BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Kenya Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy is supported by ITU, the United Kingdom's Digital Access Programme (UK DAP) and regional and local partners of UK DAP to bolster the development of the ICT sector in Kenya, contribute to the connectivity of those who are still unconnected and enhance the connectivity of those who have yet to benefit from the digital transformation. This is achieved by implementing initiatives that seek to catalyze affordable inclusive safe secure digital access for excluded populations, supporting systemic enhancements and testing sustainable models.

Mainstreamed into the above domains are digital skilling for meaningful jobs, capacity building involving responsible digital access through practicing cyber hygiene and cybersecurity behaviors change considering the vulnerability of the targeted marginalized populations. 

Central to these efforts is the national digital skills assessment, collaboratively launched to identify gaps in digital skill demand and supply. The findings will culminate in the development of a roadmap which will inform the design of digital skilling programs in the country, ensuring they align with current and future market trends and the ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032. This strategic coordinated approach to digital skills development will allow effective response to the needs of Kenya's digital economy.

The initiative aligns with the ITU-FCDO partnership ‘Promoting effective regulation, greater investment and innovative models for school connectivity in underserved communities and for broader digital inclusion in UK FCDO Digital Access Programme (DAP) countries.’ ITU and FCDO share a vision for digital inclusion and a keen desire to implement a diversity of programs in service of this vision.

Under this partnership ITU focuses on providing technical assistance in its core areas of strength, including telecommunication regulation, business models, information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digital skills, working closely with FCDO’s digital development experts and the UK DAP team to build on its digital inclusion outcomes and existing stakeholders engagement. ITU’s work on digital skills under DAP leverages the joint ITU-ILO programme, supported by the African Union, which aims to boost decent jobs and enhance skills of youth in Africa's digital economy.

This initiative aims to address, among other things, the digital skills gap to increase young people's employability, working with employers to create quality jobs, sparking young people's interest in entrepreneurship, across all sectors in Kenya’s economy.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

ITU is seeking for a technical consultant to support the assessment of Kenya’s national digital skills demand and supply. The project, led by the ICT Authority of Kenya, will be conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with a financial support from the United Kingdom’s Digital Access Programme. The assessment targets the Kenyan Government's ICT Digital Masterplan (2022-2032) digital skills pillar, with an aim to harmonize digital skills training by identifying demand and supply gaps in Kenya. Lessons will also be drawn from previous ITU-ILO partnership’s digital skills assessments conducted in regions such as Kakuma and Dadaab, as well as those undertaken in other countries, to confirm the approach in Kenya. The assessment will culminate in the creation of a national digital skills roadmap, supporting the uniformity and quality of diverse digital training initiatives across Kenya and guiding the design of digital skills programs to meet market demands and future trends.

Under the guidance of the Project Manager in the ITU Regional Office for Africa, and in close collaboration with the ICT Authority, the technical consultant will:

1. Develop a plan for assessing supply and demand for professional ICT and digital skills in the ICT sector and across other key sectors in Kenya’s economy.
2. Assess current and emerging cross-sectoral ICT professional skills supply and demand in Kenya's public and private sectors. 
3. Create a capacity development action plan for both the public and private sectors.
4. Put in place a digital skills roadmap for Kenya, aiming to provide strategic guidance on the specific digital skill sets required in the Kenyan economy and ensuring a unified approach to digital skills training.
5. Develop a high-level framework for monitoring and evaluating the outcomes and impact of training in both the public and private sectors.
6. Present assessment findings and recommendations to ITU, ICTA and other stakeholders for input.
7. Create supporting slides, presentation, and communication materials.
8. As needed, attend ITU/ICTA meetings to discuss progress and findings.

CONCRETE DELIVERABLES

The chosen consultant will conduct a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the current state of the ICT sector’s digital skills in Kenya as well as digital skills in other sectors focusing on supply and demand dynamics. The following are the assignment's high-level deliverables:

1. A preliminary report outlining the scope of work and methodology.
2. A kick-off meeting and stakeholders' consultations to assess the current ('AS-IS') state of target organizations and sectors and comprehend their future ('TO-BE') state.
3. An assessment of the current and emerging supply and demand for digital skills in Kenya's digital economy.
4. A gap analysis across public and private ICT sectors, as well as key sectors like education, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, health, ICT, and tourism, to identify where skills development and training are required.
5. Identification and documentation of ICT professionals’ skills and training needed at various levels (institutional, occupational, and individual) in both the public and private sectors to fill identified gaps.
6. A roadmap that includes short-, mid-, and long-term capacity-development programs to address the deficiencies identified in targeted organizations and sectors.
7. A framework for monitoring and evaluating the outcomes and impact of training in both the public and private sectors.
8. A workshop for stakeholders to present the findings of the digital skills assessment for validation. The consultant will run the workshop, present the findings, document the discussions, and write a report. This includes organizing workshop logistics, and working in consultation with ITU.
9. Detailed guidelines and recommendations based on the analysis presented.
    

COMPETENCIES

• Ability in writing business/use cases, with particular focus on ICT, digital skills and innovation work.
• Capacity to research and synthesize information from a diverse range of stakeholders and resources.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education: Advanced university degree in telecommunications, ICT, engineering, or other related areas (social science, social policy, economics, development studies, etc.), with experience in skills evaluations or assessments at country or regional level. 

Experience:  At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of the assignment with experience of working in capacity/skills development, labour market policy making and programme implementation. Experience in telecommunication/ICT or digital services and digital economy.

Having strong understanding of digital economy in the context of Kenya would be an asset. Experience in collecting qualitative and quantitative data for socio-economic research projects is highly desirable. 

Proven experience in working with and supporting government agencies and/or of large-scale digital transformation or ICT, and skills assessment/measurement projects in Kenya will be an added advantage. 

Working experience with the UN and/or other international organizations will be an added advantage.

Languages: Knowledge of English at advanced level. 

REMUNERATION INFORMATION

280 USD per working day for 65 working days up until 31 December 2023 (a total of 18,200 USD) 
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The candidate is invited to submit together with the application a concept note providing an overview of how the assignment will be approached and giving an indication of the consultant’s capacity to undertake the assignment.