Expression Of Interest (Eoi) Recruitment Of Consultancy Services For The Development Of An Internet Of Things White Paper For Africa Tender At White Paper for Africa – In Rwanda

White Paper for Africa
Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

1. Context
Digitalization and technological change have contributed significantly to driving economic growth and raising living standards across the globe. However, digitalization has created challenges and its benefits have not been shared widely enough. In response, in 2019, the German government published its Digital Technologies for Development strategy, acknowledging that the Agenda 2030 with its sustainable development goals can only be achieved with the help and utilization of digital technologies.

In the same year, the Smart Africa Secretariat (SAS, based in Kigali) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) realized that in the rapidly changing, highly interconnected and digitalized world creating positive social, economic and environmental change requires the cooperation of a wide range of stakeholders from the digital society and economy. Both parties, SAS and BMZ, have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to address the challenges of the digital age as a basis for sustainable development and stability.

SAS and BMZ agreed to work together in a multi-stakeholder framework on the implementation of digital solutions for Africa’s social and economic challenges. The initial work plan details seven areas where German Cooperation and SAS collectively work towards developing Africa into a single digital market. Currently, more than half a dozen technical cooperation, as well as one financial cooperation projects, are involved in the implementation of the partnership.

Building upon the JDoI, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is offering support for the elaboration of Smart Africa’s IoT White Paper initiative through the Smart Africa Secretariat. The Africa IoT White Paper Initiative seeks to bring awareness to the adoption and use of the IoT technology for African countries in order to drive transformation, boost socio-economic development. As the IoT-related technologies have seen a rise in recent years, among technology practitioners, private businesses & education institutions, it is important for Africa to leverage on such technologies. The aim is to inform, raise interest, and propose solutions as a demonstration of what is possible in Africa.

0.Tasks to be performed by the contractor
The bidder is required to prepare a white paper that will assist governments to be informed, interested and ready to accelerate the use and adoption of IoT technology in Africa, providing information on milestones achieved, initial results and expected impacts, focused mainly on the technology in Africa.

Output: IoT White Paper for Africa
Under the supervision of the SAS & GIZ, the consultancy firm will offer a critical view of IoT Technologies and an objective opinion about what could and could not work in Africa. The firm can draw on the example of the Blockchain White Paper developed by the collaborative work of Smart Africa and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The mission of the consulting firm will specifically consist of the following:
Define the IoT technology in a nutshell and specially core features and known limitations that could benefit and hinder the development of IoT on the continent.
Outline the IoT technology landscape in Africa and specifically within Smart Africa member states.
Benchmarks other approaches (Europe, Asia, America, etc.) to IoT, outlining key lessons learnt and approaches.
Identify the major challenges faced by countries and other stakeholders in implementing IoT in relation to digital transformation and boosting socio-economic development.
Showcase a list of existing IoT related projects and best practices on and for the continent. Identifying short-, mid- and long-term projects/initiatives that could be implemented on the continent. Potential quick wins should also be identified to assess the possibility for immediate implementation.
Outline African wide IoT goals and objectives and indicators to achieve them towards digital transformation and boosting socio-economic development.
Propose strategic actions, policies (data protection, financial regulation, etc.), and recommendations to manage the adoption and use of IoT technology on the continent.

1.Duration of the Assignment

Objective (Tasks)

Define, with the collaboration of SAS and GIZ, the roadmap for the consultancy services.
Start of the project and adoption of a schedule for the execution of the mission with the dates of the deliverables.

Bi-weekly check-in with SAS to report updates (approx. 1 hour calls and/or in-person meetings

Define the IoT technology in a nutshell and specially core features and known limitations that could benefit and hinder the development of IoT on the African continent.

Define the IoT technology landscape:

In the world (Europe, Asia, America, etc) while benchmarking their approach to IoT, outlining key lessons learnt and approaches.

In Africa and specifically within Smart Africa member states.

Showcase a list of existing IoT related projects and best practices on and for the continent. Identifying short-, mid- and long-term projects/initiatives that could be implemented on the continent. Potential quick wins should also be identified to assess the possibility for immediate implementation.

Outline African wide IoT goals and objectives and indicators to achieve them towards digital transformation and boosting socio-economic development.

Propose strategic actions, policies (data protection, financial regulation, etc.), and recommendations to manage the adoption and use of IoT technology on the continent.

Total estimated expert days

The selected Consultancy Firm must carry out the project within three and a half (3.5) months from the project start date.

Period of assignment: From 01/07/2021 until 30/10/2021.

2. Expected Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected by the end of this assignment:
Kick-off meeting and minutes after the meeting are prepared, outlining the project roadmap.
Regular exchanges with project teams throughout the assignment take place to gather project updates.
First draft: The Consulting Firm will do a first draft document that will offer an analysis of the technology in a nutshell (core features, known limitations, etc.), and Global and continental analysis of the IoT best practice or best in class IoT projects/solutions with focus on digital transformation, and sustainable socio-economic growth.
The Consultancy firm will receive support in collecting the exiting data by conducting a desktop study and by requesting help from the Members of the Alliance with the support of the Smart Africa Secretariat.

Second draft: The Consulting Firm will add to the first draft an outline of the various best in class IoT solutions with pros and cons. A comprehensive analysis of requirements (including infrastructures, limitations, potentials, etc.) for the proposed solution(s).
Third draft: The Consulting Firm will add to the previous draft strategic actions/recommendations and implementation plans on IoT technologies in Africa.
The Consultancy firm will put together a comprehensive presentation of the document to be presented to Members of the Secretariat of Smart Africa before final validation. The firm will take inputs and modify the document accordingly.
The white paper has been prepared and updated for communication purposes in both English and French.
All produced materials and rights to them are handed over to GIZ and SAS.

3.Concept expectations from the consultancy
Further, the following steps are expected:
In the bid, the bidder is required to show how the objective and outputs defined in Chapter 2 and 4 are to be achieved.
The bidder is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation with them.
The bidder is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create a schedule that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 and 4 are to be provided. The bidder is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors in accordance with Chapter 2
The contractor makes available equipment and supplies (consumables) and assumes the associated operating and administrative costs.
The contractor manages costs and expenditures, accounting processes and invoicing in line with the requirements of GIZ.
The bidder is required to draw up a personnel assignment plan with explanatory notes that lists all the experts proposed in the bid; the plan includes information on assignment dates (duration and expert days) and locations of the individual members of the team complete with the allocation of work steps as set out in the schedule.

4. Personnel concept
The bidder is required to provide personnel who are suited to filling the positions described, based on their CVs, the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications.

The below-specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points.
Bidder

Tasks of the bidder
The bidder will assume overall responsibility for drafting the expected deliverables of the contract (quality and deadlines), including any graphic design and text content needs.
The bidder will coordinate and ensure close communication with the designated staff of Smart Africa and GIZ.
The Smart Africa Secretariat will support and facilitate exchanges with countries and partners within the Smart Africa Alliance.
The bidder will guarantee the confidentiality of information shared by the Smart Africa Secretariat, Smart Africa Member States and other stakeholders. Publication of content can only take place after validation by the Secretariat.
The bidder will report regularly in accordance with deadlines, by preparing the necessary meeting reports, slideshows and summaries of document then collecting
The bidder will submit an executive summary of all the deliverables in a Microsoft PowerPoint format.
The bidder will submit the final deliverables and all working documents in soft copies, editable files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), in both French and English.
The bidder will put together a comprehensive presentation of the document to be presented to Members of the Secretariat of Smart Africa before final validation and will take inputs and modify the document accordingly.

Qualifications of the team leader
Education/Training: Master’s degree in any of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines, Economics or any equivalent discipline with focus on digital innovation, digital transformation and digital policy.
Language: Good business language skills in English and French.
General professional experience: Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in project management of global, large and senior teams with a focus on technology and user centric demand delivery in a public context.
Specific professional experience: At least 8 years’ experience in digital transformation through emerging technologies advocacy, research and practice.
Leadership/management experience: Minimum of 8 years of management/leadership experience as a project team leader or project manager in a company/agency for ICT solutions as a mean for digital transformation.
Existing network and relationships across the Smart African Member States and partners are an asset.
Experience working in Africa and on IoT/government solutions is necessary.
Experience in regional/cross border digital technology solutions project a must.

