Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697640497054.pdf (Bahamas)
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant Country: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Supporting Institution: Inter-American Development Bank Programme: Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness Project Number: BH-L1045 Loan Number: LO-4549 / OC-BH Sector: Reform / Modernization of the State Sub-Sector: E-Government Deadline: 30TH December, 2022 Post: Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant Contract Duration: 6-9 months Post Location: The Bahamas Reports to: The Programme Manager, Digital Transformation Unit The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), toward the cost of the Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness project (‘the Project’) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultancy services to Conduct a Digital Skills Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis: Use of 21st Century Digital Tools by Citizens and SMEs (‘The Services’).
The Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) within the Department of Transformation and Digitization (DTaD) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is the Project Executing Agency (PEA).

Component 2 of the Project aims to increase the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the public sector.
Increased online participation and interaction by the public and private sector with Government will be critical in achieving this objective, especially as Government is seeking to put more of its services online.

The Government of The Bahamas is seeking to hire a Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant with the knowledge and expertise to: i. ii.

Conduct a Current State Assessment and Gap Analyses of the local digital skills ecosystem involving the appropriate quantitative and qualitative assessments.
This study should involve, inter alia, an assessment of the demand and supply of digital skills and an assessment of existing enabling factors/ conditions for digital skills development and existing challenges/issues associated with the selected target audiences not participating in digital environments.

Prepare a digital skills assessment and gap analysis report, which details the analyses conducted, findings and recommendations arising from (1) above.
The results of the study should inform the Government in devising the appropriate strategies for implementing or facilitating existing digital skills and literacy programs that would lead to an increase in the number of persons and small businesses that can fully engage with a digitally transformed Government.

A detailed Terms of Reference for the consultancy is included below.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs now invites eligible individuals to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
Interested individuals should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services, for example by listing previous or ongoing work on projects of a similar nature or scope (including start and completion dates where applicable).

Shortlisted individuals may be asked to submit a proposed approach for execution of the consultancy and may be provided with additional information to facilitate the preparation of proposals.
Individuals will be selected in accordance with the IDB’s Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the IDB, and it is open to all eligible Individuals as defined in these policies.
All CVs and qualification documents must be submitted Re: Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant to E-mail: DTUPROCUREMENT@BAHAMAS.GOV.BS on or before 30th December 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ONLY SHORTLISTED INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CONTACTED REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant Terms of Reference – Individual Consultant Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant Digital Skills Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis: Use of 21st Century Digital Tools by Citizens and SMEs Background and Context In April 2019, the Government of The Bahamas (‘the Government’) signed a loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness project (‘the Loan Project’).
The Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) in the Office of The Ministry of Economic Affairs has responsibility for executing the Project.

Specific project objectives include: 1.

Streamlining government procedures and making them available online to reduce the cost of government bureaucracy (Component 1).

Increasing the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the public sector (Component 2).
Increasing transparency of government activities and strengthening auditing and control mechanisms (Component 3).

2.

3.

Several transformative initiatives under the Loan are either well underway or completed, most notably: 1.

The establishment of an interoperability platform to facilitate the seamless exchange of information across government departments and the centralized provision of online services has been completed.

2.
2.

Within one (1) year of the pilot launch (February 2022) of an online government services portal1, forty-eight (48) government services are now available online, and almost 80,000 persons (in The Bahamas and abroad) are registered on the platform.

The goal is for there to be 200 services available online by the end of the Project.

3.

The development of a National Cybersecurity Strategy and establishment of a National Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) are underway.

4.
4.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted, and implementation is underway.

5.

Draft legislation for the creation of institutions to manage digital transformation within Government is being developed.

6.

A consultancy to develop a strategy, roadmap, and action plan for the implementation of a digital identity system is in progress.
Improving Skills Gaps to facilitate increased use of ICTs in the Public Sector Under Component 2 of the Loan, the development and implementation of an ICT Blueprint Strategy2 are considered critical for ensuring increased use of ICTs in the public sector.
More specifically, the loan recognizes that providing Government Departments and Ministries with the right technologies and equipping its employees with the necessary skills and talents to effectively apply the use of technology is just one aspect of facilitating increased use of ICTs.

