Consultancy for the Development of National Child and Vulnerable Groups Online Protection Policy

WESTERN AFRICAN REGIONAL DIGITAL INTEGRATION PROGRAM (WARDIP)

Request for Expressions of Interest

Country: The Republic of The Gambia

Project Name: Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program

Contract Ref: WARDIP/C3.7/2024/ IC-IND007

Assignment Tittle: National Child and Vulnerable Groups Online Protection (C&VGOP) Policy

Number of Candidate: 1 (One)

Reporting to: MoCDE Director of Cyber Security through the Project Coordinator

Office: Central

Duration: Six Months (6)

Dateline: 3rd May, 2024 12:00 Noon

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

BACKGROUND

The Government of The Gambia has secured support from the International Development Association (IDA) (hereinafter ‘the Bank’) for the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP) Series of Projects (SOP)-1 in the amount of USD 57.5 million.The overall aim of the proposed WARDIP-SOP1 is to increase access to and usage of broadband and to strengthen the foundations for digital financial services (DFS) and selected digital public services towards a single digital market in Western Africa. This project will ensure that national digital development objectives are met more effectively and rapidly while also taking regional digital transformation objectives into account. National policies, regulations and implementation of strategic programs would need to be improved further while addressing barriers to cross-border connectivity, data flows and digital services for a seamless and competitive national and regional digital ecosystem to emerge. This would result in a self-perpetuating cycle of economic growth, investment, innovation, job creation and improved service delivery at the national and regional levels. To achieve this objective, the project will consist of three interlinked technical components, in addition to the Project Implementation and Coordination Component, and a Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) to address the key binding constraints for the development and attainment of a digital economy.

Component 2: Data Market Development and Integration

This component aims to enable the secure exchange, storage and processing of data across borders to support regional deployment and access to data-driven services, innovation and infrastructure, including reducing regional restrictions on the free flow of data and increasing investments into data infrastructure.

Component 3: Online Market Development and Integration

The component aims to support the development and integration of the online market, which would enhance the enabling environment for the cross-border delivery and access of digital goods or services.

In view of this, the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (MOCDE), establisheda Project Implementation Unit (PIU) as a starting point to kick start the activities entailed in this fund and, as thus, seeks to recruit a consultant for the development of National Child and Vulnerable Group Online Protection (C & VGOP) Policy

are as follows:

SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultancy is, within six (6) months from the start of the exercise, to:

• Attain a developed, holistic, and comprehensive National Child and Vulnerable Groups Online Protection Policy that will ensure all stakeholders uphold their responsibilities when it comes to the safe usage of the internet by children and vulnerable groups and their welfare online.

• Deploy, collaborative mechanisms amongst key stakeholders to pursue special awareness programmes that targets and informs children and other vulnerable groups about safe and responsible use of the internet as well as promote secure use of internet based on indicators.

• Ensure inclusivity of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the establishment of programmes that promote trust in their services.

Consultant’s Qualifications and Professional Experience

The Consultant is required to have the following qualifications:

• Must have a master’s degree in ICTs, or related subject. Possession of a master’s degree on Child Protection/Child Online Protection/ Vulnerable Groups/ Psychology/ Education/ Child Development would be an added advantage.

• Having a local expertise in conjunction with international experience, ensuring cultural sensitivity and alignment with Gambian context or experience working within The Gambia or similar contexts in West Africa is highly desirable.

• Must have at least 10 years of professional experience in the related area such as Child Protection or Child Online Protection of which at least 5 years working experience in conducting a similar exercise in formulating policies, regulations, strategies, and legislations/bills.

• 5 years Professional/work experience in Child Online Protection would be an added advantage.

• Must have a strong background in Project Management with at least 6 years of managing a similar project.

• Must have at least 5 years’ proven track-record on risk management in a professional assignment specific to ICTs.

• At least 6 years’ experience in organizing and facilitating/leading roundtable discussions including table-top exercises with different stakeholders to develop or formulate C&VGOP and Vulnerable Groups protection and related initiatives.

• Possession of internationally recognized Professional Certifications such as (PMA, PMP, PRINCE2) would be an added advantage.

• Must possess a Law degree.

• Must have at least 5 years’ experience in drafting policies and legislation/bills, in the ICTs related domain.

• At least 5 years’ experience on global and regional landscapes on child online and vulnerable groups protection which includes current issues, challenges, and opportunities, legal, ethical, and technical.

• At least 6 years’ experience in stakeholder engagement, including parents, children, young people, educators and the academia, private sector, civil society, law enforcement, health and social welfare services, and research institutions.

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, Augus 2018 and September, 2023) (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Selection (IS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information and the full TOR can be obtained from the email addresses below during office hours from 08:00 to 16:00 GMT Mondays to Thursdays and from 0800 to 12:30 GMT on Fridays.

Expressions of interest together with CVs and relevant documents must be delivered in a written form and also via email addresses below not later than 12:00 Noon Friday 3rd May, 2024. Submissions should be in hard and softcopy marked as “Expression of Interest for National Child and Vulnerable Groups Online Protection (C &VGOP) Policy .

Project Coordinator,

Western African Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP)

C/o MoCDE

Bakau

The Gambia, West Africa

Phone: (220) 3600170/3733235

Email To: [email protected] and Cc: [email protected] and [email protected]

Note: Only Shortlisted candidates will be consulted