Qualifications of team member 1 – IT expert with a focus on IoT

Education/Training: Master’s degree in Information Technology (IT), engineering, data or computer science, or any equivalent discipline with focus on emerging technologies, digital transformation and digital policy.
Language: Good business language skills in English and French.
General professional experience: Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in ICT solutions in the digital transformation sector.
Specific professional experience: At least 8 years’ experience in the design, development, implementation and operation of IoT solutions, platforms and technologies.
Leadership/management experience: Minimum of 8 years of management/leadership experience as a project team leader or project manager in a company/agency from strategy through to design across multidisciplinary large teams, across borders and with responsibilities over the following areas of expertise: cybersecurity, privacy, policy frameworks, access management, risk management, data integrity, emerging technologies (such as AI, IoT, etc.), roles management, and related fields.
Strong understanding of the big picture to develop options for implementation ranging from short-term solutions controlling costs and scope to long-term solutions that require larger implementation plans is necessary.
Experience of the operational environment and on-the-ground realities of the deployment and operation of IoT services across a range of African countries is an asset.
Record of delivering technology projects in Africa in line with national and international regulations, highlighting a broad understanding of such regulations is an asset.

Qualifications of team member 2 – Socio-economist expert
Education/Training: Master’s degree in political economy, development economics, development studies, political studies, sociology or any equivalent discipline with focus on digital innovation, digital transformation and digital policy.
Language: Good business language skills in English and French.
General professional experience: Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in governance structure, combined with experience in leading and implementing socio-economic development projects at the continental level in Africa.
Specific professional experience: At least 8 years’ experience formulating strategies and synergies across multiple African partners from the public and private sector with development plans for SDGs.
Leadership/management experience: Minimum of 8 years of management/leadership experience as a lead function, in the economic and financial evaluation of development projects and programs, as well as in private sector development.

Qualifications of team member 3 – Legal expert
Education/Training: Master’s degree in law in the field of international organizations, preferably with focus on institutional Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), or any equivalent discipline with focus on digital innovation, digital transformation and digital policy.
Language: Good business language skills in English and French.
General professional experience: Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in developing and leading the implementation of African legal structures, preferably with a focus on the establishment of PPP.
Specific professional experience: At least 8 years’ experience with institutional design across multiple African supranational organizations comprising member states like African Union or the African Development Bank.
Experience on privacy and data protection is necessary. The expertise should comprise of international standards in all related sectors to data protection based on standard-setting bodies.

Travel
The assignment is based in Kigali. Due to the ongoing global pandemic and the established modus operandi of mobile working, the assignment does not require travelling abroad. Should the bidder deem travel necessary, s/he is required to calculate the travel by the specified experts and the experts it has proposed based on the places of performance stipulated in Chapter 2 and 4 and lists the expenses separately by daily allowance, accommodation expenses, flight costs and other travel expenses.

5.Inputs of GIZ or other actors
GIZ’s support project to SAS is expected to make the following available:
Fund the expert consultant in charge of developing this task

6. Submission and evaluation of EoI
EoI will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Company or individual profile,
Relevant experience,
Company strategies to assure agility, flexibility and responsiveness,
Personnel and,
Financial offer.
The EoI should contain the following:

For Technical Proposal:
A Cover letter expressing interest in this assignment.
The structure of the proposal must correspond to the structure of the EoI. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept.
The complete technical proposal shall not exceed 10 pages (excluding CVs).
If the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment
It should be formatted; font type ARIAL, fond size 11, the offer should be drawn up in English language.
The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages.
Company or business registration certificate
References and recommendations of similar works executed by the company in Rwanda or elsewhere outside of Rwanda.
VAT registration certificate if available
Latest tax clearance certificate

For the Financial Proposal:
The Financial Proposal indicates the contract price, supported by a breakdown of consultancy fee per day + all other costs such us (if needed) daily allowance, accommodation expenses. The cost must be in RWF and VAT excluded.

Submission Procedure
Please submit your EoI documents in two separate envelopes (1 for technical offer and 1 for financial offer) until latest Monday 21 June 2021 at 4:00 pm, at the front desk of:
GIZ Office Kigali/Rwanda
KN 41 Street / Nr.17 – Kiyovu
B.P 59 Kigali – Rwanda
GIZ reserves all rights