Developing a Position Paper on Incentive Package within the...

1. Background

The Palestinian Information Technology Association of Companies – PITA is the voice of the ICT sector in Palestine. It has more than 180 member companies working in different ICT sectors such as software and outsourcing sector, hardware sector, training and consultancy sector, Internet and telecommunications sectors. PITA is the reference and representative association of private ICT sector, and was founded in 1999 by a group of Palestinian entrepreneurs as a non-profit organization to advance the interests and positive societal impact of Palestine’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

PITA has been cooperating with Small and Medium Enterprise Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Project towards enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, and to facilitate and support the integration of Palestinian startups and entrepreneurs in the business market through capacity building of PITA; both improving its service provision to member businesses and to lead ICT-related policy reform initiatives.

And so; PITA recognizes that existing policy initiatives need augmentation, such as the absence of a comprehensive incentive package tailored explicitly to support ICT startups, SMEs, and matured companies.

1. Objective:

Within this framework; PITA seeks to enlist an individual/ firm to refine the existing position paper on ICT incentives and develop a well-structured position paper that PITA can use to engage with relevant governmental bodies, including IPIEA (Investment Promotion & Industrial Estates Agency), and the relevant ministries, to advocate for the adoption and implementation of the proposed incentives. The position paper should provide actionable recommendations and strategies that can be adopted by policymakers and stakeholders. Additionally, this individual or firm should formulate a list of stakeholders that stand to gain from the incentive package as well as the stakeholders from whom to get consensus. This will help with the formulation of the advocacy strategy.

• Scope of Work

The individual / firm will undertake the following tasks:

1. Review and Analysis / Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature, reports, and case studies on incentive packages in ICT sectors regionally and globally, with a focus on similar contexts.
• Identify gaps, opportunities, and areas requiring refinement in the previous position paper that has been formulated to address its failures, and so the expert will be thoroughly analyzing the previous package in terms of the processes followed, applications, nature of requested supporting documents and other aspects according to IPIEA and other related parties.
• Identify best practices and lessons learned from other countries that can be adapted to the Palestinian context.
• Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis through assessing the current laws affecting SMEs in the ICT sector both quantitatively and qualitatively, and evaluating the impact of these laws on the growth, operations, and competitiveness of SMEs.
• Analyze the expected effects of the proposed incentives on SMEs, providing clear, evidence-based projections of how these incentives will improve the sector's performance.

2. Refinement of the Position Paper:

• Refine the proposed package of incentives to better align with the specific needs of the Palestinian ICT sector.
• Propose additional incentives or modifications to existing ones, including tax exemptions, support for research and development funding, and facilitation of access to financing, and other needed areas.
• Develop clear, evidence-based arguments to support the proposed incentives, referencing successful models from comparable markets.

3. Collaboration and Coordination:

• Work closely with PITA’s Advocacy Officer, Board of Directors, and task force members and sub-sector committees to ensure the refined position paper aligns with PITA’s strategic goals.
• Engage in regular consultations with key stakeholders, including industry representatives and governmental bodies such as the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, IPIEA, and others to gather insights and secure buy-in for the proposed incentive package.
• Conduct interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys as necessary to collect primary data.

4. Incentive Package Formulation and Finalization:

• Develop a final comprehensive position paper for incentive package for ICT startups and companies, incorporating best practices from regional and international contexts.
• Ensure that the incentive package addresses the unique challenges faced by SMEs and startups and matured companies within the Palestinian ICT sector.
• Ensure the position paper is clear, concise, and suitable for presentation to policymakers and stakeholders.

1. Deliverables:
2. Inception Report:

A detailed work plan outlining the methodology, timeline, and key milestones for the assignment.

2. Interim Report:

Summarizing the literature review and stakeholder consultations.

3. Support Paper:

A detailed support paper presenting the research and rationale behind the recommendations.

4. Summary Paper:

A concise summary paper (maximum 5 pages) that presents the argument as simply as possible.

5. Refined Position Paper:

A comprehensive and refined position paper on the proposed ICT incentive package, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and comparative analyses.

6. Final Report:

A final report summarizing the work undertaken, key findings, and refined position paper.

1. Duration and Timeline

The assignment is expected to be completed within a period of 20 working days from the date of commencement.

1. Qualifications and Experience:

The individual/ firm should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree in Economics, Public Policy, ICT, Law, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and development of incentive packages, preferably within the ICT sector.
• Familiarity with the Palestinian ICT sector and its regulatory environment.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Proven track record of successful stakeholder engagement and advocacy.

• Application Process:

Interested individuals/ firms should submit the following documents:

1. Detailed CVs of the proposed team.
2. Examples of similar work previously undertaken.
3. A proposed work plan and timeline.
4. A financial proposal (Shall be in USD Currency, and Tax Included).

• Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria; (70 % Technical and 30 % Financial):

Criteria

Score

Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and development of incentive packages within the ICT sector.

20

Methodology and approach to conducting the review and analysis.

20

Quality of examples of similar work previously undertaken.

20

Familiarity with the Palestinian ICT sector and its regulatory environment.

10

Cost-effectiveness and clarity of the financial proposal.

30

1. Submission:

Technical and financial proposals shall be sent in sealed envelopes to PITA’s Office, located in Ramallah, Al-Irsal, Ougarit Building, 4th Floor, and no later than Sunday, the 14th of July 2024 at 3:30 PM.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you have any further inquiries, please contact Mrs. Nur Hamdan on the phone number: 0593354842