Selection of Individual Consultant that supports ECA in Universal Access and Service Rural Telecommunication Infrastructure and Service Project Design and Implementation

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

Country:   Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Name of Project: Ethiopian Digital Foundation Project (EDFP)

Loan No.: IDA 68560

Assignment Title: To support ECA in Universal Access and Service Rural Infrastructure

                               and Service Project Design and Implementation

Reference No.: ET-MINT-422240-CS-INDV

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ethiopia digital foundation project (EDFP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include supporting ECA in Universal Access and Service Rural Infrastructure and Service Project Design and Implementation.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The consultant is required to perform the following main duties (activities) but not limited to:

1. 1. Review the Coverage Gap and do Analysis
   2. Mobile Network Coverage Simulation Tool, Geo-Portal, Infrastructure Mapping
   3. UAF Documentation Review, Updating and Development
   4. Support on Borderlands Refugee Inclusion Project under EARDIP SOP-2
   5. Action Plan and UAF Program Support Activities

Required Qualifications

• The individual consultant should be able to offer all, or at least most, of the following qualifications and experience:
• Bsc/BA degree or above in a field relevant to telecommunications and universal service, such as Engineering, Law, Economics, Telecommunications, Statistics, GIS,
• At least 10 years of experience relevant to the field of universal service and USF, for instance, from working in an ICT regulatory agency, an international organization, a consultancy, a telecommunications operator, etc.;
• Previous experience working in Africa is essential and experience of working in Ethiopia, or a good knowledge of the country, is desirable;
• Experience of similar projects in the draft, revision, or analysis of USF legislation, regulation, strategic plan, or other relevant documents;
• Specific experience in the field of USF, whether in a regulatory body, international organization, telecom operator, or broadcaster;
• The ability to supplement personal experience by other consulting specialists, as required, in fields such as technology, privacy, security, interconnection, GIS mapping, etc.;
• Excellent communications skills; and Willingness to make frequent visits to Ethiopia as necessary for co-working, local travel, and dialogue, and to offer training and skills transfer to the UAF and other ECA staff associated with the program.

Duration of the Extension Contract

• The required activities in the Scope of Work are expected to be delivered over a 12-month period from the date the contract is signed. Extension beyond the first 12 months shall be at the discretion of ECA and the need for ongoing advisory services
• Some of the services described in Section 5 may be dependent on the schedule achieved with various program activities, including Phase 2 of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project;
• The consultancy service remuneration is therefore based on an agreed maximum budget based on expected full commitment over the 12 months. Invoicing shall be based on the following terms:
• Minimum – 10 days per month are required to ensure an appropriate level of support to ECA at all times throughout the contract. In addition, on-demand days are required, up to a total maximum of 10 additional days (20 days total) in any month, to fulfill necessary requirements and deliverables.
• The individual consultant to be hired under this contract may sub-contract some activities to other individual consultant under the responsibility of the contracted consultant. Any Sub-contractors should be approved by the ECA/MinT team
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Amharic

Reporting:

The individual consultant will be directly reporting to the ECA Universal Access and Service directorate.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.dfp.gov.et or can be obtained at the address given below.

Ministry of Innovation and Technology- EDFP now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services for one-year contract, with possible extension upon satisfactory performance of the assignment.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulation”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants (IC) method set out in the Procurement Regulations, Time Based Contract.

 Interested and qualified consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 08:30 to 12:00 & 14:30 to 17:00, Mondays to Thursdays; and 08:30 to 11:00 & 14:30 to 17:00 on Fridays.

Applicants should send expressions of interest, together with information demonstrating that they have the required qualification and relevant experience to perform the service (description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, qualifications, and so forth) by providing CVs, formal application letter and all supporting documents to the address indicated below in person, or by mail, on or before May 17, 2024. 

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT)

ETHIOPIA DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS PROJECT

Attn: Focal Person, Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

Address: Arada Sub-city, Tracon Building 6th floor, in front of Black Lion Secondary School,

Ato Zayede Chaklu, Tel No. +251-913-603899, Email address: zayedemoint@gmail.com  

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.