Individual Consultant to design the Framework for futuristic IT Industry Growth in Afghanistan

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI including tor)

[INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES – Individual Consultant to design the framework for futuristic it industry growth of Afghanistan]

COUNTRY:                                       Afghanistan

NAME OF THE PROJECT:              Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project

SECTOR:                                           Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

CONSULTING SERVICES:            Individual Consultant to design the Framework for futuristic IT Industry Growth in Afghanistan

CONTRACT TYPE:                          Individual Consultant-Lump-sum Contract

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT:    03 months

DUTY STATION:                              Kabul, Afghanistan

CONTRACT REFERENCE NO:      MCIT/ICTDP/P121755/IDA-H-665-AF/C3.10

WORLD BANK GRANT NO:         IDA-H-665-AF

PROJECT ID NO:                              P121755

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:          Project Implementation and Coordination Unit (PICU) of MCIT

Background:

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the ICT Sector Development Project amounting to estimated cost of about 50 Million USD and intends to apply part of the proceeds to hire a qualified Individual Consultant to design the Framework for futuristic IT Industry Growth in Afghanistan. This Consultancy Support will be provided to Deputy Minister-IT of MCIT, under the World Bank funded Project “Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project (ICTDP)”.

The aim of the ICT Sector Development Project is to expand broadband connectivity, mainstream use of mobile applications across the Government and develop the capacity of the IT sector to facilitate improved service delivery across Afghanistan while accelerating job creation and economic growth.  The project will do so by: (a) Creating the enabling environment and making strategic investments for the development of Afghanistan’s backbone and broadband infrastructure; (b) Supporting the mainstreaming of mobile applications across Government by supporting innovations and creation of cross cutting enablers; and (c) Developing local IT infrastructure and capacity in the public and private sectors.

Project Development Objectives of ICTDP of MCIT:

Output Indicators for each Project Component of the World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project(ICTDP) of MCIT are listed below:

Project Implementation Arrangements of ICTDP of MCIT:

The Project has a centralized management structure. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is the implementing agency for the project. MCIT is implementing a number of sectoral projects funded by the government and other development partners. To manage its portfolio of investment projects better, MCIT has established a Program Implementation and Coordination Unit (PICU) that the Deputy Minister (Technical) of MCIT chairs. A Schematic of PICU is below:

 The Directors of the Planning and Policy Department and IT Department are the core members of the PICU. The Finance and Procurement Directorates of MCIT provide support to the PICU. This is to ensure further strengthening and sustainability of program management capacity that has been developed over the last few years within MCIT. Core financial management and procurement functions for the project are handled by the respective departments within MCIT.  A Project Management Specialist supports MCIT in implementation of the IDA Project.  PMO established for executing the Project is part of the established PICU.

Brief on the Telecommunications Sector Growth of Afghanistan:

In July 2003, two licenses for GSM Services (in 900 MHz) were issued to Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC) and Telecom Development Company Afghanistan (Roshan).  Pursuant to the Policy, they were provided a duopoly on GSM Services until the end of 2005. Based on the fact that the three year term of the two original licenses was about to come to an end, on 21 May 2005, Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority(ATRA) officially launched an international competitive tender for two additional licenses for GSM Services (and any other services in the assigned 900 and 1800 MHz bands). As a result, two additional GSM licenses were issued in May 2006, one to MTN and another to Etisalat.

There are about 63 ISPs operating in Afghanistan, providing Internet Services based on different Technologies and the Media. These are in addition to the five GSM Operators and one CDMA Operator (Wasel Telecom), who also provide Internet Services in the Country.

The former Telecommunication Department of the Ministry of Communications of Afghanistan was taken out of the Ministry of Communications and became a government owned Telecommunications Company which also received a Unified Services license from ATRA in 2005. It was named Afghan Telecom (AFTEL). AFTEL also inherited Fixed Line and Fiber Optic networks. In addition, AFTEL also provides Internet services through its fixed line facilities as well as through WiMAX frequencies allocated to it by ATRA.

Since private entry into the Telecom market in 2003, the telecom sector in Afghanistan has grown at a remarkable rate and now approximately 22 million GSM Subscribers from Afghanistan businesses, government entities and consumers have mobile telephone service and over one million users have Internet services. And, the current installation of an AFTEL Fiber Optic ring throughout Afghanistan is connecting Afghanistan with the rest of the World at lower costs for voice and data services. Now, that the basic needs of the people in Afghanistan have been fulfilled, MCIT and ATRA have also issued 3G (Third Generation) and Broadband Wireless Services Licenses.

The Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) was established in 2006 for issuance of licenses, monitoring of quality of services provided by the licensees and taking measures towards developing the sector by encouraging private sector investments. Activities of ATRA are mainly based on the Telecom policy developed and adopted by the Ministry of Communications and IT on 03 July, 2003, with the vision to develop the Telecom and Internet sector in order to provide affordable and quality services to the citizens of Afghanistan on a nationwide basis.

Afghan Telecom (AFTEL) is a Telecom Operator, 100 % owned by Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT). It is a Government owned Corporation and planned to be privatized in due course of time. In 2006, Optical Fiber Cable Ring Project was funded by the Government from the Core Development Budget, to establish an OFC Ring of 3100 Kms and again in 2010, another 500 Kms OFC Route has been funded under Core Development Budget of MCIT. AFTEL is the only Operator in Afghanistan currently permitted to own the OFC based Backbone of the Country. The Company is selling Internet Bandwidth by bringing the same from neighboring Countries (Pakistan, Iran, Tajakistan and Uzbekistan) through OFC Backbone. Telecom Operators and ISPs are hiring the OFC based Internet Capacities and the Fiber Capacities from Afghan Telecom.

.Under the World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project as approved in May, 2011, up to 29 Million USD will be spent to connect 05 Provinces and 13 Districts to the existing OFC Ring of MCIT/Afghan Telecom. Estimated OFC Route that will be commissioned is 1,000 Kms, connecting a total of 18 Communication Nodes.

Objectives of the Individual Consultancy Assignment:

The objective of this assignment is to design and develop a Framework for futuristic IT Industry Growth in Afghanistan. The Individual Consultant will be required to carry out market research and analysis and based on the best known International Practices, he will design and recommend the most feasible approach for achieving rapid growth of the IT Industry in Afghanistan (including establishment of BPOs).

Detailed Scope of Work/Tasks of the Consultant:

5. To carry out a SWOT Analysis as applicable to the IT Industry Growth of Afghanistan and to suggest the measures to ensure rapid growth of IT Industry in the Country {Afghanistan} based on the International Best Practices;
5. To recommend the IT Industries which can be tapped and attracted to establish their Businesses in Afghanistan and the facilities that need to be provided to such Industries;
5. To suggest ways and means of establishing BPOs {Business Processing Outsourcing Units} in the Country and to define as to what all is required to support such BPOs. To draw the BPO Framework, the consultant has to conduct the required surveys and produce a comprehensive report that will comprise of the following factors towards the development of BPO industry in Afghanistan :
   1. The availability of ICT infrastructure for the support of developing the BPO Industry in Afghanistan.
   2. The availability of supportive commercial laws and regulations.
   3. The availability of competent Human Resource to be employed for BPO operations.
   4. Requirement of proactive and positive policy environment which encourages BPO investments and simplifies rules and procedures.
   5. Requirement of specialized skill sets for the employees of the BPOs.
   6. Identify the potential BPO businesses/sectors in Afghanistan
   7. Carry out Cost-benefit analysis of the BPO operations in Afghanistan.
   8. Analyze turnaround times and the ability to offer 24x7 Services based on the country’s unique geographic location that allows for leveraging time zone differences.
   9. Provide the best practical BPO model for Afghanistan.
   10. Provide successful case studies in other countries with same environment and development level to support the BPO initiative in Afghanistan.
   11. To pin point any international standards or regulations that are required for a country to get qualified for a BPO operation.
   12. To identify, what specific organizations within Afghanistan are required to work towards the development of BPO industry in the country and to oversee and monitor the BPO operations.
5. To frame the Regulations, Policies, Rules and Guidelines for promoting the recommended IT Industries;
6. To suggest the development of Skill Sets for Human Resources to be employed in the recommended IT Industries;
5. To draw a National Level 10 years Business Plan for the recommended IT Industries of the Country.

Deliverables and Reporting Requirements:

1. The Consultant will be located at MCIT’s main office at Kabul, Afghanistan for a period of 15 working days in a total assignment period of 3 months; for the balance of the assignment period, the Consultant will work on the assignment in his own office off-shore. Fifteen(15) working days at Kabul will be split into 3 spans of 5 working days each; First 05 working days at Kabul will be to commence the Assignment Activities and to present the Inception Report; Second 5 working days will be to present the Mid-term Report and the 3^rd span of 5 working days will be to present the Final Report to the Senior Management of MCIT at Kabul.
2. The Consultant will report to the DM-IT of MCIT and he will submit weekly and monthly Progress Reports on all the Tasks assigned to him, to the DM-IT of MCIT and to the Project Director of ICTDP-MCIT.
3. Deliverables: The following Reports will be submitted as Deliverables within 12 Weeks of the Consultancy Support:

