Smart Cities Specialist

DAI's CIDR Program is seeking a short-term consultant to help identify potential entry points for Smart City activities in Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and North Macedonia. The Smart Cities Specialist will advise the CIDR technical team on existing activities in each country and provide detailed recommendations for new activities that foster smarter cities while encouraging the procurement of U.S.-made technologies to counter growing Chinese influence in the Western Balkan region. Work will span one to two months (late January-early March 2022).

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of this assignment is to identify potential entry points for Smart City activities in Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and North Macedonia. The Smart Cities Specialist will advise the CIDR technical team on existing activities in each country and provide detailed recommendations for new activities that foster smarter cities while encouraging the procurement of U.S.-made technologies to counter growing foreign influence in the Western Balkan region.

DELIVERABLES

• Develop tracker that identifies existing Smart City projects in Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, including project title, scope, timeline, budget, and key contacts.
• Through desk research and analysis and stakeholder outreach, prepare written recommendations for potential Smart City activities in each of the above listed countries that improve cybersecurity and/or critical infrastructure operations and encourage the procurement of U.S. technologies. Anticipated budget for activities in all four countries will Detailed outline of proposed activities include (1) Identification of key stakeholders/agencies/institutions that should be involved in activities, (2) Identification of key performance indicators for activities that stakeholders can use to benchmark progress, and (3) Entry points for activities in all sectors should be proposed but the energy sector should be a priority.
• Present recommendations to CIDR technical team and conduct follow-up research and stakeholder outreach as needed.
  
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, social and/or information science, or related area. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience with Smart City research and strategy development and policy analysis.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity, including Internet of Things.
• Proven knowledge and professional understanding of Smart City technologies and digitization of city services, particularly those aimed at improving cybersecurity and/or critical infrastructure operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to write concisely and accurately.
• Ability to work with people of various cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
• Fluency in English.
  
  
  

Preferred

• Familiarity with existing Smart City projects and the economic and political contexts in Western Experience in implementation of international development assistance projects
  
  
  

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. DAI does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, veteran status, or other non-merit factor.