Back IFD/CTI - General Coordination Consultant of the Korea-LAC Tech Corps Program

Post of Duty: Washington D.C.

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position:

Worldwide technology is transforming our societies and economies by changing the ways in which people interact, business’ function and innovate, and governments design and implement policies. Given the unprecedented dimension and speed of this transformation, concerns have emerged about the preparedness of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) economies to face these challenges, especially because of the weakness of the region’s educational systems, the limited broadband coverage, and the fact that most firms are not engaged in innovation activities. Among other actions, improving the supply of specialized human capital and increasing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) knowledge are critical to take full advantage of the possibilities of technological transformation and to mitigate its negative effects to the economy and the whole society.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) represents a paradigm of innovation-led economic development. The country has changed its economic structure in favor of more technologically sophisticated industries and has diversified the number and nature of its productive specialization. Today, Korea is a major contributor to accelerating development of digital technologies. Its economic transformation has been achieved in close collaboration between government, industry, and academic community. Among its strengths, Korea has one of the highest rates of spending on R&D in the world; it also has a highly educated labor force with a strong interest in science and technology. Many higher education institutions in Korea provide innovative and high-quality programs, which constitutes an important contribution to its reputation as a global ICT leader.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched the Korea-LAC Tech Corps Program with the financial support of the Knowledge Partnership Korea Fund for Technology and Innovation (KPK) administered by the IDB. The program is structured in two components: a LAC Tech Corps and a Korea Tech Corps. The LAC Tech Corps component provides LAC mid-level public officials with full scholarships to pursue a master’s degree in public management or public Policy in Korean universities, with ICT-related specifications or other relevant areas with an ICT focus. Meanwhile, the Korea Tech Corps component deploys Korean young professionals with expertise in digital technologies to support innovation projects of public agencies or private companies in select LAC countries. Given this substantial agenda, the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Division (IFD/CTI) is looking for a professional to support the overall implementation and monitoring of the program.

The CTI Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) promotes the creation and growth of dynamic firms in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries by strengthening the capacities and tools to innovate and compete in international markets. The strategic objectives of the division are increasing private sector investment in innovation and technological development; promoting innovative entrepreneurship and the creation of new businesses; boosting the productivity of firms and their capabilities to network and compete in international markets; building and strengthening the capacity of institutions and enhancing the environment for innovation and productive development. The division uses the following instruments to fulfill its strategic objectives: financing, through loans and technical cooperation; pre-financing, through technical assistance programs; institutional strengthening and resource mobilization; creation and dissemination of knowledge products; and support to regional policy dialogues.

What you’ll do:

In close communication and coordination with the Team Leader, the activities to be performed by the consultant will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

• Support as general coordinator the overall implementation and timely monitoring of the whole cycle of the program to ensure its quality and success.
• Conduct a technical, operational, and financial analysis and provide strategic advice and action to contribute to the effective execution of the program and enhance the quality of relevant activities.
• Provide technical support for the selection, deployment and/or evaluation of beneficiaries, including Korean host institutions, LAC scholarship recipients, Korean young professionals, and LAC partner institutions, in accordance with the program’s objectives and requirements.
• Communicate and coordinate with parties involved in LAC countries, Korea, and the Bank’s relevant departments to facilitate all required discussions and procedures.
• Carry out a thorough review of products and deliverables presented by consultants and/or partner entities for quality control and assurance.
• Prepare and develop promotional materials and monitoring reports to disseminate the program’s core information and benefits in a strategic way.
• Elaborate briefings and talking points for the technical team and/or senior management to ensure and facilitate the effective discussion and dissemination of the program.
• Support other related activities as requested and agreed with the Team Leader.

  What you'll need:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics, International Business, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Affairs, or related fields. Master’s degree is desirable, but not necessarily required.
  • Experience: Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in the area of economic analysis, project management, policy studies, public sector management, international development, preferably with an emphasis on Korea-LAC relations.
  • Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

    Key skills:

    • Collaboration and share knowledge.
    • Focus on clients.
    • Effective communication and influence.
    • Innovation and creativity.
    • Good learning skills.
    • Problem solving.

      Requirements:

      • Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
      • Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

        Type of contract and duration:

        • Type of contract: International Consultant Full-Time – CNS.
        • Length of contract: 12 months, with possibilities of renewal up to 36 months.
        • Work Location: On Site.

          What we offer: