DigitalJobs

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for underserved African youth. Our programs include digital inclusion programs – such as the Life Skills. ICT. Financial Readiness. Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and the Dufuna partnership – and a digital rights program. PIN’s operational headquarters is in Lagos, Nigeria, and maintains digital inclusion offices across Nigeria (Aba, Ajegunle, Kano) and digital rights offices in Yaounde, Cameroon; Accra, Ghana; Abuja, Nigeria; Arusha, Tanzania and Lusaka, Zambia.

Job Summary:

The Community Manager will oversee Paradigm Initiative’s digital rights and digital inclusion community engagement efforts, with a strong focus on resilience and consistency. 

Reporting To:

Chief Operations Officer

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Engage relevant national, regional and global institutions and stakeholders on issues around digital rights and inclusion in Africa
• Plan, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of community mobilization activities
• Analyse issues arising from community discussions and suggest appropriate measures to ensure timely implementation
• Work with the PIN in-house team to deliver the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum
• In consultation with the PIN Leadership Team, set up an External Advisory Group for the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum
• Coordinate the development of budgets and lead fundraising for the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum
• Manage Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum processes
• Improve and manage Paradigm Initiative’s digital rights and inclusion community, including the NetRights coalition, event participants, partners and other stakeholders
• Oversee the Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL), in partnership with the Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion team leads
• Work with both Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion teams to identify opportunities for community building
• Provide community updates, including policy developments, legislative processes and other relevant updates, to relevant partners

Key Result Areas:

• Build, grow and/or manage a resilient, consistent and effective Digital Right and Inclusion community for PIN
• Mobilize funds for the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum
• Develop and implement policies that enhance the community’s effectiveness and  organization’s output and services
• Undertake other tasks in accordance with job expectations

• Work with Communications to commission and execute media campaigns for DRIF and DRILL
• Deliver relevant and timely policy updates to identified partners

Education, skill and experience:

• Proven work experience as a Community Manager or similar role
• Experience planning and leading community initiatives, including large pan-African/bi-lingual events
• Ability to identify and track relevant community KPIs
• Project Management
• Understanding of budgeting, financial planning and financial reports
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal and presentations skills
• Attention to detail, critical-thinker and problem-solver

Salaries and Benefits:

Commensurate with experience, plus other benefits such as health insurance, pension contributions, communication allowance, sabbatical leave, paid annual leave, maternity/paternity leave, dependent relative allowance and 13th-month salary.

Application Deadline: 

May 15th, 2020

Resumption Date:

July 1, 2020

Apply here >>>

By:  Leonce Muvunyi & Louis Gitinywa for Paradigm Initiative 

Collection, handling and sharing of data public information continue to dividing opinions as government embark on tapping into ICT solutions to ensuring safety.

Starting from May this year, the government of Rwanda has embarked on putting up the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras all around the main roads of the city of Kigali.

According to the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and Rwanda National Police which are in charge of implementing this policy claim that use of CCTVs will significantly boost security by establishing a robust mechanism of deterring, preventing and detecting crime.

The Inspector General of Police Dan Munyuza indicates that the enforcement of cameras networks across the country, which is anchored into the special presidential directives,  is in line with ensuring the general public security.

“They are well advanced to the extent they don’t only capture the traffic speed, there those which monitor the violations of road traffic regulations, and there those that could run number plate recognition of vehicles, and we can see them from the commanding post here at the police headquarters,” said IGP Munyuza, during a recent interaction session with the media.

Online sources define a closed-circuit television (CCTV) as video surveillance type of cameras network system that enables surveillance by transmitting its signals only to the screens that are directly connected to it.

Apart from the CCTV Networks in Kigali City, the government has started enforcing the “traffic radars” on the highways connecting capital city Kigali with neighbouring countries since earlier in May this year, which will be over hundreds of traffic radars devices installed.

These include Kigali- Kagitumba as you connect to Kagitumba border with Uganda, Kigali- Rusumo on your way to Tanzania, Kigali-Nyamata-Nemba connecting with Burundi, Kigali-Muhanga-Huye- Rusizi going in the south-west border with Democratic Republic of Congo and Kigali-Musanze as you connect with DR Congo in the north-west.