1 www.mygateway.gov.bs 2 The DTU has initiated a procurement process to engage a firm to develop this strategic and implementation framework.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant Online participation by private sector and the public at large is also critical for achieving this objective.

The Loan Proposal states that ensuring that a high percentage of citizens and small businesses can use online services3 will contribute to: 1. an increase in the percentage of persons using online Government services, and 2. a reduction of time spent, and cost incurred by businesses doing Government procedures.
As such, the Loan Project envisages the implementation of a digital literacy program for citizens and small businesses.

The objective of the program will be to train more than 33,000 citizens and 3000 small business in the use of digital tools before the Loan expires in 2025.

There is often a disparity in one’s perception with respect to capability/ skills and one’s actual capability.

Studies4 have provided empirical evidence that this is typically the case with respect to digital skills.
The DTU has also had the benefit of interacting with members of the public when registering and providing support to users on the MyGateway platform.

It is evident that there are basic digital literacy gaps among citizens.

Common challenges faced by some persons who may wish to use the platform include:  Using an email service to receive notifications (Some persons do not have an email account).

 Managing files and understanding different file formats.
 Navigating a browser interface and troubleshooting common problems associated with browser applications.

 Understanding requirements/pre-requisites for applying/paying for service.

For example: eligibility criteria, paying for the wrong service, distinguishing between online vs. physical processes and understanding that both aren’t needed).

 Completing the sign-up process correctly (inputting information incorrectly, forgetting password, not knowing how to change password).
It should be noted that in addition to the MyGateway platform, the Government of The Bahamas also has an online presence (www.bahamas.gov.bs), and several agencies have their own websites where information regarding specific services are provided.

It is noted that a number of institutions in The Bahamas offer a range of digital literacy and ICT skills-based programs and have carried out needs assessments to inform these.
As an interim measure, the DTU will support an existing training provider that already has an appropriate digital literacy program in extending its reach.

However, a preliminary review of successful national digital skills and inclusion strategy implementations in other jurisdictions5, has shown that the specific needs of the relative societies have been considered in designing those programs.
Specifically, in addition to digital skills, there are other barriers associated with accessing Government services online (including but not limited to limited/no internet access, online trust issues, limited motivation for being online, etc).

Understanding all the contributing factors can aid in two things: (i.)

ensuring that the skills and literacy program is designed to address as many contributing issues as possible, and (ii.)
informing the development of additional digital inclusion strategies that may be needed at a national level.
In seeking to implement or facilitate digital skills and literacy programs that would result in a population that can fully engage with a digitally transformed Government and economy, the Government is seeking to determine the specific needs and gaps that exist for 3 It should be noted that the MyGateway portal was launched in May 2021 and priority is being given to putting as many government services as possible online (Component 1 of the Loan Project).
4 See Perception and Reality: Measuring Digital Skills Gaps in Europe, India, Singapore, and Panama.

5 Specifically, Argentina, the UK and Spain.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant persons residing in The Bahamas as well as small business operating locally.
It should be noted that in The Bahamas, there is often a gap between the availability of learning facilities and programs in the more densely populated islands (New Providence and Grand Bahama), and what exists in the Family Islands.

This study should take this into consideration to ensure that future programs will adequately cater to the needs of persons residing in all inhabited islands of The Bahamas.

I.
I.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a needs assessment and gap analysis of the ability of citizens and SMEs to use 21st Century Digital Tools.

With respect to citizens, emphasis is to be given to digital literacy and skills for general online participation, employability, and productivity.
With respect to small businesses, the consultant will be expected to take into consideration and build upon assessments already undertaken by other stakeholders (e.g., Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC), Department of Labour, etc.).
The consultant will also be expected to collaborate closely with the Digital Transformation Unit, Department of Transformation and Digitization, BTVI and other key stakeholders in Government (including Family Island Administrators), private sector, academia, and civil society in executing this consultancy.

II.

