Vacancy: FOSS Certification Manager for the project ICT@INNOVATION

Blog entry Submitted by petra on 11. November 2009 - 14:40.
in

FOSSFA in cooperation with InWEnt is looking for a:


FOSS Certification Manager for the project ict@innovation


Application deadline is 20th January 2010

FOSSFA and InWEnt are pleased to announce the vacancy for the "FOSS Certification Manager for ict@innovation".


ict@innovation - Creating Business and Learning Opportunities with Free and Open Source Software in Africa is a joint capacity building project in the area of innovative information and communication technologies through Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) implemented in Southern and East Africa from 2008-2010. For details please see: http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net


TERM

Initial contract from 15/2/2010-31/12/2010, renewable

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Pillar B Manager will be responsible for supervising the implementation of all programme component activities and coordinating with the FOSSFA secretariat and executive in order to:
  • Plan and implement the ict@innovation programme activities on FOSS certification and achieve the ict@innovation Pillar B programme targets;
  • Work toward a long term strategy for spreading FOSS certification throughout Africa;
  • In collaboration with global certification entities, and in consultation with FOSSFA members and project partners, compile and make available the needed training materials for key FOSS certificates

 

Management Arrangements 

The Pillar B Manager shall be hired by ict@innovation (FOSSFA and InWEnt). S/he shall work under the auspices of the FOSSFA Secretariat. Applicants based anywhere in Africa are welcome. Frequent travel to the project region will be necessary (see initial target countries above). Preferably, the Pillar B manager will be based in one of these countries or in Accra - Ghana (location of current FOSSFA secretariat).

The Pillar B Manager will be a staff member of FOSSFA. S/he will work closely with the FOSSFA secretariat coordinator and especially with the general ict@innovation programme coordinator (Africa Coordinator) based in Pretoria, as well as all other project partners to ensure that the project is successfully implemented.

 

Job Description

·        Responsible for the overall implementation of Pillar B of the ict@innovation programme.

·        Manage and preparation of project budget to ensure it covers operations cost such as human resources, logistics and financial

·        Conduct a survey and/or research to obtain a directory of training centre in the selected countries under the project and subsequently for the entire Africa continent

·        Conduct research to ascertain all relevant information of skills needed by Africa industries and to be used in the development of the training materials for the FOSS certification to be agreed on with FOSSFA and InWEnt

·        Compile the training materials for the selected FOSS certificate

·        Conduct trainings-of-trainers for the selected FOSS certification

·        Organise and supervise possible consultants for the compilation and adaptation of training materials and to serve as co-trainers for the trainings

·        Responsible for selection, management and supporting the training institutions to ensure participation leads to the success of the programme. 

·        Prepare and supervise the national roll-out of the FOSS certification training by the participants of the trainer-of-trainers

·        Develop a sustainable strategy for FOSS certification in Africa

·        Serve as the main contact for the Pillar B  programme

·        Create online communities from the various group used in the Pillar B programme: content developers, trainers and FOSS experts to ensure continuous dialogue among them

·        Prepare quarterly report of the Pillar B  programme to FOSSFA and InWEnt

·        Monitor and Evaluate all aspect of Pillar B of the ict@innovation  programme, which are to be included in the quarterly report to FOSSFA and InWEnt

·        Perform in addition public relations (PR) activities for  and FOSSFA

Note: for details information of these job description see here.

 

Qualification and Requirements

The applicant must have:

  • In-depth knowledge and working experience of FOSS issues in Africa
  • Extensive knowledge of FOSS certification and possibly other Business certification schemes and their qualification schemes.
  • Experience in training materials or course content development
  • A minimum of 5 years experience in project(s) of similar nature
  • Training experience and be able to train other professionals 
  • Be open to work with different and diverse African people

Graduate level qualification,  post-graduate qualification will be a plus  

APPLICATION

Interested candidates should send an application as soon as possible, to Mr Frederick Yeboah secretariat[at]fossfa.net with copy to Mr George Nyambuya:  george.nyambuya[at]inwent.co.za or through any FOSSFA Executive.

