Expression of Interest (EOI)

Consultancy services for Detailed Elaboration of Smart Africa Digital Acceleration Program (SADAP)

Reference Number: 83449529

Publication date: September 29, 2023

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The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

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 project, are involved in the implementation of the partnership.

The need to digitize and accelerate digital transformation in countries has become increasingly imperative in today's interconnected world. Digital transformation offers numerous benefits to countries across various sectors. In the realm of economics, digitization enables countries to tap into the global digital economy, facilitating trade, investment, and entrepreneurship. By embracing digital technologies, businesses can streamline operations, increase productivity, and access new markets. Digital platforms also provide opportunities for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to reach wider audiences, driving job creation and economic diversification.

The Smart Africa agenda is led by visionary Heads of State who believe in ICT’s power for the advancement and betterment of the African continent. This agenda will lead Africa to the 4th industrial revolution, using the transformative power of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) through successful implementation and deployment of major ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, applications, and services, and creating locally relevant content for Africa while developing a vibrant ICT industry and creating jobs. The Secretariat has implemented various projects comprising digital skills development, Smart Cities, E-payments, digital economy Aggrotech, etc., and there is a need to upgrade and upscale implementation of the various projects which have passed the pilot phase.

To effectively accelerate the support to member states on the various projects, Smart Africa set up a vehicle to help countries upgrade in preparation for the fourth industrial revolution. The Smart Africa Digital Acceleration Program (SADAP) was developed to be a powerful force for systemic change across Africa through comprehensive support to member states' national digital transformation programs. The support to member states is planned to include but not limited to agile policies and regulations development, Innovative strategies, National technical advisory and capacity support and national project implementation support e.g., Emerging technology adoption, smart cities and AgriTech. This is expected to have many positive effects, accelerating digital inclusion, and generating a myriad of associated socio-economic benefits for citizens, private sector, and civil society in the member states. 

2. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The bidder is required to prepare the following deliverables:

1. Conducting a Needs assessment/Feasibility Study
2. Development of a detailed SADAP program plan.
3. Rationale and case for Development Partner Support
4. SADAP Launch plan.

       I. Needs assessment/Feasibility study.

The consultant can refer to the Unlocking Digital Economy Report: Benchmarking Digital Transformation in Africa and any other reports while conducting this assignment. The need assessment seeks to answer the following questions amongst others:

• Definition of the problem to be solved?
• Analysis of existing organizations who are trying to solve the same problem.
• The scope of the problem being solved? How many programs? How many member states we should be targeted?
• What expertise/competencies will be required to solve the problem?
• How many sector projects can be supported?

Further breakdown includes:

• Information and data gathering.
• The goal setting of the program and desired program achievements.
• An analysis of all the relevant factors influencing SADAP programs’ success, including legal, financial, and logistical considerations.
• Digital transformation will also include other sectors such as finance and banking, healthcare, education, agriculture, transport, logistics, energy, natural resources, and environment and manufacturing.

     II. Development of a detailed program plan.

The components of the program plan (but not exhaustively) should include: 

• Executive summary
• Detailed description of the subprograms, namely.
• Target Audience/Stakeholder analysis
• Program operations overview 
• Marketing strategy
• Timeline/milestones
• Financials
• A monitoring and evaluation framework and the M&E implementation plan

    III. Write a case for development /Funding partners’ support. The purpose of this section/deliverable will be:

• to communicate what Smart Africa does,
• the impact of Smart Africa work,
• and most importantly, why a potential donor should support the SADAP program. This may include a launch event with development partners.
• Resource mobilization plan and strategy

   IV. Launch plan of the SADAP Program.

• SADAP implementation plan
• Communication of the program to member states
• Fund raising

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Period of assignment: from signing of the contract until 15^th of April of 2024.

3. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

Project management of the contractor (1.6)

The tenderer is required to explain its approach for coordination with the GIZ project (1.6.1). In particular, the project management requirements specified in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) and personnel assignment plan (who, when, what work steps) including explanation and specification of expert months must be explained in detail (1.6.2).