In addition, the government has adopted a new policy along with a number of measures; the use of technology that would significantly improve road safety and security of its users. Government officials emphasize that all these measures add up on the Law Governing Information and Communication Technologies of 2018, which provides for prevention and punishment against cybercrime offences.

“We are going to roll out the installation of the radar countrywide with much emphasis made on the accidents spots. Some of them will be static whereas others will be mobile and placed on a certain area for a different purpose.”  Munyuza revealed that a survey that had been carried out on the roads had indicated several places, and it had suggested where all these cameras would be installed.

According to the head of Rwanda’s national Police IGP Munyuza, which is now under the docket of the newly reintroduced Ministry of Internal Security, CCTV data is collected through a dedicated private network which cannot be accessible over the Internet. The storage of this data is regulated by internal standard operating procedures of the Rwanda national police and the use of relevant tools to secure the IT environment.

However, there are some concerns about the process of collection, handling and sharing of personal data and risks of illegal surveillance through the use of CCTVs which continues to divide the public opinion.

In this context of the introduction of digital surveillance’s cutting-edge technological capacity, coupled with the massive development of the digital economy in both public and private sector requires the need to have a comprehensive data protection legal framework in place, to protect and promote the right to privacy.

Data collection in the wake of data scandals such as Cambridge Analytica and the 2018 Google data breach have culminated to public scepticism in ways of data in which data is collected and processed.

A great responsibility is placed on the state to protecting the privacy of citizens by implementing more comprehensive guidelines preventing government and corporations from overstepping their boundaries by articulating the rights and freedoms of people in digital spaces, meaning data subjects can request information about why and how their data is processed.

This is considering that today Rwanda is striving for the digital era with the proliferation use of biometrics and digitized public services. Furthermore, as the digital economy and cashless transactions are becoming increasingly common in the country. While these systems promote certain benefits, there is however insufficient focus on the potential consequences of the technology such as the collection and use of personal data for commercial purposes, and how this practice leads to algorithmic manipulation of human behaviour on the decision we make and the services we receive.

In the meantime, this recent development links up with the global debate about the ability of Silicon Valley’s GAFA to freely collect consumers personal data in developing countries without any regulations has raised questions and public concerns about the lack of a clear comprehensive legislation and a regulatory framework on personal data privacy and data protection in the country.

Although,  article 23 of the constitution of Rwanda of 2003 (revised in 2015), reaffirms the respect for privacy. Besides the constitution, other relevant laws like the penal code, the 2010 law relating to electronic transactions and the 2001 law governing telecommunications recognize and provides for some guidelines regarding the protection of privacy and personal data.

However, the right to privacy enshrined in the Rwandan constitution has yet to be operationalized, the existing ICT laws and regulations only recognize so far the user consent and opt-in mechanisms.

Moving through the Region, Kenya is so far the only country that has recently enacted a comprehensive data protection law. the Kenyan Act determines the need for any subject company to create a privacy policy that outlines why and how data is collected, its handling and sharing of personal information or data; among the groundbreaking statutes written into the law is the provision for a data protection commissioner; a mechanism that enables citizens and data subjects to ascertain whether their personal information is being processed in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation.

With regard to Analyticaprotection of privacy and personal data information, it is important to note that according to the recent figures published in 2019 by Rwanda Investigation Bureau it has been revealed that there were at least 113 cases of cybercrime particularly targeting personal data related to financial transactions. A figure that has doubled compared to the previous year of 2018.

Furthermore, based on the recent 2018 Africa Cybersecurity Report by Serianu Limited, the cost of theft of personal data in Africa was estimated at $3.5 Billion, a rise from 2016.

Experts indicate that the use of technology in public life should be centred around transparency and the rule of law. In particular, privacy and security as the pillars of trustworthy services that enhance the overall well-being of citizens.

The development and the implementation of smart cities and the safety and security policies must be done responsibly, with full understanding and mitigation of their impact on the citizens right to privacy and other constitutional rights.

While the rights to privacy and personal data are not absolute, they must be rigorously safeguarded, the right to privacy may only be limited through a law which regulates infringement. Although some databases can be used for legitimates purposes. However, there are many risks associated with collecting and storing the very information that constitutes an individual’s identity.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal shows us how damaging technologies can have a corrosive effect on privacy, the misappropriation of personal information can deny individuals their identity especially when data is collected without proper control or oversight. In many countries around the world, national privacy laws are increasingly being revised to strengthen the protection of personal data privacy and impose penalties for data breaches.

