Deputy Programme Manager – Africa Cyber Programme SEO needed at HM Government

Main purpose of job:

Reporting to the Africa Cyber Programme Head of Programme, the Africa Cyber Programme  (ACP) Deputy Programme Manager will be responsible for supporting the ACP Head of Programme on the ACP programme in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa ( and possibly other African countries)– working with the implementing partners, regional Cyber Leads and Programme Management Committee in the UK. The post-holder will provide oversight of all ISF project and programme activities and contribute to stakeholder engagement in the public and private sectors to promote digital access and cyber security. The role presents unique opportunities to advance the UK- Africa relationship on digital access and cyber security for economic growth at a time when these issues are of increasing importance on the international agenda.

The Deputy Programme Manager will lead on the design, development, and delivery of cyber related projects across Africa under the ISF Cyber Portfolio. The ACP is a major UK government investment that will contribute to the UK and FCDO’s vision of thriving, open digital societies powered by trusted technologies, with the UK leading efforts to uphold a free, open, peaceful, and secure cyberspace.

The Africa Cyber Programme catalyses inclusive, affordable, safe, and secure digital access for underserved populations in Africa; promoting digital ecosystems that stimulate innovations for local development challenges and creating local skilled jobs.

Programme Primary outcome: African countries to have increased resilience to cybersecurity threats and reduced impact of cyber harms on their populations.

Secondary outcome: strengthened cybersecurity capacity ecosystems in Africa drives inclusive economic growth, opens trade and investment opportunities for UK cyber companies, and enhances UK cybersecurity relationship with Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria.

Programme activity is delivered through 4 major projects:

1)  Africa Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC)– delivered by Interpol

2)  FIRST Africa Regional Liaison Initiative – delivered by Forum of Incident Response & Security Teams

3)  ACP – a single contract with a prime supplier Torchlight Axiom Group

4)  Pan Africa Coordinator Liaison – delivered by Shadow server

The job holder will also be required to understand the Cyber policy landscape in Africa , supporting the Cyber leads across priority countries, in monitoring and reporting on developments in these countries. The jobholder will need robust project management and coordination experience as well as the skills to work in a team and facilitate a results-oriented working culture. It is important that the post holder has good knowledge of the local context, including experience of working with the Government within Africa, civil society, business and other stakeholders, in relevant digital access and/or cyber security sectors.

The role will entail the following functions:

• Providing support, advice, guidance to the Programme Manager as a trusted advisor.
• Agreeing, articulating, and driving forward delivery of programme priorities, scoping and working with others to take forward new and cross-cutting initiatives.
• Working on engagement within the programmes on behalf of the Programme Manager and lead on an array of tasks, ensuring good communication and delivery.
• Being available for, and confident in giving direction, advice, and support to staff and contractors in lieu of the Programme Manager when absent or otherwise unavailable.
• Strengthen and maintain successful stakeholder relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels, through consistent and honest engagement.

In this role you will also be responsible for:

You will contribute to all aspects of programme and project management: finalising and managing contracts, managing implementers and key stakeholders, forecasting and accounting for spend, harvesting outcomes (for MEL), reporting to Portfolio governance and communicating with Ministers. You’ll have opportunities to shape the role according to your existing skills/interests and those you want to develop. You will have full support where you need it, as well as freedom to lead in defined areas.

Specific responsibilities will include deputising for the Africa Cyber Programme Manager:

• Managing ACP contracts for major projects in the African region. You will delegate some project/contract management tasks to team members as appropriate
• Overseeing programme finances, ensuring we meet targets for responsible ODA spending and Value for Money
• Contributing to robust programme governance, e.g. by actively monitoring risks and opportunities, collating accurate progress updates, and ensuring compliance with programme management best practice
• Overseeing evaluation of programme activity, in line with ISF best practice and aligned to the ISF Cyber Portfolio
• Managing programme communications, both within the FCDO (to Ministers, senior leaders), cross-UK government and externally
• Participating in broader ISF activity, especially in Africa, to help other programmes to use cyber, digital, data and tech security to achieve further cyber and non-cyber objectives
• Overseeing programme compliance with human rights standards and the International Development Gender Equality Act (2014) by demonstrating consideration for gender equality throughout CSSF programmes, and supporting CSSF ambitions to achieve the UK’s Women, Peace and Security objectives;
• As with all ISF roles overseas and located in a Post, you will be expected to devote a certain amount of time to corporate duties.

