Expert for the creation of a requirements specifications documents of a digital platform-THE DOT عودة إلى الفرص

Expert for the creation of a requirements specifications documents of a digital platform with the aim of connecting startups, investors, business partners, in the MENA region and scalable to all African countries.

Position Title: National or international consultant

Numbers of positions: 1

Project name: Bridge ‘Up – From innovation to creation

Description of the assignment: creation of requirements specifications documents of a digital platform with the aim of connecting startups, investors, business partners, in the MENA region and scalable to all African countries.

Duration of assignment: 10 working days

Duty Station: Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine

Type of assignment (Home based or on site): Home based or onsite.

Start date: May 2023

Background, Objectives and scope of the consultancy, Scope of the work

Background:

The Dot, first hub for entrepreneurship and digital innovation in Tunisia, is supported by the Ministry of Communication Technologies as part of the Smart Tunisia project, in partnership with the “Innov’i” program led by the European Union through Expertise France, GIZ, and the Tunisia Development Foundation.

It aims to support and strengthen the Tunisian innovation and digital transformation ecosystem through programs and services that promote a high value-added economy, place youth at the center, and develop synergies between national, regional, and international actors.

The Dot, first hub for entrepreneurship and digital innovation in Tunisia, is supported by the Ministry of Communication Technologies as part of the Smart Tunisia project, in partnership with the “Innov’i” program led by the European Union through Expertise France, GIZ, and the Tunisia Development Foundation.

It aims to support and strengthen the Tunisian innovation and digital transformation ecosystem through programs and services that promote a high value-added economy, place youth at the center, and develop synergies between national, regional, and international actors.

About SPARK: SPARK is an international non-governmental development organization active in 14 regions throughout the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. For over 25 years, SPARK has been creating pathways for young people to rebuild their futures. SPARK provides opportunities for youth, particularly women and refugees, to study, work and grow their own businesses in fragile communities through the provision of higher (vocational) education scholarships, entrepreneurship development and SME support. 

About European Union (EU): The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.

About the ‘From Innovation to Creation’ Programme: The From Innovation to Creation programme strengthens innovation through supporting cluster cooperation and start-up ecosystems in the South Neighbourhood countries. Through a 4-year programme financed by the European Commission, SPARK is strengthening innovation and startup ecosystems, together with implementing partners in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. 

The Dot has partnered with Spark to implement the activities defined in the “Bridge ‘Up” regional project, answering two outcomes.

The first outcome focuses on the capacity building and support of the identified innovation support organizations in Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine.

The second outcome focuses on supporting startups in their scale-up and internationalization phase in those four countries.

Objectives and scope of the consultancy:

As part of the second outcome, the objectives of the consultancy are to:

Set up a Requirements specification document to develop a virtual platform for connecting startups with each other and with various entrepreneurship stakeholders in the MENA region and throughout Africa by developing a conceptual model in terms of mapping out the processes to be implemented and the technical specifications of the IT solutions to be adopted.

This platform will host discussions and exchanges between various stakeholders, online expert sessions with document sharing, organization and participation in large-scale online events, as well as reporting and data visualization features.

In the specifications, it is necessary to take into account, without limiting oneself to these elements.

• Requirements analysis: The consultant will conduct a thorough analysis of the project requirements to determine the functionalities and characteristics of the virtual platform that will be necessary.
• Platform design: The consultant will design the virtual platform using appropriate tools and technologies to ensure optimal user experience and reliable performance. They will integrate features such as security, user-friendliness, ease of navigation, and personalization. The platform should allow users to register, create their profiles, and search for other users interested in collaboration, as well as participate in large-capacity online sessions and events.
• Platform development: The consultant will develop the virtual platform using appropriate programming technologies. This includes coding features, integrating the database, and creating the website structure. They will develop advanced search features to facilitate matching and create a secure messaging system to allow users to communicate with each other.
• Testing and quality assurance: The consultant will conduct testing to ensure that the virtual platform works correctly and meets the specifications. They will also perform security tests to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data.
• Training and documentation: The consultant will provide training and documentation for the personnel who will be responsible for using the virtual platform. This training should include platform usage, user and data management, as well as platform maintenance.
• Maintenance and support: The consultant will provide support and maintenance for the virtual platform, ensuring that the platform is available at all times, performing regular updates, and resolving any technical issues that may arise during the contract period.

Any other requirement needed during the development of the virtual platform may be addressed with responses and recommendations from the consultant.

Expected Results:

The identification of the components for the establishment of a platform architecture. 

Deliverables:

The following are the key deliverables of the consultancy work:

A requirements specifications document including : 

• Initial report containing the specifications, work plan, and detailed schedule.
• An architecture of the platform taking into account the specifications and user experience. 

Any other documentation needed during the development of the virtual platform may be addressed with responses and recommendations from the consultant.

Duration of the assignment and timeframe for deliverables:

The mission will start as soon as the contract is signed for a duration of 20 working days spread over 1 month.

Competencies, academic qualification, experience, and language:

​​This mission will be carried out by a consultant with proven and relevant experience of at least seven 5 years of experience in developing specifications for community-based virtual platforms, including matchmaking specifications, virtual events, online sessions, and messaging exchanges.

It is open to all candidates who meet the following requirements:

• Project management skills, including the ability to plan, organize, and execute complex development projects.
• Strong problem-solving skills to troubleshoot and fix issues that arise during the development process.
• Show excellent knowledge of the project intervention areas, language, and local traditions and cultures.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the legal, institutional, political, and economic framework of MENA region countries.
• Have proficiency in written and oral French, English, and Arabic.

Submission of tenders:

• One technical offer including your resume, and previous work similar to the project specificities. 
• One financial offer.

Please note that the panel may require access to documents previously developed by the consultant to assess the quality of the content.