The work shall be carried out by a team of at least (3) three highly qualified consultants/experts in the requested specialties, namely: 

Lead Consultant/Head of Mission (Professional Development Expert) with the minimum requirements below to be considered for the evaluation:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Business Administration, Psychology, Organizational Development, Social Studies, Human Resource Development, or related disciplines in a learning and development capacity and a solid understanding of the digital economy.
• A minimum of 7 years of extensive expertise and professional experience in leading the design and implementation of creative, adaptable, practical and effective professional and personal development frameworks, programs & other learning offerings in a business environment.
• Experience in career coaching, professional development support, or training, with a focus on practical mentorship programs.
• Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation and learning techniques to assess the effectiveness and impact of mentorship interventions on participants' professional development journeys, continuous improvement and performance coaching.
• Exhibit the ability to tailor professional development interventions to meet the needs of the intended beneficiaries including familiarity with a diverse pool of professional learning systems, tools and styles.
• Extensive experience in cross organisational, regional, and continental professional development program design and implementation, including mentorship programs.
  • Excellent track record developing strategies for effective professional development, coaching and network/net worth building.
  • Strong understanding of adult learning principles, career planning methodologies, and psychosocial support mechanisms.
  • Experience working with diverse populations, including women and girls, to address barriers to career advancement and promote inclusive professional environments.
  • Experience working in Africa, with a deep understanding of gender dynamics and socio-economic challenges across the continent.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills in managing complex projects, with a focus on gender-responsive approaches.
  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate efforts across multiple stakeholders, with an emphasis on inclusivity and diversity.
  • Proven ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, tech companies, and grassroots organizations.
  • Experience working in Africa, at least three (3) African countries.
  • Having participated in at least one (1) similar project in the last 5 years.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Expert with a focus on mentorship and other gender in ICT interventions with the minimum requirements below to be considered for the evaluation:

• A University graduate with a minimum of a master’s degree in social sciences, Statistics, Data Science, Development or other relevant related fields.
• Have at least 5 years of proven experience in designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities, with a focus on effectiveness of gender sensitive professional development interventions.
• Demonstrated expertise in data value enhancement and the ability to assess the impact of mentorship programs on gender equity and socio-economic development.
• Experience in providing technical & strategic guidance in the development of performance metrics, analytical frameworks and intervention-specific M&E strategies.
• Work experience in gender integrated MEL frameworks and strategies development in Africa, with familiarity in member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.
• Excellent track record of MEL on digital transformation in Africa at both national and continental levels, supported by tangible outcomes.
• Experience working in Africa, at least three (3) African countries.
• Having participated in at least one (1) similar project in the last 5 years.

Socio-Economic Development/Digital Transformation Expert with a focus on gender in ICT and mentorship with the minimum requirements below to be considered for the evaluation:

• A University graduate with a minimum of a master's degree in economics, ICT, Social Sciences, or other relevant related fields, with a focus on digital economy related socio-economic interventions.
• Having at least 5 years of proven experience in the design, development and implementation of digital transformation interventions particularly gender-focused professional development related interventions.
• Experience in the design and implementation of mentorship programs for women and girls in ICT in Africa, at both national and continental level.
• Ability to strategically think to address socio-economic barriers and promote equitable opportunities for women and girls in the ICT sector.
• Solid understanding of digital technologies and their impact on socio-economic development, particularly for marginalized groups.
• Have work experience in development of sustainable & gender inclusive ICT projects in Africa, and in the member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.
• Experience working in Africa.
• Having participated in at least one (1) similar project in the last 5 years.

6. EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

The evaluation method is Fixed budget approach. The following model will be used to evaluate all respondents and proposals submitted:

a. Technical Evaluation Criteria

The financial proposal of only those firms which secure a minimum score of 80/100 in the technical evaluation will be opened.

St= Score for the Technical Evaluation

b. Financial Criteria

All bidders should note that the evaluation method is Fixed Budget Approach. The firm with the highest evaluated technical score among those bidders that achieved the minimum technical score 80% will be invited to negotiate the Contract.

7. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

A specific outline must be followed to facilitate the Smart Africa Secretariat’s review and evaluation of the responses received.

A response to this RFP must include the following sections in the order listed:

1. A cover letter confirming the firm’s interest to provide the services required
2. Mandatory Administrative documents
   • Company/Institution registration certificate
   • Tax clearance certificates
3. A technical proposal containing the following content:
   • Executive summary
   • Business experience/Profiles
   • Approach and Methodology
   • Work Plan / Schedule
   • Mission team experience/profiles
   • Updated Curriculum Vitae for the team and academic certificates required
   • Firm recommendation letters of successful completion for similar past assignments, duly signed by right authority.
4. Financial Proposal containing the following tables.
   • Summary of Costs.
   • Breakdown of price per user group on daily rate;
   • Breakdown of remuneration user group on daily rate;
   • Reimbursable expenses user group applicable.
   • Miscellaneous Expenses if any

Notes:

• Indicate your preferred payment terms under financial proposal
• A withholding tax of 15% will be deducted from payments for Firms not VAT-registered with Rwanda Tax Administration (RRA) and 18% VAT will be applicable for registered firms in Rwanda.
• All Financial Proposals/offers should be password protected and Smart Africa will request for it for bidders who have been qualified in the technical evaluation
• All Financial Offers should be quoted and submitted in USD Currency.

4. SUBMISSION PROCESS

Soft copies of both Technical and financial proposals must be sent to: procurement@smartafrica.org showing each the nature of the offer concerned (technical or financial offer), not later than 12^th July 2024 at, 5:00 PM local time (Kigali), addressed to Procurement Office of Smart Africa Secretariat, with subject marked: 115/SA/RFP/05/2024: Pan- African/Continental Women and Girls in ICT Mentorship Framework & Program Design.

5. RIGHTS RESERVED

1. This RFP does not obligate the Smart Africa Secretariat (SAS) to complete the RFP process.
2. SAS reserves the right to amend any segment of the RFP prior to the announcement of a selected firm.
3. SAS also reserves the right to remove one or more of the services from consideration for this contract should the evaluation show that it is in SAS’s best interest to do so.
4. SAS also may, at its discretion, issue a separate contract for any service or groups of services included in this RFP.
5. SAS may negotiate a compensation package and additional provisions to the contract awarded under this RFP. 
6. The Smart Africa reserves the right to debrief the applicants after the completion of the process due to expected high volume of applications and avoiding the compromise of the process.

Late proposals will be rejected.

6. VALIDITY

Proposals and quotes must remain valid for 180 days after the date of closing noted above. After, the closing date and time, all proposals received by the Smart Africa Secretariat become its property.

7. ENQUIRIES

Any inquiries will only be received at least 5 working days before the bid submission deadline. Prospective respondents who may have questions regarding this RFP may submit their inquiries to tenderenquiries@smartafrica.org .

8. ANTI-CORRUPTION

Smart Africa is committed to preventing and not tolerating any act of corruption and other malpractices and expects that all bidders will adhere to the same ethical principles.

[1]https://smartafrica.org