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1.      Scope of work

The assignment is divided into six parts:

Part I: The mapping and analysis of the external and internal environment (stakeholders, actors and networks) in the ICT sector in EAC.  Present the Part I mapping and analysis for discussion and freedback from Dfid, Hivos and infoDev.

 Part II: The mapping and analysis of current interventions the ICT sector in EAC by the governments, private sector, donor community and other major stakeholders and as related to the 1) Lack of business skills 2) Lack of access to financial resources 3) Difficulty in accessing markets, opportunities and business models 4) Lack of access to relevant business networks 5) Difficulty in recruiting/training/retaining skilled workforce aligned with business requirement. Part II. Should include organizing workshops in each of the countries with key stakeholders.

Part III: Organize a stakeholder’s meeting in partnership with Dfid, infoDev and Hivos. The mid-term meeting will be used to assess the projects status, findings to date, and offer a space for critical analysis and discussion. This meeting would include Dfid, infoDev and Hivos in conjunction with a select network of invited partners.

Part IV: Identifying gaps and making recommendations including a SWOT analysis (or equivalent) of the type and level of 4 interventions needed in the sector to effectively address the 5 issues above.  Part III. Should include organizing workshops in each of the countries with key stakeholders to present the gaps and recommendations in order to receive feedback, validate and fine-tune the recommendations.

Part VI: Outlining possible challenges, strategies and partners needed to successfully act on the recommended interventions.  These recommendations should reflect the feedback provided by key stakeholders in each of the countries.

Part VII: Organize a stakeholder’s meeting in partnership with Dfid, infoDev and Hivos. The final meeting will be used to present final findings and offer a space for critical analysis and discussion. This meeting would include Dfid, infoDev and Hivos in conjunction with a select network of invited partners.

Specific Questions to be Addressed:

1. What are the main challenges and obstacles faced by the ICT industry in the EAC in addressing the 1) Lack of business skills 2) Lack of access to financial resources 3) Difficulty in accessing markets, opportunities and business models 4) Lack of access to relevant business networks 5) Difficulty in recruiting/training/retaining skilled workforce aligned with business requirement.
2. How are these challenges currently being addressed, where do they fall short and what are the gaps that still remain?
3. What are the strategies for addressing these challenges, what are the models that can be applied, and how can we mitigate risk in dealing with them?
4. What market segments are existing ICT entrepreneurs and SMEs covering and what are the strategies they use to approach these markets successfully (Business process offshoring, IT equipment local assembly or refurbishment, local outsourcing/call centers, IT consultancy, etc.)
5. What are the business models and where are there additional business opportunities for the sector? What holds business growth in these areas back?
6. Who are the key actors in the public, private, civil society, finance and development sectors, what is their present role in the ICT sector and what role could they play within a Dfid/InfoDev/Hivos  ICT sector assistance programme (if any)?
7. With a focus on growth in the ICT sector: what initiatives exist? What are the opportunities for collaboration?
8. Are ICT entrepreneurs organized in associations? Are there specific programs supporting these associations or the ICT entrepreneurs and SMEs? What are the opportunities for collaboration? How does this infrastructure fit into the proposed interventions?
9. How are relevant initiatives/programs organised in terms of financing, activities and implementation?
10. How would an intervention targeting ICT entrepreneurs and SMEs relate to Dfid/infoDev/Hivos overall objective of poverty reduction especially as related to country programmes and sector involvements?
11. What are the risks of a Dfid/infoDev/Hivos intervention?

Key Activities:

• Preparatory planning and desk-study
• Field research – Research locations will be determined by the Consultants but it is expected that they will visit Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kampala and Kigali and to organize stakeholder workshops in each country.
• Collection of relevant quantitative and qualitative data
• Organisation and implementation of stakeholder workshops in each of the countries (these would be the second such workshops) in order to present the findings, including the gaps and recommendations.  Processing and analysis of input (quantitative and qualitative data)
• Facilitating both a mid-term meeting in partnership with Difd, infoDev, Hivos and network of invited partners
•  Drafting a comprehensive and action-oriented report
• Organising and managing a Dfid/InfoDev/Hivos  nominated stakeholder debriefing session

2.      Skills and competencies

The consultant(s) must have practical experience of working in the context of an emerging ICT sector. They should have direct experience of working with ICT entrepreneurs and SMEs in East Africa, as well as in other similar market environments. They should display strong leadership and inter-personal skills, including excellent research, communication and facilitation skills.

3.      Outputs / Deliverables

An inception report at the end of the inception period (10 days) addressing the purpose and the research questions of this assignment, including a plan on how to proceed with the assignment.

• An Interim report mid-way through the study, including the results from the 1st stakeholder workshops
• A rough draft of the report with opportunity to give input
• Results from the 2nd stakeholder workshops
• Results from mid-term meeting in partnership with Difd, infoDev, Hivos and network of invited partners
• A final report to include minutes (key points) of stakeholder group, face-to-face and debriefing meetings as an appendix. In line with the overall purpose of this study, the report must provide the following:
  • A clearly defined map of relevant stakeholders, actors and networks in the ICT sector in the East Africa region
  • A clearly defined specification of the niche in which Dfid/infoDev/Hivos  can make a meaningful contribution, in line with its overall policies and program priorities and how the contribution would interface with existing support by other organization (private or government)
  • Identification of resources in terms of funds, people and (partner) organisations required to fill the niche
  • Risk analysis and feasible options of addressing these risks (including the option of not having any interventions)
• A project presentation at a suitable EAC public event
• A formal debriefing session with Dfid/infoDev/Hivos  nominated stakeholders (at the end of the consultancy)
• Organising and managing the said public and stakeholder events

4.      Timing

The consultancy is for 90 days commencing on the May 15, 2010. The final report should be presented no later than August 15, 2010.

5.      Disbursement Schedule

The overall budget for the project is $150,000

6.        Submission of Expression of Interests

Firms interested in being considered for this project should submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) via dgMarket (http://www.dgmarket.com/) or via Econsult2 (www.worldbank.org/econsult2) by April 29, 2010 and no later than 11:59PM EST on the 29th. 

To access eConsult2 to submit an Expression of Interest please click here

If you have any questions regarding the assignment or if you have difficulty submitting your EOI, please contact Ms. Samiha Boulos (sboulos (at) worldbank (dot) org / tel: 202.473.7005).