Scope of Work Summary:

connectivity, empowerment and inclusive economic growth under its KP Digital Policy 2018. The Government aims to convert 50% of all conventional transactions into digital transactions and aims to augment digital skills to facilitate the freelancing sector of the province by 2023. The four pillared KP Digital strategy envisions digitization of all SMEs and industries by 2023 and increasing the ICT product exports/ revenue by 100% along with creating 70 thousand jobs by 2023. The KP Information Technology Board is cognizant of the fact that the KP Digital Policy 2018 needs a review to align it with the new market realities amid COVID 19 crisis, merger of erstwhile FATA with KP, and digital innovation taking place globally to make the provincial ICT sector competitive with special focus on the SMEs. For this purpose, the services of an expert (short term consultant) in ICT sector are being sought to review the KP Digital Policy 2018 to assess its effectiveness as more and more businesses experience a digital transformation especially in the aftermath of coronavirus pandemic. The assignment will also focus on, identifying any gaps in the policy by engaging with relevant public-private stakeholders to suggest recommendations for improvement, with a special focus on SMEs.

1.     Position Title & Department:

Short Term Technical Expert - Business Enabling Environment Component.

-     ICT Specialist

2.     General Summary:

Chemonics International is implementing Pakistan Small and Medium Enterprise Activity (SMEA), which is a 5-year, $35 million project that is aimed at improvement of financial and operating performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan in selected high-performing industrial, manufacturing and services sectors. Creating an enabling business environment is one of the objectives of SMEA. As such, the Project in its third year of implementation, engaged with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to identify key areas of collaboration. 

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been one of the fastest growing sectors in Pakistan with exports increasing by 70 percent over the last three years. Relevant to this rise and the engagement of a major proportion of the large youth bulge in the ICT sector, Pakistan has been ranked fourth globally for freelance development. This presents a huge opportunity for Pakistan to train and create employment opportunities for the youth. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with the highest young population percentage (over 15 million), is a major contributor to the freelancing workforce, with an expanding mass of entrepreneurs and digital innovators that seek opportunities to grow. In this regard, KP Information Technology Board is reviewing its Digital Policy 2018 with the aim of realizing digital market which include increasing e-commerce sales, commercial success etc.

3.     Objective of the Consultancy:

4.     Principal duties and responsibilities:

• Review all the relevant literature listed in, but not limited to, Annex B of this scope.
• Meet officials of the KP IT Board and other relevant officials to understand their vision regarding ICT promotion.
• Work as team and in close coordination with SMEA to complete the tasks detailed below and develop a list of interventions that could be undertaken by the KPITB to optimise the ICT sector in KP.
• Identify key public and private sector stakeholders to be met including, but not limited to, KP IT Board, KP Board of Investment and Trade, KP Planning and Development Department, KP Special Economic Zone Development Management Company, Incubation Centers, ICT sector representatives, IT Parks, Chambers of Commerce, and women owned SMEs etc.
• Conduct at least 2-3 stakeholder consultative sessions possibly in Peshawar and Abbottabad (other relevant cities as deemed necessary) with the relevant public and private sector stakeholders to discuss policy, regulatory issues along with efficacy of existing initiatives being undertaken by KP ITB as part of the policy. 

5. Specific Tasks of the consultants:

• Conduct a background situational analysis to understand the kind of business profiles and their ICT products/services in KP. The uptake and adoption of digital technologies and services by businesses as part of KP ITB initiatives stated in the Digital Policy should also be included.
• Make an assessment around the difficulty/easiness around setting up and doing business in ICT sector of KP. World Bank doing business indicators to be taken as a reference.
• Review the KP Digital Policy 2018-2023 to review KP Digital Policy in light of the overall economic plans of the KP Government including Azm-e-Nu KP Economic Recovery Strategy 2020-23.
• Based on local context and in light of international best practices, review the KP IT Policy 2018-2023 in order to re-validate and re-align priorities of the KP government given the emerging importance of ICT sector.
• Determine the specific constraints and needs of SMEs in the ICT sector hailing from the newly merged districts of KP and recommend inclusive initiatives in the policy.
• Prepare topics and questions pertaining to the consultative sessions, ensuring participation of businesses from NMDs.
• Identify relevant stakeholders to be consulted. 
• Record and report on key findings from these sessions.
• Conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of digital policy initiatives of KP, including applicable national policies.
• An objective evaluation and advisory review of the digital policy 2018 of KP, including the applicable regulatory and institutional framework. 
• Draft a final report that documents the findings and make recommendations.

6.  Job Qualifications:

7. Duty Station:

The consultant will be required to work with SMEA team based in Islamabad or Peshawar.

8. Workspace and Use of Personal Laptop and Software(s):

The consultant will be required to use his own personal laptop and must certify that all software used are genuine and licensed; to ensure that the project’s IT resources are protected from accidental destruction or deliberate attempts at sabotage by computer viruses and other hazards.

9.Reporting:

The consultant will be required to report to BEE Lead or his designee. He/she will be required to coordinate with BEE team during this assignment.

10. Duration of the Assignment:

This will be an effort of 25 days of LOE spread over a period of 2 months. This job is planned to take place as per a start date of on or around August 15, 2021 and end date of on or around October 14,2021 (subject to date of mobilization of consultant).

11. Deliverables:

The timeline for the LOE assigned for each activity as mentioned in the following table will be discussed and agreed with the consultants.

Annex B: Background Reading Material:

 -       Key findings of SMEA roundtable discussion on issues and opportunities for Digitalization of SMEs in Khyber

         Pakhtunkhwa

-        KP Digital Policy 2018-2023

-        Azm-u-Nau, KP Economic Recovery Strategy 2020-23

-        Other relevant material maintained by SMEA

-        Other relevant documents from KP IT Board