Individual Consultant

Federal Republic of Somalia

Terms of Reference

Individual Consultant

Institutional Review and Restructuring of the Ministry of Communications and Technology, as well as the development of a dedicated Ministry 5-year Strategic Plan

1. BACKGROUND

Ministry Mandate

The Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT) is the lead Federal Government body currently mandated to formulate national policies, laws and regulations related to Post, Telecommunications, and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). Its mandate also includes:

Overseeing sector standards
Promoting the development and growth of telecommunication infrastructure and ICT
Protecting the interests of consumers
Fostering a knowledge-based economy and information society in Somalia

In performing its duties, the MoCT is guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia (FGS) and other relevant laws. For example, the MoCT championed and supported the adoption of the National Communications Law in 2017, which lays the basis for a competitive and enabling environment for ICT services that recognizes the need for ensuring widespread access. The Ministry is now working on other foundational laws for supporting an emerging digital economy in Somalia.

Sectoral Strategy and Policies

In 2019, the MoCT spearheaded the development of Somalia’s first National ICT Policy and Strategy for the period 2019- 2024[1], which aims to address existing ICT infrastructure and ecosystem gaps. It focuses on accelerating development in the following key areas:

Policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks
Public communication services
Universal access to ICT
Digital infrastructure
Consumer protection, privacy, and child protection
Digital services and content – E-government, e-commerce, digital finance, media, e-health, e-education, and e-agriculture.
Human resource development – education, training, and innovation
Postal services development

The MoCT is charged with overseeing the implementation of the National ICT Policy and Strategy, as well as convenes and chairs a National Coordination Committee (NCC) intended to facilitate this. The Ministry is also in the process of developing and adopting several other strategies in areas such as e-government, digital inclusion/access, cybersecurity and data protection etc., which are emerging workstreams for the MoCT.

Rationale for Institutional Review and Restructuring of the MoCT

There is a need to review the mandate, and institutional structure of the MoCT, based on evolving policy and strategic priorities, which has introduced new and emerging workstream for the Ministry. The current structure is outdated and based on the MoCT’s (formerly the Ministry of Post and Telecoms) traditional focus on postal and telecoms services. Current departments include Telecommunication, ICT, Postal, Planning, HR, and Finance. The MoCT is thus looking to review its institutional set-up, including the current department structure, and move towards a more dynamic, agile, and forward-looking organizational structure, which would allow the Ministry to function more efficiently and cohesively.

Rationale for a 5-year MoCT Strategic Plan

Albeit informed by the National ICT Policy and Strategy, the MoCT’s various functions/departments are also currently not guided by an overarching dedicated Ministry strategic plan, but rather work in silo based on ad hoc directives. For each Ministry department to carry out their functions effectively and to contribute to delivering on the National Development Plan (NDP) and other sectoral strategies pertaining to digital, an integrated, well-coordinated and efficient Ministry that works in synergy, guided by one overarching strategic plan, is essential.

For the MoCT to demonstrate effective leadership and coordination of the ICT sector, a well-constructed Strategic Plan is thus required. A Strategic Plan will ensure alignment and integration of institutional goals, functions, and actions. Moreover, the strategic plan will harmonize, align, and strengthen the linkage between the various initiatives led and implemented by the Ministry, including those in the pipeline. Thus, the plan should help eliminate the fragmentation and also contribute to promoting a cohesive delivery of services by the MoCT, and be grounded in the new institutional structure proposed for the Ministry.

It is through strategic planning and execution that the MoCT can reconcile its responsibilities with available resources and set strategic priorities. It will also provide the Ministry with a platform for building important connections between (existing and new) Ministry departments and projects. Moreover, sustainable, and flexible execution of the strategy will increase FGS’s ability to deliver on its promises, improving citizens’ confidence and trust in government.

Support from the WB

The MoCT is currently a key beneficiary of a World Bank-financed program, the Somalia Capacity Advancement, Livelihoods and Entrepreneurship through Digital Uplift Project (SCALED-UP) that will finance this assignment. The Project seeks to strengthen policy development and effective regulation of the ICT sector, as well as promote access to digital services to accelerate social and economic development in Somalia. This includes ensuring that enabling legal, strategic, and institutional frameworks are in place to promote greater access to digital services. To implement this project, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) has been established under the Ministry of Finance, which works closely with the MoCT and other project beneficiaries.

[1] See: https://moct.gov.so/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/National-ICT-Policy-Strategy-2019-2024.pdf

2. OBJECTIVE

The MoCT, through the MOF, is looking to hire an individual consultant to support an institutional review and restructuring plan for the Ministry, as well as develop a new overarching dedicated (5-year) Strategic Plan for the Ministry that will help facilitate the alignment of efforts, activities and resources to achieve long-term policy and development objectives set.

