Position: Digital Infrastructure Specialist

Project Name: The Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP), (P505094)

Name of Employer / Institution: Electronic Government Division – Smart Zambia Institute (SZI)

1. Background

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the International Development Association of the World Bank to accelerate country-wide digital transformation. The “Digital Zambia Acceleration Project” (henceforth referred to as the ‘the project’) will drive digital transformation throughout the country by enhancing access to technology and improving service delivery. The project will address key barriers that hinder demand for digital services, such as inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy rates, access to digital devices and affordability issues. The project in addition, will enable Zambia to leverage critical enabling digital platforms and data-driven solutions to improve the efficiency of public service delivery and expand the adoption of digitally enabled services.

The Project will be coordinated through the Electronic Government Division (EGD) – Smart Zambia Institute (SZI). A dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is thus being set up and operationalized at SZI that will have overall responsibility for supporting project preparation and implementation.

SZI seeks to hire a series of high-performing and qualified experts, as individual consultants, to fill the positions of the PIU, who will drive the successful and effective preparation and delivery of this project.

• Summary of Needed Technical Expert

The Digital Infrastructure Specialist should have a solid understanding of telecommunication, broadband and internet services and must be well acquainted with the Zambian environment. The Expert will help the Government of Zambia through this project to plan for extension of connectivity to unserved and underserved areas to close the connectivity gap.

2. Objective of the Assignment for the Digital Infrastructure Specialist

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide technical advisory and implementation support on digital infrastructure design, procurement, deployment, and sustainability. The specialist will ensure that infrastructure investments are scalable, secure, future-proof, climate-resilient, and cost-effective, while aligned with the project’s objectives and international best practices..

3. Scope of Work for the Assignment.

The Digital Infrastructure Specialist will:

1. Technical Advisory & Planning

• Provide technical advice in the design and architecture of scalable, secure, and resilient digital infrastructure, including backbone, metropolitan, and last-mile networks, data centers, cloud platforms, and green ICT solutions.

• Provide guidance on infrastructure standards, specifications, and emerging technologies, ensuring alignment with international best practices.

• Advise on integration of infrastructure solutions with digital platforms, e-government applications, and other business systems.

1. Procurement & Contract Management

• Prepare technical specifications, bidding documents (RFPs, RFQs), and evaluation criteria for digital infrastructure procurement packages.

• Support the PIU in evaluating bids and proposals for infrastructure projects and in negotiating contracts.

• Oversee and provide technical input on contract management, ensuring timely and quality delivery of services by vendors and contractors.

• Implementation Support & Quality Assurance

• Provide implementation oversight for infrastructure deployment, including site selection, installation, and commissioning of ICT infrastructure.

• Ensure optimal performance, reliability, and cybersecurity of ICT systems, networks, and services.

• Monitor compliance with environmental and social safeguards, climate resilience requirements, and sustainability goals (e.g., energy efficiency and greening of digital infrastructure).

1. Capacity Building & Knowledge Transfer

• Train government counterparts and PIU staff on digital infrastructure management, cloud services, and cybersecurity considerations.

• Support the development of operational guidelines and maintenance plans for infrastructure sustainability.

1. Policy & Regulatory Support

• Advise on regulatory and policy frameworks for broadband, data hosting, and cross-border connectivity, ensuring alignment with regional and international frameworks.

• Provide input on models for private sector co-investment (e.g., PPPs, reverse auctions) and innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure sustainability.

4. List of Deliverables, Schedule of deliverables and Format of Submission

5. Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer/Network Engineering, Information, and Communication Technology (ICT), Information Systems or equivalent.

• Master’s Degree, or higher, in Computer /Network Engineering, Information, and Communication Technology (ICT), Information Systems will be an added advantage.

• Relevant Industry certifications such as MCIP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CNNP are added advantage.

• Demonstrated knowledge of key regulatory and policy issues related to the telecommunication sector and broadband market development – e.g. competition, affordability, quality of service (QoS), local content, spectrum management, and infrastructure sharing etc.

• Familiarity with the digital inclusion and universal access agenda of Zambia.

• Demonstrated knowledge of network infrastructure and related solutions used in middle mile and last mile solutions, including the use of low-earth orbit satellite technology.

• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building skills

General Competences

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities.

• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.

• Ability to solve complex problems and provide solutions to difficult issues.

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

6. Experience

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in planning, designing, and implementing digital infrastructure (fiber networks, data centers, cloud services, broadband, etc.) and contract management.

7. Institutional Arrangements

The Digital Infrastructure Specialist will report to the PIU Coordinator and will work closely with the relevant beneficiary agencies, including Smart Zambia, MOTS and ZICTA.

8. Facilities to be Provided

The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will provide the Digital Infrastructure Specialist with office facilities, essential utilities, office services, stationery and office supplies, ICT equipment and other materials as necessary.

9. Location of the Assignment

The duty station for this role will be Lusaka, Zambia. The Digital Infrastructure Specialist will be based within the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

10. Duration of Contract

The Digital Infrastructure Specialist will be contracted for an initial period of two years. The contract will be renewed based on the Experts’ performance and needs of the project.