 

Last date of application: January 20th, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

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Background on ict@innovation programme

Programme Aims

The ict@innovation programme builds capacities in African small and medium ICT enterprises to make a business with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). ict@innovation aims to encourage the growth of African ICT industries, particularly in Southern and East Africa, through three main actions: spreading FOSS business models for enterprises in Africa, fostering FOSS certification and supporting innovative local FOSS applications for social and economic development. ict@innovation is a partnership of FOSSFA (Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa) and InWEnt - Capacity Building International (Germany).

Funding partners are the German Ministry Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). The programme focuses on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as a key technology to drive innovation, add local value and create sustainable and affordable ICT-solutions. ict@innovation aims to enhance regional networking and to strengthen consulting capacities of regional and national ICT associations and training institutions as well as of other relevant change agents.

Programme Components

Pillar A: Training on African FOSS Business Models for ICT-based SME

  • Capturing profitable business models for FOSS products, services and training, adapted to the African context
  • Disseminating such model business approaches and related skills in the African ICT sector

Pillar B: Quality Management for FOSS Services through Certification

  • Promotion of internationally accepted quality standards in the field of FOSS
  • Enlargement of trainings for certification and accreditation of FOSS training courses, tests and materials

Pillar C: Innovative local FOSS Applications for social and economic development

  • “Learning by Coding”: promoting the application of technical skills in locally relevant software projects
  • Development and dissemination of FOSS products adapted to the needs of the SME and the public sector

Pillar D: Regional networking and international exchange

  • Community Building through trainings and web portal
  • Strengthening regional organisations and assisting international exchange

Further information what activities have been conducted since the start of the programme in 2008 can be accessed under: http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net

Time Frame: January 2008 – December 2010 (Phase 1)

Initial Target Countries: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Namibia, Zambia with the long-term target being all African countries.

Pillar B  - Goals

Main goal of Pillar B of the ict@innovation programme is to ensure that training institutions, organisations and associations are capacitated to provide training in internationally recognized FOSS certifications at a lower cost as a business. This allows to certify people working for SMEs of the national IT-sector, which will improve the quality of their services and the level of trust of customers of FOSS solutions such as national administrations or SMEs.  

 

More information on Pillar B "Quality Management for FOSS Services through Certification" and the outcomes of a first planning workshop can be found here: http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/wiki/public-wiki/foss-certification/outcomes-foss-certification-planning-workshop

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CertificationManagerFinal.pdf276.91 KB
Submitted by Project management Course (not verified) on 17. December 2009 - 14:15.

Nice to see your blog. It’s very interesting.
Keep up your good job!

Submitted by Matt John on 9. March 2010 - 13:52.
Thanks for your article, and I think you have been accurate in establishing the fact that UK Government is now in a position where ignoring a cheaper, viable, industrial strength EDRM system such as Alfresco would be a mistake.

Over the past couple of years, we have worked with a number of forward thinking Government departments such as Partnerships for Schools (Building Schools for the Future programme) and OFWAT who have independently assessed Alfresco and built their EDRM infrastructure on top of the technology. It is great to see their vision further endorsed by the certification of Alfresco to the DoD standard.

As an Alfresco SI, we also represent that other half of the equation - Alfresco have a strong eco system of partners that are able to support the bid process required by Government departments. All of our Government clients have procured the Alfresco/Ixxus stack via Catalist procurement, which equally demonstrates the viability of Alfresco as an appropriate Government strength solution in my book.

Anyway, thanks once again, and if you are interested, you can read further information on some of our Alfresco Government projects here - ccnp

Kind regards,

Matt John
Submitted by Independence day sms (not verified) on 12. August 2010 - 12:20.

Nice to see your blog. I was finding that type info and now i get it.Thanks for this...Keep it up...

Submitted by flemming (not verified) on 1. November 2010 - 8:08.

A very nice article i really like it.

Regards:
Fleming

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