As Rwanda today is striving for the digital era with digitized public services with an open online portal like “Irembo”, cashless transactions, digitized citizens’ identity cards and passports.  Thus as the scale and the scope of digital economy development accelerates the demand for data is increasing.  Furthermore, in the context of the current vacuum of a comprehensive data framework, there is a heightened risk of data misuse.

Therefore it is imperative for the government to respond to public concerns around privacy with a robust legal framework for data protection that will enforce accountability towards the citizens over the use of their personal information by bodies or corporations that collect them.

The Authors:

Louis Gitinywa is Rwandan Lawyer. Before  joining the private practice in 2018,  he served as public Prosecutor at the Rwanda National Prosecution Authority for 6 years. He has been involved in many cases related to prosecution of economic crimes, and other criminal cases before domestic courts in Rwanda.

Muvunyi Leonce is Rwandan Journalist based in Kigali, he works at Nation Media Group as an Editorialist for Rwanda Today Newspaper and as a correspondent for the AFP covering the Great lakes region.

Introduction

Paradigm Initiative est une entreprise sociale qui  favorise l’inclusion numérique par les TICs et défend les droits numériques afin d’améliorer les moyens de subsistance des jeunes défavorisés. À travers  nos bureaux au Nigéria (Aba, Abuja, Ajegunle, Kano et Yaba), au Cameroun, au Togo, en Zambie et en Tanzanie. nous travaillons au renforcement des droits numériques et à l’inclusion numérique en Afrique. Un plan d’expansion vers d’autres pays est en cours.

Description du Poste

Recherche, rédaction, correction, publication et diffusion d’informations sur Paradigm Initiative. Les informations seront utilisées pour diffusion interne à l’intention des employés et externe  à l’intention des partenaires, bénévoles ou pour des publications à grand public. Coordonner et fournir des ressources aux médias pour le compte de Paradigm Initiative.

Lieu du poste

Nigeria, Zambie, Tanzanie, ou Togo

Rôles et responsabilités

• Communication

• Assurer la liaison avec les autres membres du personnel et de l’équipe afin de fournir un excellent contenu web à utiliser sur les réseaux sociaux de Paradigm Initiative.
• Fournir des conseils ou des compétences spécifiques aux équipes pour renforcer les aspects média et communication de tous nos programmes.
• Gérer les supports  et réseaux numériques, à travers les programmes et les régions
• S’associer à des développeurs Web pour concevoir et mettre en œuvre des solutions Web efficaces afin de favoriser les communications internes et externes.
• Surveiller les installations Internet et Web.
• Gérer les contacts avec les nouveaux médias dans toutes les régions.
• Élaborer des stratégies de communication pour les projets et les clients de Paradigm Initiative Consulting.

2. Gestion financière

• Gérer les budgets alloués et réduire les coûts d’entretien des ressources numériques.
• Effectuer toutes les tâches dans le cadre des budgets alloués.
• Mobilisation de fonds pour l’organisation par le déploiement de compétences en médias numériques.
• Veille  des réseaux de médias sociaux à la recherche de subventions et de possibilités de financement pour l’organisme.

3. Gestion des affaires

• Coordonner les réunions et entretenir les relations sur demande, en particulier avec les divers médias, tant sociaux que traditionnels.
• Jouer un rôle actif dans les médias et la communication, le lobbying et le plaidoyer sur les questions liées aux programmes Paradigm Initiative à travers les médias sociaux.
• Gérer les activités médiatiques et de communication dans le cadre du développement de tous nos programmes.
• Élaborer des stratégies de communication pour les projets et les clients de PI Consulting
• Identifier de nouveaux partenaires médiatiques stratégiques potentiels pour Paradigm et développer des stratégies pour travailler avec eux.
• Aider le personnel et les partenaires de Paradigm Initiative  à faire passer des messages pertinents aux publics cibles à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur de l’organisation sur les principales activités.
• Assurer la liaison avec les partenaires actifs pour identifier et les aider à utiliser les rares occasions qui leur sont offertes de faire avancer les questions de plaidoyer de Paradigm Initiative dans divers médias au Nigéria.

