National consultant – THE DOT عودة إلى الفرص

Terms of Reference

Recruitment of an expert/consulting firm for the development and facilitation of a training program on the principles of internationalization for startups, benefiting a minimum of 30 startups based in Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. This is within the framework of activities outlined and approved by the project partners.

• Position Title: National consultant
• Numbers of positions: 1
• Project name: Bridge ‘Up – From innovation to creation
• Duration of assignment: 2 months spread across a training program cycle.
• Duty Station: Tunisia
• Type of assignment (Home based or on site): On site.
• Start date: December 1, 2023.

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.

About SPARK: SPARK is an international non-governmental development organisation 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.

As one of Spark’s partner The Dot will be implementing the activities defined in the “Bridge ‘Up” regional project, funded by the European Union, 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, the objectives of the consultancy are to:

Developing a training program on the theme of “Internationalization of Startups,” which includes:

• Awareness of internationalization
• Preparation for the internationalization of startups
• Principles of international acceleration

Proposing a schedule for training sessions from December 1 to January 31. The schedule should incorporate interactive online sessions, with a combination of informative content presentations and practical exercises.

Ensuring the commitment of startups enrolling in the training program throughout its duration.

The expert should also propose relevant international experts to include in the training program.

Scope of the work and methodology :

The expert is asked to propose, develop, and facilitate training sessions addressing the following topics:

• Internationalisation Fundamentals
• Market Selection and Analysis
• Adapting a Product or Service
• Legal and Regulatory Action
• Financial Planning and Funding
• Market Entry Strategy Workshop
• Building a Global Brand
• Supply Chain and Logistics Simulation
• Cross-Cultural Skills Workshop
• Risk Management in Action
• Real-Life Success Stories
• Scaling for International Growth
• Networking and Partnering
• Pitching to International Investors
• Internationalisation Roadmap

Expected Results :

The expected results are as follows:

A minimum of 30 startups are trained in internationalization and are capable of implementing the information presented in their internationalization plan.

Deliverables

The following are the key deliverables of the consultancy work for each country:

• Evaluation form for startup maturity and needs analysis.
• Analysis report of the form responses
• Planning and program of the training cycle
• Signed Attendance sheet for trainees.
• Signed timesheet for the expert.
• A report for each training/coaching session conducted (including pictures or recordings – screenshots of online sessions)
• A final report of the training cycle Startup satisfaction form
• Pre and post evaluation test results

Duration of the assignment and timeframe for deliverables:

The mission will start as soon as the contract is signed for the duration of the training program spread over 2 months.