MAIN ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES OF THE CONSULTANCY The main activities of the consultancy will be to: 1.
Develop an inception report that contains, at minimum, the methodology and work plan for the assignment (including quantitative and qualitative assessment methodologies and work plan).

In doing this activity, the consultant will be expected to: i.

Review any documentation/ data provided by the Digital Transformation Unit/ key stakeholders for contextualising the work ii.

to be undertaken by this consultancy.


Identify the key stakeholders6 that should participate in the assessment development process, as well as existing digital skills and literacy programs and training providers, with a view to identifying potential implementation partners.

iii.

Develop a stakeholder engagement framework.

iv.

Review any digital skills assessment work that has already been undertaken in respect of the target audiences identified.
v. Review any digital skills reference frameworks that have been used locally.

vi.

In consultation with key stakeholders, refine on the scope of the assignment with respect to citizens, by identifying specific groups/ islands/ economic groups that should be specifically targeted, and develop the appropriate audience profiles.

vii.

Outline the scope of the needs assessment and the types of analyses (e.g., needs, contextual, learner, task, environmental, etc.)
that would be appropriate in the given scenario(s).

This exercise should take into consideration that a lack of digital skills may not be the only barrier faced by persons who do not participate in digital environments.

viii.

Propose a work plan (including a Gantt chart), containing activities, interdependencies, critical path, timelines, and responsibilities for executing the consultancy.
The work plan should include a travel schedule based on the consultants’ expectations on the amount of travel that will be necessary throughout The Bahamas during the course of this consultancy.

2.

Conduct a Current State Assessment and Gap Analyses of the local digital skills ecosystem.

This exercise should involve quantitative and qualitative assessments and analyses as appropriate, and should include: i.
An assessment of the digital skills and literacy ecosystem throughout The Bahamas including: 6 Including those in the Family Islands.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant  A mapping of existing policies, programs, initiatives, and digital skills providers in The Bahamas.

 A stocktake of the existing digital skills base throughout The Bahamas, building upon any previous assessments undertaken by relevant stakeholders.

ii.
ii.

An assessment of the demand and supply of digital skills, having regard for expectations on digital skills needs, ranging from basic to intermediate to advanced (relevant to the target audiences and the objectives of the consultancy).
This assessment should consider linkages to loan objectives, any existing ICT sector policies/ strategies, national development plans and other digital transformational initiatives taking place in various sectors of the Bahamian economy (e.g., financial services, health, educational, etc.).

Special consideration should be given to the ICT Blueprint Strategy that is likely to be in the process of development at the time of this consultancy.

iii.
iii.

An assessment of how The Bahamas ranks in terms of internationally recognised digital literacy and access indicators.

iv.

An assessment of existing enabling factors/ conditions for digital skills development and existing challenges/issues associated with persons not participating in digital environments (e.g., trust in online environments, benefits associated with being digitally skilled and digital participation, accessibility issues).
v. An analysis of best practice approaches for digital skills development in the context of the local ecosystem and benchmarking on digital skills needed by citizens and SMEs in the 21st Century.

vi.

Gap analyses and recommendations with respect to:  Any additional specific groups in society that should be targeted.

 Digital skills, tools and existing digital skills development programs that target the audiences identified.
 The adoption of an appropriate digital skills reference framework for the target audiences identified, and recommendations how existing programs may be adapted, or new programs created where necessary.

 Capacity development of existing trainers/ training providers.

 Existing delivery methods, identifying existing facilities and tools that may be leveraged in implementing a digital skills program.
 Where applicable, additional delivery methods that should be adopted for addressing the digital skills gaps among the specific target audiences identified, and specific requirements for disadvantaged groups (e.g., persons with disabilities, non-English speaking residents).
 The governance model/coordination mechanism that should be adopted moving forward, including an identification of implementation partners and the resources that would be required within Government for effective support and implementation.

