Digital Transformation Lead

Result of ServiceMonthly progress reports demonstrating achievements on respective outputs, end of each calendar monthly, including: • Four quarterly startup meetups successfully organised in partnership with DSTI and Freetown Innovation City, with reports of participation and outcomes. • Regular supervision to two freelancer community managers, with activity summaries submitted • READY Salone startup directory promoted, with evidence of outreach campaigns and new investor/partner linkages recorded • Successfully identified high-growth potential startups and submitted for refreshed cohort selection with proposed support areas • Tailored startup training sessions delivered with local experts, including agendas, training materials, and participant feedback. • Successfully supported 50 freelancers to refine their LinkedIn profiles • Successfully organised and participated in regional/international B2B events • Results of startups’ engagement in regional/international B2B or investor networking events documented. • Successfully validated SB4U MSME profiles produced with suggested areas of intervention in grains, logistics, and tourism sectors • Successfully completed BSOs’ capacity building needs assessment with recommendations documented • Completed MSME e-commerce journey validation across the three sectors with findings documented • Four quarterly co-creation meetups organised, with participation lists, agendas, and outcome notes • Contributions made to activation of partnerships with ecosystem actors, with at least one MoU or collaboration note drafted • Technical inputs and reviews delivered for adaptation of e-commerce training materials for sector-specific use • Inputs provided to the design of BSO coaching sessions with clear links to MSME needs • Quarterly knowledge sharing sessions within the e-commerce community of practice facilitated and documented Work LocationHome-based in Kampala, Uganda Expected duration01.01.26 - 31.12.26 Duties and ResponsibilitiesITC READY-Salone is a four-year Project (2024-2028) implemented by the International Trade Centre and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The overall project objective is to contribute to economic growth and job creation in Sierra Leone by enhancing the participation of youth in the digital economy. The outcome of the project is to increase the participation of youth in digital trade. The outcome will be achieved through the following 4 outputs: ● Output 1: Capacity of youth to use digital technologies for work, entrepreneurship and social inclusion increased. ● Output 2: Competitiveness of young entrepreneurs increased by adopting digital technologies ● Output 3: Youth Service offerings of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and tech hubs improved ● Output 4: Inclusive national strategies and policies related to the digital economy strengthened ITC implements the European Union-funded project, “Sustainable Business for Uganda 2.0 - Trade and Investment Development”, which aims to boost Uganda’s economic performance through developing green, inclusive and technological dimensions of trade and investment. The Overall Objective of this action is to contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and decent and green job creation in Uganda. The Specific Objective of this action is to facilitate and promote inclusive sustainable and green trade and investment between Uganda and the European Union. The Outputs to be delivered by this action contributing to the corresponding specific objective are: ● Output 1 – Strengthened policy framework and public and private stakeholders’ capacities for enhanced trade competitiveness in selected sectors and value chains ● Output 2 – Improved investment framework and opportunities ● Output 3 – Enhanced trade facilitation framework and tools ● Output 4 – Strengthened quality compliance and standards in selected value chains ● Output 5 – Strengthened e-commerce ecosystem, BSOs and MSMEs ITC aims to recruit a Digital Transformation Lead to support ITC in the effective implementation of Output 2 under READY Salone and Output 5 under Sustainable Business for Uganda 2.0. Under the direct supervision of the Tech Sector Coordinator in ITC HQ Geneva, and in close collaboration with the national team of READY Salone in Sierra Leone, the Digital Transformation Lead will perform the following functions: • Oversee quarterly tech startup meetups in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and Felei Tech City, ensuring active participation of READY Salone startups, government and ecosystem actors • Guide the work of two freelancer community managers, ensuring quality of outreach and engagement of the freelancer community • Promote the READY Salone startup directory to increase visibility of Sierra Leonean startups and attract potential investors and partners • Identify high-growth potential startups for onboarding in the refreshed ITC-supported cohort and propose tailored areas of support • Organise tailored training sessions for startups in collaboration with local experts and mentors • Support freelancers in refining LinkedIn profiles to strengthen their competitiveness and online visibility (target: 50 freelancers). • Organise the first Talent Cloud Summit in Freetown bringing together freelancers, startups, investors, international partners and ecosystem stakeholders. • Facilitate ecosystem engagement by linking startups and freelancers to regional or international opportunities, including B2B events and investor dialogues • Evaluate and support the scale-up of READY Salone’s Future of Work initiative to ensure freelancers are connected to paying work opportunities locally, regionally, and internationally Under the direct supervision of E-commerce Program Officer in ITC HQ Geneva and in close collaboration with the national team of Sustainable Business for Uganda project, the Digital Transformation Lead will perform the following functions: • Contribute to validation of MSME profiles to be supported by the project, suggesting priority areas for intervention across grains, logistics and tourism sectors • Identify BSOs’ capacity building needs to inform design of tailored institutional support interventions • Contribute to validation of MSME e-commerce journeys in the three focus sectors (grains, logistics, tourism) identifying skills, market and operational gaps • Organise quarterly co-creation meetups with e-commerce ecosystem stakeholders to validate MSME challenges identified and co-design practical solutions • Contribute to partnership activations with key ecosystem actors (e-commerce platforms, logistics providers, payments firms, BSOs). • Provide technical guidance to adaptation of e-commerce training materials for BSOs and MSMEs in the three sectors, with particular focus on tourism • Contribute to the design of BSO coaching sessions, ensuring linkages with MSME needs identified in validation exercises. • Facilitate knowledge sharing within the e-commerce community of practice, including capturing and presenting lessons from quarterly engagements. Copyright The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. Qualifications/special skills• Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other) • A first level University Degree in international business, economics, marketing or related field. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. A minimum of five years of relevant experience in project management in trade-related technical assistance. Proven experience in supporting the development of digital ecosystem, startups and MSMEs. Previous work experience in Uganda and Sierra Leone. LanguagesAdvanced level of English. Advanced level of Luganda. Additional InformationPossible Travel within Uganda and to Sierra Leone No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.