ICT Needs Assessment Individual Consultant

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Dossier Number: TA/2024/MEPI/03

ICT Needs Assessment Individual Consultant

SheTech Palestine Project

Tahaluf Consulting and Capacity Development

1.     Background

Tahaluf Consulting and Capacity Development (Tahaluf Consulting) is a leading consulting firm located in Hebron West Bank, its mission is to provide innovative, sustainable, and effective solutions to development challenges such as IT, Environmental compliances, and climate change, while empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their goals through capacity building and development.

The SheTech Palestine Project, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), implemented by Tahaluf Consulting, aims to empower young Palestinian women in ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design by providing them with advanced technical and leadership training, mentorship, and support for entrepreneurship and job placement.

To ensure that the project aligns with the current needs of the market, a comprehensive Needs Assessment will be conducted to identify the skill gaps, trends, and opportunities in the ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors. The ICT Needs Assessment Consultant will be tasked with gathering and analyzing primary and secondary data to inform the project's training curriculum and overall implementation strategy.

2.     Objective of the Assignment

The primary objective of the consultancy is to conduct a Needs Assessment to identify the key skills required for young women entering the ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design fields in Palestine. The consultant will evaluate market trends, emerging technologies, employer expectations, and skill gaps to ensure that the SheTech Palestine Project addresses the specific demands of the private sector.

3.     Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Needs Assessment Design and Planning

• Develop a detailed plan for conducting the needs assessment, including methodology, data sources, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with Tahaluf, the private sector partners, and other key stakeholders, including representatives from the Company involved, to ensure the assessment addresses practical market needs.

1. Data Collection

• Conduct primary and secondary research to gather data on current market trends, emerging skills, and employment needs within the ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors.

1. Stakeholders Mapping

• Map the relevant ICT actors, stakeholders, and key players, reflecting their interest and power into empowering women job creation and decision making into the ICT sector.
• Engage with employers, private sector representatives, educational institutions, and relevant government bodies to gather insights on skills gaps and training requirements for women in these fields.
• Conduct interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and consultations with stakeholders to inform the assessment.

1. Data Analysis

• Analyze the collected data to identify skill gaps, industry demands, and future trends in ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design.
• present the analyzed data into a user experience shape.
• Examine barriers to women’s participation and advancement in these sectors and propose solutions to overcome these barriers.

1. Preparation of Recommendations

• Provide evidence-based recommendations on the skills and competencies that the SheTech Palestine Project should focus on in its training curriculum.
• Identify opportunities for collaborations with private sector companies to support training, internships, and job placement for the participants.
• Offer recommendations on entrepreneurial support for female-led businesses in these fields.

1. Collaboration on Final Report

• Draft a comprehensive Needs Assessment Report, detailing the findings, analysis, and recommendations. The report should include practical suggestions for curriculum development, job placement strategies, and potential support for female entrepreneurs.
• Work closely with the evaluation committee, including representatives from Tahaluf and the Company, to ensure the report meets the objectives of the project.

4.     Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

1. Work Plan and Methodology

A detailed work plan outlining the assessment approach, data collection tools, and stakeholder engagement strategies.

2. Interim Report

A report summarizing preliminary findings from the needs assessment, including key trends and emerging needs identified during data collection.

3. Final Needs Assessment Report

A comprehensive report including:

• Analysis of current market trends and skill gaps
• Recommendations for training content, internships, and entrepreneurial support
• Stakeholders Mapping and analysis
• Strategic partnerships with private sector companies for job placements
• Identification of barriers to women’s participation in ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors
• Opportunities for promoting female entrepreneurship in these sectors

5.     Financial Offers

Consultants are required to submit a financial offer that includes the following:

1. Consultancy Fee

A breakdown of the consultancy fee for conducting the needs assessment, including the consultant’s daily rate and estimated number of days required for the assignment.

2. Expenses

Details of any additional expenses such as travel, accommodation, and other incidental costs that may be required to complete the assignment. These expenses should be clearly itemized and justified.

3. Total Cost

A clear total cost for the consultancy, inclusive of all fees and expenses.