Programme coordination and management:

• Manage the delivery of ACP implementation activities in Africa as delivered in-house as well as by lead contractors and other implementing partners, in coordination with the African Cyber Lead and with the central Programme Management Committee, ensuring coherence with bilateral and wider ACP portfolio. This will require an ability to apply project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The jobholder will maintain and build new relationships with the programme’s global contractors, and their local implementing partners and local supply chain to ensure delivery is monitored in coordination with the central Programme Management Committee. This will include pre-empting risks and ensuring that project activities deliver the expected outcomes.

Programme governance and assurance:

• Support effective governance and decision making in collaboration with the Programme Manager
• Engage with assurance reviews and support action on recommendations. Organise assurance processes such as annual reviews, as required. 
• The post-holder will be expected to join key meetings and record outcomes, remotely where required, and provide regular updates on the progress of the CSSF(ISF) Cyber Portfolio in Africa as delegated by the Programme Manager

Influence and communication:

• The jobholder will lead on the internal and external communication on the programme in Africa, helping to ensure the Programme’s visibility is properly managed and that the UK government gains recognition for its work.
• The post holder will support implementation of the Programme’s communications strategy as approved by the Programme’s governance structure.
• The post-holder will also support the organisation and delivery of key visits from the UK, related to the implementation and promotion of the ACP
• Work closely with partners and MoJ business areas to align priorities and identify and deliver mutual benefits from the Digital Records Roadmap.  
• Identify opportunities to accelerate progress and achieve objectives, articulate these clearly and coherently in writing and be able to discuss and present ideas and updates to stakeholders from various backgrounds, including senior management .  
• Effectively conveying important and complex messages clearly and understandably in verbal and written communications. 

Leadership:

• Actively encourage contributions, involvement and feedback from the Team and stakeholders, using their feedback and insight to drive changes and or improvements to the programme. 

Policy:

• The job holder will support the African Cyber lead in monitoring policy developments for Cyber, digital and data themes, developing relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to provide an accurate understanding of the landscape. The job holder will support visits/delegations from UK government officials and technology sector partners when necessary and be involved in arranging logistics for formal bilateral dialogues.

Corporate:

• As all other staff at post, the job holder is expected to participate in wider British High Commission activities. These may include being active on various committees and in other corporate roles, as well as play a role in crisis management activities on an ad hoc basis.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Postgraduate qualification in at least one of the following field: Cyber security, ICT Policy and Regulation, public policy management, development studies, programme management or related field 
• Programme/project delivery skills: particularly complex, agile programmes/projects that translate policy into practical impact
• Experience influencing and collaborating with international delivery partners (e.g. NGOs, consultancies); external stakeholders in commercial, non-profit and public sectors; and other departments across HMG
• Understanding of Official Development Assistance (ODA)
• Experience/understanding of, or interest in, cyber, digital, data or technology policy
• Experience/understanding of, or interest in Africa region
• Developing and applying tools to support effective project management as well as delivery control of implementing partners
• Experience of developing and executing implementation plans, including linking programme theory of change statements to logical frameworks for projects
• Experience of applying project coordination, monitoring, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience of working in an international development context, including managing/working with development programmes in Africa
• Experience of working in or with governments in Africa
• Experience of working with the private sector or organised civil society in relevant fields (e.g. use of digital for affordable connectivity, use of digital for development)
• Experience at policy, regulatory as well as field level will be considered relevant
• Experience of remote working as part of a larger team