your questions in a career coaching session.

Question: What is the value of a PhD in ICT4D?

I have a bachelor’s, master’s, and ~10 years experience in digital marketing in health and education, all outside of development. I’m considering a Ph.D. in Information Systems to do research on topics related to ICT4D, but will it pay off in a digital development job?

Education Needs to be Paired with Experience

You may be surprised by the number of people who think that a degree in international development or technology-related field will magically open the door to a rewarding ICT4D career. Sadly, that rarely works.

You have to understand that your competition is someone who has:

  • 3-4 years experience in development jobs,
  • 2 years in the Peace Corps living in developing countries,
  • A masters degree in technology or development.

Key for an employer is the the full mix of employment, exposure, and education. We want to know you’re familiar with development’s issues, the realities of developing countries, and a solid education.

Get Experience Before a PhD

Before spending years and thousands of dollars on a PhD, which in your case will just make you even more expensive with less relevant experience, I would strongly suggest you get experience in the digital development ecosystem.

You should be able to leverage your digital marketing experience to work on social and behavior change communication (SBCC), where we try to engage and motivate people to adopt healthier habits. For example, practicing safer sex, or quitting smoking, or the like.

You can do this with many population groups (Americans need this as much as Angolans) though its best to start thinking about areas of the world you want to work in and focusing on those communities from the start.

Consider a Volunteer Consulting Engagement

Sine you already have a career that showcases your ability, you may want to consider a volunteer consulting engagement to get experience. This is just like a real consulting agreement – you should have objectives, deliverables, and timelines – only you are trading your time for experience versus cash payment.

The international development field is already very familiar with the concept – see Peace Corps – only this way you don’t need to move overseas for two years. However, you will need to work hard, probably harder than you are now, to learn as you perform.

The upside? You’ll be the internal candidate at the next opening.