Gap analysis of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and needs of digital entrepreneurs and recommended actions (DAO)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST WARDIP – C – 12 - 2023

GAP ANALYSIS ON DIGITAL SKILLS AND RESPECTIVE SUPPLY CAPACITY AND INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM.

• Backgraund To support the region’s digital transformation, the World Bank (WB) is financing the preparation of the West African Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP) – Guinea-Bissau – for US$60 million for five years. The project is expected to be submitted for approval by the World Bank Executive Board in September 2023; it’s entered the preparations phase since May 2023

The design of the proposed program considers the need for Guinea-Bissau to develop a digital economy, while aligning itself and integrating into a single and harmonized regional digital market. This will be done through a logical chain consisting on building single regional market for connectivity, data and online services,

Digital skills consisting of the skills, competencies, knowledge, and attitudes needed to live, work, and thrive in the digital economy, represent the bedrock of a digital economy and are poised to increase in importance. Without digital skills citizens do not have the skills required to build or leverage the digital economy. The Government of Guinea-Bissau (GoGB) is committed to boosting the country’s digital skills since the spread of digital skills contributes directly to the Government’s strategic priorities of strengthening the digital sector

The primary objectives of this study are to:

Component A

• Analyze the current demand for digital skills in the public and private sectors (based on surveys and interviews with firms, higher education institutions, and public sector entities), as well as the current supply of digital skills in the private sector (i.e., TVET) and public sector (i.e., ENA) and state of digital skills among the populace.
• Conduct a gap analysis to determine the difference in demand and supply and, from there, propose tangible recommendations that the Government of Guinea-Bissau, through the WARDIP (but also through other means) could address these.
• Develop a digital skills policy, covering all education levels, and provide capacity building for its implementation.
• Design a digital skills development program and an operationalizable roadmap with costed suggestions on how to expand or strengthen existing/upcoming programs/courses and thus address the identified digital skills gap, focusing on the two target populations: women and people with disabilities. This program should also have a framework of indicators that allows for the monitoring of current data on digital skills, with clear lines of responsibility determining which entity should keep such data updated.

Component B

• Analyse the current challenges of Guinea-Bissau’s entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and their ability to scale up support to digital entrepreneurs.
• Develop a program of technical assistance to the ESOs.
• Devise a digital entrepreneurship support program implemented through a twinning arrangement between local ESOs and international support.
• Operationalize Orik Capital concept, by design procedure manual and funding flow between WARDIP and ORIK Capital
• qualification requirements The Consultant could be a firm or a consortium of firms providing expertise in the digital skills space with no less than 10 years of experience, including previous experience in digital skills assessments. Knowledge of the sector in Sub-Saharan Africa is highly desired. The consultant shall demonstrate this experience and propose a detailed methodology to complete the tasks

• Project manager, with no less than 10 years of experience in project management, and with a minimum of 5 directly relevant experiences in Africa. Graduate degree in a relevant field (economics, public policy, business administration, telecommunications, etc.);
• Business Model Manager (Economist), with no less than 10 years of experience, of which at least 5 years must be specialized in the development of business models and network management for education. Experience in setting up other National Research Networks (NRENs) would be an advantage. Graduate degree in a relevant field (economics, public policy, business administration, telecommunications, etc.);
• ICT expert, with no less than 10 years of experience. Have technical experience in the design and operational management of digital connectivity solutions. Graduate degree in a relevant field (engineering, telecommunications, etc.);
• Expert in education policy, with no less than 10 years of experience, of which at least 5 years must be specialized in the management and execution of education programs. Graduate degree in a relevant field (education, public policy, etc.). Selection of the sucessful consultant will be made on the basis of the “Quality and Cost method” as described in the World Bank procurement regulations for Investiments Projets Borrowers 2016 Edition and following updates. For more information and obtention of term of reference, you can requeste it directly on the Office of the Emergency and Food Safety Project (PUSA) located: Rua Osvaldo Vieira, house nº 10, or via email: [email protected]. It should be noted that TOR's are available in Portuguese and English, however the procurement language remains Portuguese.

Consultants firm insterested in providing the consultancy services mentionned above should express their interest until August 25th, 2023.

The Coordinator

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Aníbal Baldé