Events Manager at Smart Africa Secretariat: (Deadline 02-08-2026)
JOB ADVERT
Recruitment of an Events Manager
- Position title: Events Manager
- Contract Duration: one year renewable
- Duty station: Kigali, Rwanda
- Applications submission deadline: 02nd August 2026 at 11:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2)
- About Smart Africa
Smart Africa is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through affordable access to Broadband and usage of Information and Communications Technologies.
The Transform Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda on 28th-31st October 2013 culminated in the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto document by seven (7) African Heads of States (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso) in which they committed to providing leadership in accelerating socio-economic development through ICT’s.
On 30th -31st January 2014, The Smart Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa beyond just the 7 original signatories at the Summit to all the 50+ African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to over 40 African countries that represent over 1.1 billion people.
The Smart Africa Manifesto aims to put ICT at the center of national socio-economic development agenda of member countries; improve access to ICT especially Broadband; to improve accountability, efficiency, and openness through ICT promoting the introduction of advanced technologies in telecommunication; to put Private Sector first, and to leverage ICT to promote sustainable development.
- Purpose of the Position
The Events Manager will be responsible for delivering a coherent and high-impact event portfolio that supports Smart Africa’s strategic objectives. The role combines strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, and operational execution to ensure that all events—particularly the Transform Africa Summit—deliver measurable outcomes in terms of partnerships, visibility, and policy alignment.
- Duties and Responsibilities
The Events Manager will ensure planning, coordination, and delivery of Smart Africa’s event portfolio, ensuring high-level participation, operational excellence, and measurable outcomes.
The Events Manager will be mainly responsible for:
- Defining and managing the annual event calendar, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, partnerships, and programs.
- Developing event concepts, formats, and agendas (including TAS) to ensure relevance, quality, and strategic positioning.
- Coordinating with member states, host countries, partners, and speakers to secure high-level participation.
- Leading the full lifecycle of events (planning, logistics, delivery), ensuring operational excellence.
- Managing service providers and logistics (venues, production, travel), ensuring quality and cost-efficiency.
- Ensuring seamless coordination, protocol management, and high-quality experience for all participants.
- Leading the end-to-end planning and execution of TAS in coordination with the host country, partners and internal team as well as ensuring engagement of senior government, private sector, and development stakeholders.
- Coordinating logistics and delivery of Smart Africa’s governance organs meetings, ensuring timely preparation and execution.
- Delivering workshops, launches, and consultations, and support participation and contribution to partner-led events.
- Working with technical teams to ensure content readiness and follow-up on outcomes.
- Ensuring strong coordination with Communications to maximize visibility and impact.
- Monitoring KPIs including participation, engagement, and partnerships generated.
- Producing concise post-event reports capturing outcomes, insights, and recommendations.
- Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisors.
- Key Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in Event Management, International Relations, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field;
- Additional certifications in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) or event production/management are considered an asset.
Professional Experience
- Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in event management, conference organization, or high-level convening, preferably in international or governmental contexts;
- Proven track record in managing complex, multi-stakeholder events, including coordination across multiple countries, institutions, and partner organizations;
- Experience in organizing high-level political and institutional meetings, including summits, ministerial meetings, and executive-level forums, with strong understanding of protocol and diplomatic sensitivities;
- Demonstrated ability to engage and coordinate diverse stakeholder groups (governments, private sector, development partners, multilateral institutions) and ensure alignment of expectations and outcomes;
- Experience in preparing and managing high-level agendas, briefing materials, and speaking points for senior leadership engagements is an asset;
- Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into impact-driven event concepts and outcomes, including announcements, partnerships, and policy alignment;
- Experience working in Africa or within African institutions, with a strong understanding of regional political and institutional dynamics;
- Experience working with international organizations, development partners, or multi-stakeholder platforms is strongly preferred.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong project management and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent events and priorities;
- Proven experience in budgeting, procurement processes, and vendor management, including negotiation and contract oversight;
- Ability to design and manage event timelines, work plans, and risk mitigation strategies;
- Experience in delivering hybrid and digital event formats, including use of virtual platforms and event technologies;
- Strong ability to produce event documentation (concept notes, agendas, reports, outcome summaries);
- Familiarity with protocol, logistics, and high-level event standards in international settings.
- Ability to work with diverse stakeholders across multiple countries.
- Ability to work independently, manage complexity, and adapt to fast-paced environments.
- Languages requirements
- Fluency in both English and French (required).
- Working knowledge of Arabic or Portuguese (asset).
- Duration and Duty Station
- The initial contract will be for a period of one year, and may be renewed for three years, subject to satisfactory performance, professional conduct, relevance of the position and availability of funding.
- Duty station: Kigali, Rwanda
- Reporting Line
The Manager reports to the Director of Partnerships, Events and Communication (PEC).
- Application Instructions
Interested candidates fulfilling the job requirements should send the following application documents to the email address: hr@smartafrica.org, with mention of “Events Manager” in the email subject line:
- Motivation letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Copies of academic and professional qualification certificates
The deadline for submitting applications is 02nd August 2026 at 11:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2).
Note: Only selected candidates for interview will be contacted.