The tenderer is required to describe its backstopping concept (1.6.3). The following services are part of the standard backstopping package, which (like ancillary personnel costs) must be factored into the fee schedules of the staff listed in the tender in accordance with Section 3.3.1 of the GIZ AVB:

• Service-delivery control
• Managing adaptations to changing conditions
• Ensuring the flow of information between the tenderer and GIZ
• Assuming personnel responsibility for the contractor’s experts
• Process-oriented steering for implementation of the commission
• Securing the administrative conclusion of the project

Further requirements (1.7)

4. Personnel concept

The tenderer is required to provide personnel who are suited to filling the positions described based on their CVs (see Chapter 7), the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications.

The below-specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.

Qualifications for the team

1. Team Lead - Public policy and Strategy Digitalization Expert:

Qualifications of the team leader

• Education/training (2.1.1): master’s degree in a relevant field such as Data Science, Software engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Public policy and strategy. Other Related certificates are a plus.
• General professional experience (2.1.3): 7 years of work experience in public policy, strategy, and project design with evidence in their CV
• Specific professional experience (2.1.4): 5 years with strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to assess complex digital ecosystems, identify opportunities, and develop effective strategies with evidence in their CV.
• Leadership/management experience (2.1.5): 5 years of management/leadership experience as a project team leader or manager in a company/agency.
• Regional experience (2.1.6): 5 years of experience in projects in Africa from 3 African countries with evidence in their CV

Per-diem and overnight accommodation allowances are reimbursed as a lump sum up to the maximum amounts permissible under tax law for each country as set out in the country table in the circular from the German Federal Ministry of Finance on travel expense remuneration (downloadable at https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de).

Accommodation costs, which exceed this up to a reasonable amount and the cost of flights and other main forms of transport can be reimbursed against evidence.

All business travel must be agreed upon in advance by the officer responsible for the project.

All travel expenses, accommodation and per diems shall be arranged by the project and will be agreed upon by the officer responsible for the cost center. The terms of these shall also be clearly stated in the special agreement that is attached to the contract.

Workshops and training

Please describe in your concept how you implement GIZ’s minimum standards for sustainable event management (see annexes to the terms of reference).

The contractor implements the following workshops/study trips/training courses:

• Working group meetings every fortnight
• 1 Brainstorming workshop
• 1 Validation workshop

6. Inputs of GIZ or other actors

GIZ and/or other actors are expected to make the following available:

• Fund the expert consultant in charge of developing this task.
• Logistics for workshops

SAS support is expected to make the following available:

• A focal point to reach out to during the assignment.
• Assist with accumulating the necessary updates.
• Assist with operations, e.g., organizing and facilitating meetings and workshops.

7. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the bid must correspond to the structure of the ToRs. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organized in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The bid must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English (language).

The complete tender must not exceed 25 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g., links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs must be submitted in English (language).

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops, or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

8. Annex / Attachments

Annex 1 – Grid for the technical assessment of bids

Annex 2 – Template for the Technical Proposal

Annex 3 – Minimum standards for sustainable event management at GIZ

9. Submission of offer: The Expression of Interest should contain the following:

a. Technical Proposal:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical proposal with a brief description of why you would be considered as the most suitable for the assignment, relevant expertise, and a detailed, clear methodology, your approach to complete the assignment, template attached.
• CV of the Consultants proposed
• Company registration certificate (RDB)
• VAT-Registration certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate if applicable
• Proof of successful completion of related assignments.

b. Financial Proposal: indicates the all-inclusive daily rate, supported by a breakdown of all costs. The costs must be in RWF and VAT

Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email ONLY: RW_Quotation@giz.de  until latest 15^th October 2023

Please you must write on each email subject this sentence: 

83449529 Technical/financial offer, without this sentence, your offer may not be considered

Hard copies are not allowed this time

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