The Team Leader, E-Governance at ESTDEV Tanzania

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Project-Based)

Duration: ASAP – June 2029

Organization: Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV)

Reporting to: ESTDEV Headquarters & EU-EAC DEEP Program Steering

Background

The EU-EAC DEEP Programme (“Digital Economy, E-Commerce, E-Payment and Public E-Services”) is part of the Team Europe Safe Digital Boost for Africa (SDBA) initiative. ESTDEV leads the e-Governance component, working with Expertise France, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and EAC Partner States to strengthen the enabling environment for cross-border digital public services and digital public infrastructure.

Position Summary

The Team Leader – E-Governance will lead the regional implementation of the EU-EAC DEEP Programme e-Governance component, while contributing to other e-Governance related programs under EAC.

The Team Leader – E-Governance will:

• support coherence with the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy (2024–2030);
• regionally lead the development of regulatory and organisational frameworks for cross-border and interoperable digital government services;
• help define technical specifications for core digital building blocks and software solutions;
• facilitate the piloting of these solutions in selected EAC Partner States;
• strengthen the capacities of regional and national stakeholders to plan, manage, and scale e-governance initiatives, e.g. through the EAC DPI Leaders Forum;
• facilitate regional harmonisation of digital governance standards;
• support the promotion of policies, initiatives, and strategies for e-government development under EAC, in line with the global e-Government Development Index.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership and Management

• Lead the regional implementation of the e-Governance component of the EU–EAC DEEP Programme in line with the approved log frame, KPIs, and technical approach.
• Manage the six-month Inception Phase, including delivery of the Inception Report, baseline assessments, and a detailed multi-year work plan.
• Oversee preparation of work plans, budgets, and technical and financial progress reports, ensuring coherence with overall programme reporting requirements.
• Coordinate closely with the EU–EAC DEEP Programme Management Unit, ESTDEV headquarters, the EAC Secretariat, and relevant national authorities.
• Represent ESTDEV and, where agreed, Expertise France in programme governance and coordination structures.

Technical and Strategic Oversight

• Provide strategic guidance on the development of regulatory, organisational, and technical frameworks for cross-border and interoperable digital government services.
• Oversee the definition of technical specifications for digital public infrastructure, including shared services, data exchange layers, and identity systems.
• Guide and support the piloting of cross-border digital public services in selected EAC Partner States.
• Ensure alignment with EU digital frameworks, international standards, and regional best practices.

Stakeholder Coordination and Capacity Building

• Act as the focal point for regional coordination on e-Governance with the EAC Secretariat, EAC Partner States, and relevant regional and continental initiatives (including Smart Africa, SATA, and SADA).
• Promote coherence and synergies with other EU–EAC DEEP components (e-Commerce, e-Payments, Cybersecurity).
• Strengthen the capacity of regional and national stakeholders to plan, manage, and scale e-Governance initiatives, including through structured platforms such as the EAC DPI Leaders Forum.

Monitoring, Learning, and Visibility

• Ensure effective monitoring of results through the application of robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing within Team Europe and EAC institutional structures.
• Support communication and visibility actions to highlight the e-Governance component’s contribution to the Global Gateway agenda.

Reporting and Coordination

• The Team Leader – E-Governance will report functionally and administratively to the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
• The Team Leader will work in close coordination with the EAC Secretariat, relevant EAC Partner State institutions, and Team Europe partners, including Expertise France and GIZ.
• Strategic guidance and oversight will be provided by the EU–EAC DEEP Steering Committee.

Qualifications and Competencies

Education

• Advanced University degree in public administration, ICT Policy/Regulations, Digital Governance, Information Systems, or a related field.

Professional experience

• At least 10 years of experience in digital governance and public sector transformation in developing or transitional countries;
• Minimum 5 years of team leadership in regional or multi-country projects (preferably within an EU or multi-donor consortium environment);
• Proven track record advising governments or RECs on digital ID, e-services, interoperability, and data governance.

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPG) concepts;
• Familiarity with EU digital regulations (e.g., Interoperable Europe Act, eIDAS) and digital tools is a strong advantage;
• Knowledge of developing cross-border interoperability standards and data exchange protocols;
• Strong knowledge of regional technical e-Gov architecture and interoperability;
• Skills in digital policy and strategy formulation for e-Government;
• Knowledge in designing user-centric public services;
• Strong Project Management Skills within an EU or multi-donor consortium environment.

Soft Skills

• Diplomatic and political acumen in multi-country, multi-stakeholder settings;
• Strong organisational and communication skills;
• Ability to build consensus across technical and policy communities;
• Leadership and people management: experience guiding multi-country e-Governance teams and stakeholders;
• Collaboration and stakeholder engagement: experience building partnerships across governments, private sector, and development partners;
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving: experience translating complex digital government challenges into actionable regional solutions.

Languages

• Full professional fluency in English.
• Knowledge of French or Kiswahili is an asset.

Duty Station and Travel

• The position is based in Arusha, Tanzania.
• Frequent travel to EAC Partner States and participation in regional meetings, technical working groups, and consultations will be required.

Contractual Arrangement

• The position will be contracted and managed by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
• The contract will be fixed-term and project-based, for the period January 2026 to June 2029, subject to satisfactory performance and continued programme funding.

Application Procedure

Applications, including a cover letter, CV, and references, should be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] by Friday, 16 January 2026 at 17:00 EET.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Details regarding remuneration and other employment terms will be disclosed only to shortlisted candidates during the selection process.

ESTDEV reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process at any stage.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

All applications will be treated confidentially. Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection regulations and ESTDEV policies.