Public Tender

Project Name: SHIELD

Country: Tunisia

Target Area: Startup Support

Sectors: Compliance, Integrity, Transparency 

Duration: 14 months

Westerwelle Startup Haus Tunis

The Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding with headquarters in Berlin, Germany is a non-profit organization. The foundation was established in 2013 by Dr. Guido Westerwelle, former German Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Ralph Dommermuth, CEO and Founder of United Internet AG.

Our work aims to boost digital transformation in emerging countries and create a spill-over effect that includes strengthening transparency and integrity measures within private and public sector institutions. To achieve this, the Westerwelle Foundation actively scouts entrepreneurs who are able to create digital sustainable solutions which could be implemented in various social and economic areas.

The Westerwelle Foundation manages entrepreneurship hubs called “Westerwelle Startup Haus” in select locations to support start-up ecosystems and entrepreneurs. Each hub runs entrepreneurship support programs on sector- and stage-specific topics. In addition, the Westerwelle Young Founders Program is a Berlin-based fellowship that supports 50 entrepreneurs from emerging markets to attain international investment and growth.

In March 2016, the Westerwelle Foundation opened its first Startup Haus in the city center of Tunis. The WSHT offers co-working space, private offices, meeting rooms, a multifunctional event space and advisory services for startups. Additionally, WSHT hosts regular workshops and networking events to facilitate knowledge exchange and community building.

Project Description

The SHIELD Program is a startup support program by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Westerwelle Startup Haus Tunis offering a platform for 15 Tunisian start-ups to strengthen their compliance and integrity mechanisms, catalyse innovation and cooperation among private and public sector institutions, and raise awareness on the role of digitalization as an enabler for transparency and good governance.

The programme cycle is divided into three successive phases that form a holistic support curriculum for start-ups are able to provide digital solutions allowing for more integrity and transparency within private and public institutions. 5 Tunisian Start-ups will be selected from the 15 selected initial beneficiaries to design digital solutions that aim to enhance transparency and integrity mechanisms within public institutions.

The main objectives of the program are:

➢ Build a culture of compliance and integrity with the Tunisian entrepreneurial ecosystem: +1000 Tunisian young entrepreneur are reached through online/offline initiatives.

➢ Strengthen integrity and compliance mechanisms for Tunisian SMEs and Startups: 15 Teams will be selected to receive support and grow financial and regulatory capacities

➢ Connect Tunisian Startups to public institutions to collaboratively implement digital and innovative solutions: 5 Teams will be selected to collaborate with public institutions.

The beneficiaries of the program are Tunisian entrepreneurs operating in the field of integrity, anti-corruption and good governance, small businesses aiming to strengthen their compliance mechanisms, and public sector institutions seeking the digitalization of their processes and services.

Objectives

The consultants are required to provide services as indicated below. In the technical offer, the consultants will indicate more details on the deliveries, referring back to the below terms of reference:

General objective :

The general objective of this consultancy is to matchmake founders of the SHIELD program with public institutions to discuss potential projects and sign MOUs.

Specific objectives :

• Discuss with the startups the potential partnerships they wish to establish with specific preset public institutions.
• Propose public institutions that are more relevant than the preselected ones and assist the founders in shaping their project proposals to the institutions in question.
• Reach out to representatives of the public institutions an open discussions to sign MOUs on the startup proposed projects.
• Matchmake the startups with the public institutions and ensure the signature of at least 5 MOUs.

Target Group 

This consultancy is dedicated to 8 Tunisian start-ups working in various fields of work. These start-ups are supported within Westerwelle Foundation Startup Haus’ SHIELD support program.

Location

The service activities will occur in Tunis at the offices of Westerwelle Foundation Startup Haus in Tunis.

Duration and Timeline

The consultancy will take 4 weeks starting the second week of August. Consultants must submit an adequate timeline englobing milestones of the consultancy per start-up.

Role of Westerwelle Foundation Startup Haus

Throughout the consultancy, WSHT will monitor the planning and progress of the sessions with the consultant as well as the founders.

Methods of Implementation

The consultant must complete the following tasks:

1. Interview each founder to understand their startup’s field of exercise and check and confirm their vision of a partnership with a public institution.
2. Propose and recommend more relevant public institutions for the projects proposed by the startups.
3. Reach out to representatives of the public institutions to set up meetings with the founders.
4. Matchmake the startups with the public institutions in question and ensure the signature of at least 5 MoUs.

Consultant Profile

The consultant must fulfil the following criteria:

• A confirmed expertise in Public-Private-Partnerships under international cooperation projects.
• Experienced in Start-up support through work and/or consultancies with Business Support Organizations.
• Experience in public relations.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and pedagogical skills.

Deliverables

The consultant must deliver the following:

• Weekly status updates detailing the progress of the consultancy.
• A final report including the consultancy progress (overall and with each start-up) as well as recommendations for WSHT and the founders.

Evaluation Criteria

The consultants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. A demonstrated experience in the fields of expertise indicated in the terms of reference.
2. An adequate methodology and work plan for the consultancy
3. A convenient financial offer.

Selection Procedure

The offers will be processed and selected according to the budget allocated to this mission by the project and the efficiency criteria related to the technical and financial offer and in accordance with the evaluation criteria.