5. Report-1: Inception Report giving a Report on the SWOT Analysis as applicable to the IT Industry Growth of Afghanistan and suggested measures to ensure rapid growth of IT Industry in the Country {Afghanistan} based on the International Best Practices-to be submitted after first week of assignment at Kabul;
5. Report-2: Consolidated Report on recommended IT Industries which can be tapped and attracted to establish their Businesses in Afghanistan and the facilities that need to be provided to such Industries—to be submitted after 03 weeks of the assignment period;
5. Report-3: Mid-term Report giving Consolidated Report on suggested ways and means of establishing BPOs {Business Processing Outsourcing Units} in the Country and to define as to what all is required to support such BPOs—to be submitted after 06 weeks of assignment period;
5. Report-4: Draft Regulations, Policies, Rules and Guidelines for promoting the recommended IT Industries and the Training provided to ATRA and MCIT’s Staff - to be submitted after 09 weeks of assignment period;

5. Report-5: Final Report giving all the above mentioned Reports and also the Consolidated Report on the development of Skill Sets for Human Resources to be employed in the recommended IT Industries and National Level 10 years Business Plan for the recommended IT Industries of the Country-- to be submitted after in the last week of the assignment period.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements of the Consultant:

• Bachelors degree in any discipline of IT/Computer engineering/Sciences;
• Masters degree in any discipline related to IT or MBA will be preferred;
• Professional certifications from Microsoft or Cisco and Oracle will be preferred;
• Minimum of 10 years of Experience in managing the ICT Sector, after University Degree;
• Good understanding of international development of IT Industries;
• Good knowledge of IT Industry Infrastructure Requirements and IT Standards;
• Good communication, writing, research and management skills.

Timelines and payment schedules:

The selected Consultant will be paid as under:

1. 20 % of the Contract Value on submission of Report-1(Inception Report);
2. 20 % of the Contract Value on submission of Report-2;
3. 20 % of the Contract Value on submission of Report-3(Mid-term Report);
4. 20 % of the Contract Value on submission of Report-4;
5. 20 % of the Contract Value on submission of Report-5(Final Report);

 Printed Copies (02 Sets) and the Soft Copies of all the Reports will be submitted to DM-IT and to the PMO of the ICT Sector Development Project (ICTDP) of MCIT. All the agreed upon Milestones of the consultancy will be considered complete only upon the acceptance and formal approval of DM-IT of MCIT and the Chairman of PICU. All payments will be made within 30 days from the date of submission of approved and signed Invoices, Activity/Time Sheets for the Period and the Reports.

Facilities to be given by MCIT:

The following facilities and Support will be provided to the Consultant by the client (MCIT):

• Shared suitable working space in MCIT’s main Building at Kabul;
• Shared Internet connectivity in Office;
• Relevant background documents as held on charge of IT Department;
• Vehicle for pick-up and drop and for mobility for official tasks during working hours, if required.

Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) by MCIT:

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (CV, Brochures, Description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions and availability of appropriate skills etc.).

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January, 2011 edition).

To ensure impartiality, the consultant (including his home office, if any) must not, in any way, be affiliated with business entities that are currently providing or are seeking to provide goods or services to the project.

For further details, Interested Consultants can contact the address given below, during office hours from 0800 to 1600 hours:

Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samim)

General Manager for External Procurements;

Procurement Department, Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt; Kabul, Afghanistan

Phone: Office: +93 20 210 37 41; Cell: +93 700 222 009;

Email: fpd@mcit.gov.af

Web site: www.mcit.gov.af

Any queries on the position may also be addressed to the above mentioned email address (fpd@mcit.gov.af), with CC to mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af and nadir.soroush@mcit.gov.af, latest one week before the deadline for submission of expression of interest.

Expressions of interest, including detailed Resumes must be delivered (by E-Mails) by

10^th April, 2016{2.00 PM Kabul Time}, to the addresses as given below:

1. Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samim)

General Manager for External Procurements

Procurement Department, Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt; Kabul, Afghanistan

Email: fpd@mcit.gov.af

2. Mohammad Ismail Bhat; PMS-ICTDP-MCIT; Email: mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af;mib1946@yahoo.com

3. Dr. Nadir Soroush; Logistics and Acting Procurement Officer of the PMO-ICTDP:

E-Mail ID: nadir.soroush@mcit.gov.af;soroushmnadir@gmail.com

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