Junior Project Manager – GIZ Internal/External Vacancy in Djibouti

• Internal/External Announcement
• GIZ – International Services, Regional Office Ethiopia 
• Announcement Number 001/26

• Post Title Junior Project Manager, 50% part-time
• Required No One (1) 
• Duty Station Djibouti City, Djibouti
• Application Deadline 28/01/2026
• Date Issued 17/01/ 2026
• Contract duration 2 years

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ promotes complex reforms and change processes. Its corporate objective is to improve people’s living conditions on a sustainable basis. Besides the German Federal Government, international institutions, governments, foundations, and companies operating on a global scale can also call on GIZ. Within GIZ, the International Services (GIZ InS) business area is responsible for these clients. 

GIZ InS makes the concepts and experience of German development cooperation available to other clients against payment and acts in the spirit of the GIZ model of sustainable development. Clients benefit from 40 years of practical experience in international cooperation and the knowledge gained from more than 10,000 successfully implemented programs and projects in over 120 countries and more than 100 specific sectors. GIZ InS offers its clients highly competent and efficient teams of German, international and local experts. With this diverse know-how, which is individually tailored to each program, GIZ InS can meet the most complex challenges.

About the role:

For the newly commissioned EU-project “Strengthen Digital Governance Transformation in Djibouti” GIZ InS is looking for a Junior Project Manager. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen digital governance transformation in Djibouti through the design, implementation, and operationalization of key digital government services, fully aligned with the EU’s Digital for Development (D4D) principles and the GovStack approach. The main focus of your tasks will be project management activities, with a great focus on procurement tasks, as well as the liaison tasks to the EU Delegation in Djibouti and implementation partners, specifically the Ministry of Digital Economy and Innovation (MdENI). The project contributes to Djibouti’s wide range of digitalization efforts, particularly in modernizing public sector operations and applies GIZ’s GovStack approach. 

Your tasks can be summarized precisely as follows:

Project management and backstopping

• Backstopping of project in accordance with GIZ policies and procedures as well as client requirements, including but not limited to the EU PRAG guidelines.
• Support the identification and mobilization of long- and short-term experts for planned consultancy missions in close cooperation with GIZ’s recruitment team.
• Preparation of Terms of References and oversight of procurement and contractual processes.
• Supervision of service providers and quality assurance of their deliverables.
• Preparation, review, and quality assurance of project reports.
• Organizing events and project steering meetings.
• Project management and administration in accordance with GIZ and client policies and procedures.
• Management of core project processes such as planning, financial steering, and procurement in close coordination with core process support teams in Ethiopia and Germany.
• Knowledge management and development of project implementation strategies.
• Management of relationships and communications with clients, partners, and experts.
• Support to the project’s visibility and communication support.

Your profile & required qualifications

• You are a national and resident of Djibouti.
• You hold a university degree (at least at bachelor’s level and in a subject related to international cooperation, such as political science, development studies, economics, international law etc.).
• At least 3 years of demonstrable experience in project management and backstopping of development cooperation projects, preferably GIZ- and/or EU-funded.
• Experience in preparing Terms of Reference and managing procurement and contractual processes.
• Experience in project planning, financial steering, reporting, and coordination with support teams.
• Experience in organizing meetings, events, and steering committees.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and knowledge management skills.
• Strong digital skills, preferably with experience in public sector procedures and digital governance initiatives; knowledge of the GovStack approach is a strong asset.
• You are reliable, innovative, have excellent communication skills and are politically aware.
• You have experience working in international as well as hybrid teams (teams based in different geographic locations).
• You enjoy working in a team, but you are also able to work independently and are willing to put the results of your work at the disposal of the team.
• You have a very good knowledge of current Microsoft Office applications.
• Full fluency in written and spoken French and English is an indispensable requirement. 
• Knowledge of Arabic and Somali is an asset.

How to apply:

Please send your full application before the application deadline.

Your application must include the following documents:

1. Your most recent and up to date CV (max. 3 pages);
2. Your cover letter, mentioning the position title for which you are applying in the document title (max. 1 page);
3. At least 2 nominated supporting references with contact details.

All documents should be merged into a single PDF file and should not exceed 3MB in size. 

Due to the usual high volume of applicants for GIZ positions, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.