Summary

We are seeking an experienced, talented Connectivity Solutions Market Expert to support Giga and the Market, Supply and Financing Centre (MSFC) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current global connectivity solutions market, with a special focus in the African market and areas within the continent that are not currently covered by existing commercial services.

Your main responsibilities will be…

• Utilizing Giga’s information as well as ITU policy and regulatory studies and external data, baseline the technological, operational, legal, and regulatory barriers to school internet connectivity, with a special emphasis in backhaul and last mile; noting the situations where connectivity has been achieved and in what ways.
• Working with the Giga team, solidify the technical service that is being purchased for schools through a ‘target service profile/solution’ and/or other technically critical criteria to achieve a common standard for the market to solve for.
• Through key informant interviews and pre-existing networks, identify the connectivity technologies that can achieve breakthroughs in access, what dependencies these technologies have on existing networks, and where (in respect of geographical or economic density archetypes) the different market technologies are likely to play a part.
• Consider what technological or other (e.g., geopolitical/security/economic/financial/operational, sustainability) barriers may play a part in limiting options that are technically possible.
• Recommend ways forward based on a thorough and impartial understanding of both current and emerging connectivity technologies. This understanding should include forming a hypothesis on how current and emerging solutions could substantially address the persistent failure of the market to provide affordable, high-quality internet access in schools worldwide. This issue is especially prevalent in remote, rural, and disadvantaged schools, with a critical focus on the African continent. When considering these recommendations, it is essential to evaluate the sustainability aspect of the connectivity solutions. Any such hypothesis should be based on a clear methodology and rooted in a deep, insightful analysis.

Please click here to access the full TOR and related information.

To qualify for this position, you will have…

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Computer Science, Network Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or MBA with a focus on Market Strategy, Telecommunications, or a similar field is highly desirable.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in the telecommunications sector, preferably with a focus on connectivity solutions.
• A strong, active network within the telecommunications and Connectivity Solutions Market is essential. The candidate should be able to leverage these industry contacts effectively for market consultations, trend forecasting, and strategic partnerships. The candidate’s network should span a diverse range of stakeholders in the sector including, but not limited to, key decision-makers, manufacturers, service providers, and regulatory bodies.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, the ability to foster effective industry relationships, engaging in productive dialogue to influence key industry trends. The ideal candidate will have a history of collaborative work with industry associations, regulatory bodies, and key market influencers to shape the connectivity solutions landscape and influence policy direction.
• Demonstrable experience in market analysis, competitive intelligence, and forecasting.
• Prior experience working with governments, technology providers, and non-profit organizations in the connectivity sector is a plus.
• Experience in developing and implementing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent understanding of the global telecommunications market, including key players, trends, and regulatory environment.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent knowledge of emerging technologies and their potential impacts on the connectivity solutions market.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in using market research tools and software.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, complex, and fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language would be an asset.

Payment details and further considerations

• Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.   
• Consultant is responsible for his/her own health and travel insurance.
• Consultant is responsible to arrange his/her own travel, including visa.

How to apply

• Interest applicant is required to submit a financial proposal with all-inclusive fee. 
• Financial proposal must include travel costs (economy class) and daily subsistence allowance, if travel is required as per TOR and any other estimated costs: visa, travel/health insurance. 

Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered. Please find attached the financial proposal template.

About Our Team

We are a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team of software engineers, finance specialists, data scientists, policy experts, and much more. Our team is a distributed workforce and plans to remain distributed into the foreseeable future. We are growing fast. Our team has grown by over 400% in the last 6 months as we rapidly scale to meet our stated mission.