Recruitment of Legal and Regulatory Adviser for Spectrum Planning and management

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Country: of Ethiopia

Project: Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project (P171034)

Assignment Title: Legal and Regulatory Advisor for Spectrum Planning and Management

Reference No.: ET-MOFEC-COPCU-144655-CS-INDV

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Finance (MoF), has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ethiopia Digital Foundation Project (“Digital Ethiopia”) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The Ministry wants to engage qualified and experienced technical advisor consultant for spectrum planning and management legal and regulatory advisory service to Ethiopian Communication Agency

The objective of the consultancy service is to assist the ECA in building its capacity to effectively manage and monitor spectrum use throughout Ethiopia in order to ensure efficient use of spectrum as Ethiopia liberalizes its telecommunications market.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the following but not limited to

• Conduct interviews with Ethio-Telecom, potential new entrants to the telecom market, broadcasters, Government agencies, and other current or potential future spectrum users  to establish which parts of the frequency spectrum each one of them is currently using for different services, which new services they are planning to launch in the future and what their estimated spectrum demands are.
• Verify the information received from spectrum users through independent spectrum measurements and identify frequency bands suitable for advanced services that are currently unused and free of interference, taking into account the likelihood of interference in border areas. The bidding individual should specify the equipment and methodology to be used for these measurements.
• Review existing Ethiopian National spectrum allocations table against spectrum allocations approved for International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1, and develop the updated National Frequency Allocation Table.
• Forecast the short, medium and long-term demand for frequency spectrum in Ethiopia.
• Identify frequency bands suitable for 3G, 4G/LTE services and 5G that should be included in the spectrum licensing process and define spectrum blocks to be allocated.
• Prepare recommendations for spectrum re-farming as required.
• Identify spectrum management and monitoring software and equipment, including for fixed, mobile and portable stations, and review ECA’s National Integrated Spectrum Management and Monitoring project requirement.
• Assess the regulatory environment in Ethiopia, including the Communications Services Proclamation, and identify any regulatory actions and consultation processes the ECA should take to facilitate the spectrum allocation and licensing process.
• Work in close cooperation with the project team, comprising the ECA, the World Bank team, and the project implementation unit for the Ethiopia Digital Foundation project, to organize and conduct formal Stakeholder Consultations on the proposed approach to spectrum management.
• Suggest different spectrum valuation methods and define target prices and/or minimum reserve prices for the different frequency bands in Ethiopia that may be allocated as part of the transition towards a competitive market. Estimate the potential government revenue in license and spectrum fees based on the chosen allocation approach. Assist also in defining future spectrum fees, to be levied by ECA on a recurring (annual) basis, to cover its own spectrum management costs.
• Define procedures for the ECA to carry out its spectrum monitoring and management responsibilities on an ongoing basis, participate in drafting necessary Guidelines and Directives, and specify any equipment required. Advise also on training requirements for the ECA spectrum management team.

Contract Term: The service is expected to be completed within 12(twelve) months time effective from date of contract signing

Qualification and experience: The qualification and experience required for consultants who would like to apply for the service should possess the following minimum criteria

• An advanced degree in a field relevant to the study of spectrum management, such as Engineering, Telecommunications, etc;
• At least ten years’ experience relevant to the field of spectrum management, for instance, working in a spectrum management function within an ICT regulatory agency, an international organization, a consultancy, a telecommunications operator etc;
• Previous experience of working in spectrum management 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 spectrum legislation, regulation, or other relevant documents;
• Specific experience in the field of spectrum management, whether in a regulatory body, international organization, or telecom operator or broadcaster;
• The ability to supplement personal experience by consulting specialists, as required, in fields such as technology, privacy, security, interconnection, spectrum management etc;
• Excellent communications skills;  and  willing  to work under pressure to meet deadline

The Ministry of Finance now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants 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, and supporting documents 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016  (“Procurement Regulations” ) revised November 2017 and August 2018 , setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultant

(Section V) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained, by email at the address below during office hours from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Addis Ababa time

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail, , on or before December 13, 2019, but preferably by e-mail.

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Finance

Attn: Minister’s Office

Address: Arada Sub city, Woreda11/12, MoF building, 4th Floor,

                      Room No 404, Sidist Kilo in front of Lion Cage park,

                       P.O.Box 1905,1037, E-mail: EOI2019MoF@gmail.com; aberag11@gmail.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia