Assessment of e-Government Infrastructure and Services — Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program

Request for Expressions of Interest for Consulting Services

Country: The Republic of The Gambia

Project Name: Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program

Project ID: P176932

Grand No: IDA-V4020

Contract Ref: WARDIP/2022/CS/QCBS007

Consultancy Title: E-Government Assessment and Roadmap and Policy Development

Procurement Method: Quality Cost Base Selection (QCBS)

Number of Firm: 1 (One)

Assignment Duration: Six (6) Months

Deadline: 1600hrs (local Time) 29th September, 2023

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (“WARDIP”) Series of Project 1 (“SOP1”) Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase broadband access and usage in participating countries and to advance integration of digital markets in Western Africa.

The project is regional and the beneficiary countries are The Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Thus, it has a regional dimension in trying to integrate these components in the mentioned countries geared towards the realization of single regional digital market in the ECOWAS region.

The design of the proposed program considers the need for The Gambia to transform into a digital economy while also aligning and integrating into a regional single and harmonized digital market. This will be done through a logical chain consisting of the following:

• A single connectivity market, which will remove barriers to regional telecoms infrastructure and services deployment to encourage investment, improve performance, eliminate pricing and quality differentials between coastal and landlocked countries, as well as expand access to connectivity to all.
• A single data market, which will enable secure exchange, storage and processing of data across borders to support regional deployment and access to data-driven services and innovation.
• A single online market, which will allow government, firms and individuals to access and deliver both public and private services online, as well as to make online sales and purchases seamlessly from anywhere in the region. Core enablers for the online layer are digital financial services (DFS) and electronic signature. Objective of ASSIGNMENT

The GoTG seeks a consulting firm or a consortium of consultants (henceforth ‘Consultant’) to (i) conduct an e-government assessment and based on the results, (ii) develop a comprehensive e-Government Policy for The Gambia and subsequent (iii) e-government Roadmap and Action Plan to operationalize the policy.

National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), the Agent supporting the Fiduciary aspect of this project, now invites eligible Firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Key personnel will not be evaluated, only the qualification, experience and capacity of the consultant as a firm will be evaluated at the Shortlisting stage. Therefore, Interested Consultants should provide information backed by enough evidence demonstrating that they have the required qualifications, relevant experience and capacity to perform the Assignment. The shortlisting criteria will be based on the qualification and experience of the firm as detailed below:

Organization Experience and Qualification:

• The experience of a minimum of five(5) years in E-Government related work or implementation of ICT activities at the national/government level.
• Demonstrate experience related to designing, developing and implementing national e-government Policy and strategy or roadmap in developing countries/emerging economies.
• Knowledge and competencies/experience in organizational development, policy analysis, capacity building and mainstreaming crosscutting issues related to ICT / eGovernance
• Experience of supporting eGov related strategy development, planning and implementation at a national level, including a track-record of successfully carrying-out at least one similar assignment.
• Experience of advising governments on best practices in relation to e-government programs.
• Strong understanding of program management relating to digital government, shared platforms and integrated digital solutions and digital service delivery, including technical knowledge of related institutional, policy/regulatory, infrastructure and technical frameworks.
• Experience of facilitating inclusive policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement on issue relating to government digitalization. Duration of the Assignment

E-Government Assessment and Roadmap and Policy Development will be implemented over a period of six months.

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 1st, 2016, revised in November 2017 and August 2018) (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information and complete ToR can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 16:00 GMT Mondays to Friday and from 0800 to 12:30 GMT on Fridays.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form or via email to the address below by Friday 29th September, 2023, to the address below clearly marked “Expression of Interest for the development of the “E-Government Assessment and Roadmap and Policy Development”.

Interim Project Coordinator

Western African Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP)

C/o National Nutrition Agency

Office of the Vice President

Mile 7, Bakau

The Gambia, West Africa

Note: Only Shortlisted firms will be consulted