All financial offers must be submitted alongside the technical proposal. The financial offer should be competitive and within the budgetary limits of the SheTech Palestine Project.

6.     Questionnaire Submission

To better understand the consultant's approach and experience, all applicants are required to complete and submit the following questionnaire along with their proposal:

1. Describe your experience in conducting needs assessments in ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors. Please provide examples of your past work.
2. What is your approach to identifying skill gaps and market demands in the sectors relevant to the SheTech Palestine Project?
3. How do you plan to engage with stakeholders (e.g., private sector, government bodies, educational institutions) during the needs assessment process?
4. What are the main challenges you foresee in this assignment, and how do you plan to address them?
5. Please provide an example of a successful project where your recommendations directly contributed to the development of a training or entrepreneurial program.

The completed questionnaire should be submitted alongside the technical and financial proposals.

7.     Evaluation Process

The selection of the consultant will be based on the following criteria:

Technical Proposal (70%)

• Experience and Qualifications (15%): The consultant’s relevant experience, particularly in conducting needs assessments in the ICT, digital marketing, or graphic design sectors, as well as their qualifications.
• Proposed Approach and Methodology (40%): The quality and feasibility of the proposed methodology for conducting the needs assessment, including data collection, stakeholder engagement, and analysis.
• Past Performance and References (15%): Feedback from previous clients or evidence of similar assignments conducted by the consultant.

Financial Offer (30%)

• The competitiveness of the proposed financial offer, including the daily rate and the overall cost of the consultancy.
• Value for money and alignment with the project’s budgetary constraints.

The evaluation committee, which includes representatives from Tahaluf Consulting will review both the technical and financial proposals and make the final selection based on the combined score.

8.     Duration of Assignment

The assignment will be carried out over a period of [Timeframe: One month] starting from [January 1st, 2025] to [January 31st, 2025 ], with key milestones and deadlines agreed upon in the consultant's work plan.

9.     Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Advanced Degree in ICT, Business, Economics, Education, or a related field.
• Proven experience in conducting needs assessments or market research, especially in the ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of the ICT industry and its applications in Palestine or similar regional contexts.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with demonstrated ability to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Proven experience working on women’s empowerment or gender-inclusive projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.

10.  Reporting

The consultant will report directly to the SheTech Palestine Project Manager at Tahaluf Consulting. The consultant will also coordinate with the evaluation committee, including representatives from Tahaluf and the private sector companies involved, for input and feedback.

11.  Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

• Updated CV highlighting relevant experience.
• A cover letter outlining the approach to the needs assessment and familiarity with the ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors.
• A proposed detailed technical offer including methodology, modality of outreach and time frame for completing the assessment.
• Examples of previous work in similar assessments (optional).
• A financial offer detailing the consultancy fee, daily rate, and any additional expenses.
• Completed questionnaire as outlined in section 7.

12.  Instructions for Submitting Offers

Consultants are required to submit a complete proposal, which includes the following:

1. Technical Proposal:

• An overview of the consultant’s qualifications, including experience related to needs assessments in ICT, digital marketing, and graphic design sectors.
• A proposed methodology and work plan for conducting the needs assessment, including the approach to stakeholder engagement, data collection, and analysis.
• At least two references or examples of previous relevant work.
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2. Financial Offer:

• A detailed financial offer that includes the daily rate, total consultancy fee, and any additional expenses required to complete the assignment. The financial offer must be submitted in a separate document from the technical proposal.

3. Tax Deduction at Source

Tahaluf will adhere to the Palestinian law regarding the income tax.

4. Submission:

• All proposals (technical and financial) must be separately submitted electronically in PDF format to [email protected] by 07/12/2024
• Any inquiries or clarifications regarding the ToR can be sent to [email protected] no later than 30/11/2024.
• All proposals and inquiries emails shall be titled as [TA/2024/MEPI/03 – Name of Consultant/Consulting firm].

5. General Conditions:

Tahaluf has the right to choose the best offer despite the lowest prices.

Tahaluf has the right to cancel this tender without any responsibility on Tahaluf and/or its team.

Tahaluf will deduct the cost of this tender advertisement from the winning vendor/consultant.

Late submissions will not be considered.