3.SCOPE OF WORK: KEY TASKS, DELIVERABLES & TIMEFRAME

The Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks and conclude the proposed assignment within 16 weeks or 4 months. Expected deliverables and an indicative timeline for delivery is included in the table below:

No.	Task	Output/Deliverable	Timeline
1.	Review the current strategic and institutional architecture of the Ministry, including its evolution, current vision, mission, and mandated objectives.	Deliverable 1: Institutional review of the Ministry	Within 4 weeks of contract signature
2.	Conduct a participatory rapid assessment of current departmental performance (i.e., achievements, emerging issues, challenges and opportunities).
3.	Undertake a SWOT analysis of the Ministry’s operations to date.
4.	Review forward-looking policy and strategic priorities that impact the work of the Ministry, including any institutional recommendations pertaining to ongoing workstreams such as e-government, cybersecurity, and data protection, digital innovation etc., looking at how these priorities might impact the institutional structure / requirements of the Ministry.
5.	Conduct a benchmarking, looking at best practice models for Ministries of ICT/Digital Economy, including department and management structures applied, identifying lessons learnt that might translate well to the Somali context based on consultation with Ministry management.	Deliverable 2: Draft Institutional Restructuring Plan Ministry	Within 7 weeks of contract signature
6.	Through a consultative process with Ministry departments and application of appropriate tools of analysis, identify focus/thrust areas (existing and emerging), long term goals/strategic objectives, key result areas for the Ministry, as well as available financial and human resources and related constraints.		Within 7 weeks of contract signature

7.	Review the institutional capacity, organizational set-up, financial and administrative systems against the Ministry’s mandated objectives and the identified organization goals, strategic objectives and key result areas.
8.	Based on analysis undertaken, propose an overarching 5-year strategy for achieving the Ministry’s goals, objectives, and key results.	Deliverable 3: Draft 5-year strategic plan for the Ministry	Within 10 weeks of contract signature
9.	Based on analysis undertaken, make recommendations on the ideal institutional set-up of the Ministry to deliver this strategy, drafting a detailed Institutional Restructuring Plan, including any revisions in the Ministry’s vision and mission needed.	Deliverable 4: Draft Institutional Restructuring Plan for the Ministry	Within 12 weeks of contract signature
10.	Develop a detailed implementation roadmap to support both the 5-year Ministry Strategy and Institutional Restructuring Plan, which clear roles and responsibilities.	Deliverable 5: Implementation roadmap, M&E framework and budget	Within 14 weeks of contract signature
11.	Develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for the Ministry 5-year Strategy and Institutional Restructuring Plan.
12.	Develop a budget for the Ministry 5-year Strategy and Institutional Restructuring Plan, ensuring that plans proposed are feasible based on available resources.
13.	Facilitate a workshop to validate the draft 5-year Strategy and Institutional Restructuring Plan, implementation roadmap, M&E framework and budget.	Deliverable 6. Final strategy and restructuring plan, implementation roadmap, M&E framework, and budget	Within 16 weeks of contract signature.
14.	Finalize all documents in English and Somali and submit them to the Ministry.		Within 16 weeks of contract signature.

The Consultant is expected to discuss and agree on a plan for delivery at the outset of the assignment with the MoCT.

4.DELIVERY MODALITY & SUPPORT

To ensure the development a well-informed and integrated 5-year Ministry Strategy and Institutional Restructuring Plan with strong traction and ownership, the consultant is expected to work closely with representatives from various MoCT departments and other government stakeholders. The consultant is also expected to deliver the assignment working in Somalia. This process will contribute to building institutional capacity and promoting internal collaboration.

5. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

The Ministry is seeking an experienced organizational strategy development expert, with substantial experience of supporting government on institutional reviews, organizational as well as strategy development and implementation. The selected consultant is thus expected to have:

Master’s degree in law, economics, public policy/administration or related field.
Minimum of 10 years of experience of supporting institutional and strategic planning, organizational development/re-alignment/restructuring, including a track-record of advising government and policymakers in the public sector.
Successfully carried out at least three similar assignment in the last 5 years, with Client references.
Strong knowledge of the ICT sector and digital agenda is preferred, demonstrated through relevant work experience (e.g., with institutions/agencies/ministries in the sector, and/or relevant education and industry experience).
Work experience from both a developed and developing country context is considered a distinct advantage, including supporting governments that are starting to build out their organizational capabilities from a low base.
Experience of advising clients on best practices in relation to strategy development and implementation, including in the public sector.
A highly collaborative approach and strong client focus, responding effectively to Client needs and supporting knowledge transfer in low-capacity environments.
Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including ability to think strategically and innovatively.
Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to respectfully and effectively liaise with diverse stakeholders.
Strong communication skills (both orally and in writing), including ability to draft strategic documents, implementation plans and clearly present complex topics.
A strong capacity to deliver the present assignment, including a willingness and ability to work in Somalia.
Sensitivity to local context, including knowledge of the local political economy and government/institutional framework applied in Somalia if considered an added advantage.
Proficiency in English is essential.