 The level of support provided by the Government to the public and SMEs as it pertains to the delivery of online services.
 Other enabling digital inclusion strategies that should be implemented outside of the digital literacy program, but that would be necessary to support the achievement of the intended outcomes of a digital literacy program in the local context.
 Facilitating public awareness, stakeholder buy-in and take-up by the intended beneficiaries, including recommendations on public education material associated with digital transformational initiatives taking place in various sectors of the Bahamian economy that could be disseminated as part of the digital literacy program.
 M&E Framework, including appropriate KPIs and mechanisms for data gathering and reporting that should be implemented to facilitate effective monitoring and evaluation of a digital literacy program.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant 3.

Prepare a draft digital skills assessment and gap analysis report, which details the analyses conducted, findings and recommendations in respect of the above.
In consultation with key stakeholders, finalise the digital skills assessment and gap analysis report.

4.

5.

Prepare other reports as necessary including: i.

Report summarizing the feedback received during working sessions and stakeholder meetings, including matters arising that would impact recommendations to be made.

ii.
ii.

Technical content that may be needed by the DTU PR and Communications team to prepare deliverables7 for public or stakeholder engagement initiatives associated with this consultancy.

iii.

Weekly Status and Progress Reports.

III.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE • A Bachelors’ Degree in any of these relevant fields: ICT, social science, social policy, education, economics, development studies, etc.

or a related field.
or a related field.

In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, consideration will be given to an associate degree in a relevant field, together with a minimum of seven (7) years of demonstrated associated experience.

• Exposure to, or specialized training in instructional design, educational technology or curriculum development will be considered an asset.

• A post-graduate degree in any of the above will also be considered an asset.
• At least 5 years of experience in collecting qualitative and or quantitative data for socio-economic research projects; Experience with using digital tools for collecting and analysing data will be considered an asset.

• At least 5 years of experience of conducting capacity/skills needs assessments and designing skills development programs for employment stakeholders, industry bodies, government organisations, non-government organisations, or training providers.
• Demonstrated experience specific to the ICT/digital skills will be considered an asset.

• Demonstrated experience working with various course delivery environments including online delivery platforms will also be considered an asset.
• Proven experience in working with and supporting government agencies and/or of large-scale digital transformation or ICT skills assessment/measurement projects in The Bahamas, Caribbean or other small island developing state (SIDS), island nations or large municipalities will be an added advantage.

• Proven experience using recognized digital skills reference frameworks in previous projects.

• Proven experience managing projects of this nature (or as a lead consultant).
Interested individuals should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the above, for example by listing previous or ongoing work on projects of a similar nature or scope (including start and completion dates where applicable).

7 Examples of deliverables for which content will be needed include Information for internal and external stakeholder presentations, ads, and other materials.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Digital Skills and Literacy Consultant IV.

CORE COMPETENCIES OF THE CONSULTANT • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities.

• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.

• Ability to plan, organize, implement, and report on work.

• Ability to solve complex problems and provide solutions to difficult issues.

• Excellent decision-making ability and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

• Knowledge of project management techniques.

• Written and oral fluency in the English Language.

V. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONSULTANCY A. Characteristics The Consultant will discharge his/her responsibilities under the following contractual arrangements: • Contractual category: Deliverables-based • Contract duration: 6 months to 9 months.
• Reports to the Programme Manager (DTU).

B.
Payments and Conditions Payments to the contract shall be made against the acceptance of deliverables in the following table: Key Deliverable Milestone8 2: Draft Digital Skills Deliverable 1: Inception Report Deliverable Assessment and Gap Analysis Report Deliverable Assessment and Gap Analysis Report 3: Final Digital Skills Desired Timeline for Completion9 from the start of the contract (T0) T0 + 8 weeks T0 + 25 weeks T0 + 35 weeks Payment Due10 15% 50% 35% Deliverables 2 and 3 will be due in accordance with the agreed work plan in the inception report and will not be considered as completed unless the necessary approvals have been given based on review and acceptance by the client 8 Including the delivery of status reports, consultation/working group meetings/workshops/training activities and meeting summaries associated with the delivery of the respective key deliverable.
9 To be agreed on delivery and agreement of the Inception Report (Deliverable 1) 10 Payment is due no less than 10 days after the receipt/acceptance of services.