4. Gestion des médias

• Cultiver les relations avec les principaux contacts des médias
• Compiler et mettre à jour une base de données sur les médias et la communauté
• Agir à titre de porte-parole public de Paradigm Initiative en assurant la liaison avec les médias et d’autres parties externes et en donnant des interviews
• Surveiller l’analyse des sites Web et des médias sociaux
• Suivre les contenus médiatiques liés au travail de Paradigm Initiative.
• Assurer une couverture médiatique adéquate pour toutes les activités et fonction du programme
• Identifier régulièrement les voies de communication et les possibilités de favoriser une communication efficace.
• Effectuer des recherches et examiner tout le contenu du site Web et des plateformes de médias sociaux de l’organisation.

Qualifications, compétences et aptitudes :

• Diplôme en communication, relations publiques, informatique, Science de l’Information et de la Communication, Systèmes d’information ou domaines connexes
• Maîtrise de l’anglais et du français
• Compétence avancée dans la gestion des médias sociaux et des systèmes de gestion de contenu
• Expérience en stratégie de communication, gestion de projets et médias
• Démontrer des compétences en relation avec les médias, de l’expérience dans la communication directe avec les organisations médiatiques et un niveau élevé de compétences en rédaction.
• Faire preuve d’une compréhension étendue des enjeux et des politiques en matière de TIC au Nigéria
• Expérience en matière de renforcement des capacités et/ou de formation très avantageuse
• Pensée créative, développement, conception ou création d’idées, de relations, de systèmes ou de produits nouveaux, y compris des contributions artistiques.

Rémunération

En fonction de l’expérience et des compétences

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By Babatunde Okunoye

The development community in Nigeria became excited in 2013 when the Federal Government announced a national broadband plan to guide government policy towards broadband development in Nigeria. Nigeria’s national broadband plan was published amidst wide publicity and interest from stakeholders in the country and abroad.

Among the signature targets of the National Broadband Plan was the 6-fold increase of Nigeria’s broadband penetration from 5% to 30% and the inward spread of broadband fibre infrastructure into Nigeria’s cities and town in the nation’s hinterland.

As the deadlines for targets for the broadband plan approached, it was time for evaluation and although the Federal government claimed it had achieved its planned 30% target for broadband, experts in civil society and the private sector differed, with some suggesting the correct figure was closer to 10%. Government, civil society and private sector actors, however, agreed there’s still much more work to be done to expand broadband access in the country. It was clear a plan post-2018 was necessary, yet till now (Q2 2019), there doesn’t seem to be a clear policy direction from government on a post-2018 national broadband plan.

The National Broadband Plan 2013 – 2018 was an extremely useful policy document in the development of broadband in Nigeria. And although there are differences of opinion between civil society, the private sector and government on the extent of its success, there is no doubt that the Broadband Plan did make substantial contributions to the development and access to broadband in Nigeria.

In light of the importance of reliable and affordable broadband access to the development of Nigeria, it is important that conversations on a post-2018 be restarted. It’s Q2 2019 already and a survey of the policy landscape in Nigeria shows that there have not been any publicly visible plans or conversations towards a post-2018 Broadband plan.

The rebasing of Nigeria’s economy in 2013 showed the tremendous progress the nation had made in diversifying its economy. Nigeria’s economy was revealed to be the largest in Africa, overtaking South Africa. A key contributor to this new reality was the contribution of telecommunications and telecommunications-enabled services. The Internet, for instance, has enabled new forms of commerce and economic activity which has lifted many out of poverty and created a new army of technology-entrepreneurs.

Key to sustaining this new growth sector is expanding broadband access to the widest possible population in Nigeria. The starting point for this endeavour is a policy document, which guides the actions of all stakeholders towards this laudable goal. The National Broadband Plan (2013 – 2018) initiated a process which, although had its challenges, has left a positive footprint on the nation’s development. In light of the importance of fast and reliable broadband access to national development, it is in the best interest of the nation that plans for a post-2018 broadband plan are accelerated, and all stakeholders in government, civil society and the private sector coalesce effort to achieve this goal.

Babatunde Okunoye leads research at Paradigm Initiative.