TERMS OF REFERENCE

Hiring Office:

Ministry of Communication, Science, and Technology (MCST)

Purpose of consultancy:

As Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology (MCST) of Maldives embarks on the preparation for strengthening the ICT sector of Maldives, one of the key activities to be carried out included conducting a baseline study to gauge existing data and information on women’s participation in the field.

In the past, study of women’s participation in ICT sector have been based on the number public sector ICT jobs occupied by women as well as the number of graduates from higher education facilities. Participation is assumed based on these figures with little to no consideration was given to the private sector.

At the national level, no selective discrimination policies exist to influence the participation ratios at present. 

One of the main targets of this activity is to identify the actual participation of women, both in the public and private sector.  The Consultants study is aimed to assess

• Knowledge and gender equitable and non-discriminatory behaviour of parents and care givers on ICT as field of education and career path
• Utilization of TVET Authority career guidance services among women from most marginalized/excluded communities
• Services on information dissemination to students in key stage 3 and above
• Availability of gender transformative and inclusive education facilities
• Access of girls/boys to formal education with emphasis on tertiary education opportunities
• Assess of inclusive and gender-sensitive education governance at higher education level within island/city level
• Access and control of adolescent girls and young women over resources, financial services, and marketable skills
• How effectively adolescent girls and women are using ICT skills completing their daily tasks
• Adolescent girls and young women organized and taking leadership in decision making
• Difference in employee remuneration for same/similar skill set
• Interest of adolescent girls and women in identified subsectors of ICT
• Adolescent girls realized their rights of easy access to services and opportunities
• Demand for workforce diversification within the ICT field of Maldives
• Challenges faced by women in ICT Field
• Existing policies, if any, related to empowering women in ICT.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Scope and diversity of assignment:

The assignment will require the Consultant to work closely with the MCST team in achieving the following deliverables:

Specific milestones:

1. Brief work plan on how the consultant envisage undertaking the task.
2. Initial assessment of gender wise ICT participation in the country (what does exist, which sub sector, and at what level).
3. Determine the scope, capacity gaps and feasible timeline for the task at hand to be completed
4. Conduct stakeholder consultation regarding the establishment of an online survey format and measurement framework
5. Study Report, including Proposed programs and activities, in alignment with Strategic Action Plan 2019-2023, to increase participation.

Output:

-          Detailed Desk review of existing data (disaggregated by age group, sex, locality, industry, subsector of ICT (where applicable)) from stakeholders by  2020

-          Online survey format by 17^th November 2020 and results by 24^th December 2020

-          Framework for measurement of participation in ICT field by 24^th December 2020

-          Distribution of workforce/potential workforce over the country by 07 Jan 2021. (Includes expat work force as well)

-          Trainings held and required knowledge and skills established within MCST and relevant task team on use as well as further development of measurement framework by 07 Jan 2021

-          Capacity built in MCST for use of collected data, dissemination, at required level of disaggregation (national, Atoll, island etc) by 07 Jan 2021

-          Baseline Study Report by 14 Jan 2020.

Note: Further details of the output document will be discussed with the selected consultant

Duration and working schedule:

82 Days (including public holidays) / 58 Working days:

a)    3 phases:

i-              Phase 1: initial assessment, stakeholder consultation, kick start desk review, and formulation of online survey format – 24 days

ii-             Phase 2: detailed data gathering, online survey, workforce analysis – 44 Days

iii-            Phage 3: Data Analysis and Reporting, trainings, and presentation of findings and recommendations – 22 Days

b)    Extended Support (charges per hour)

Place where services are to be delivered:

The consultant will be working remotely, however should walk-in when requested. For extended support, the consultancy will be undertaken in close coordination with the MCST, through remote working. However, the consultant should walk-in when requested.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Milestones, outputs, and deliverable target dates will be finalized upon recruitment.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The Consultant will be briefed and debriefed by MCST and is expected to keep in close contact with the Ministry (and where essential with stakeholders) via email

The Consultant will be responsible for the quality and timeliness of the outputs but will receive support from MCST.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultancy will be managed by MCST, the output will be assessed by MCST and National Bureau of Statistics collectively.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Primary expertise required:

Experience in conducting baseline surveys at national or international level.

Educational background:

Demography, statistics, Gender and Development Studies, or other social sciences.

Work experience:

• Significant experience in conducting detailed desk reviews.
• Integration of statistics data and geospatial information
• Experience in writing academic or policy papers.
• Experience in working on small island nations population and workforce management.
• Experience working with the United Nations, World Bank, or similar organization is desirable
• Gender related working experience of minimum 2 years is desirable

Other competencies:

• Project planning, management, implementation and coordination and evaluation
• Excellent report writing skills, analytical skills as well as good computer skills
• Excellent communication skills in English language, including the ability to pose questions, listen, evaluate and capture opinions, suggestions and comments, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different stakeholders
• Proficiency in statistical soft wares such as STATA, SPSS, etc

Inputs / services to be provided by implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

Consultant:

• Fulfil the terms stipulated in the contract and the ToR through review of data, documents, email communications, Teams calls and meetings
• Maintain close contact by email with MCST
• Communicate any complications regarding the assignment as soon as possible
• Gather data from relevant sources according to agreement timeline
• Provide contact details that allow MCST to get in contact with the Consultant at any time during the consultancy

Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology:

• Assign a focal point to work with the Consultant
• Provide the relevant documents

1. Referral document stating

-          the appointment of consultant

-          nature of consultancy

-          duration of the project

-          request for compliance to the Consultants requests for data, information, reports, policy/procedures/guideline documents required to reach the objects of the study

1. SAP 2019-2023
2. MCST’s internal policies, procedures, and guidelines, including updates therein, to adhere to while executing the responsibilities of this ToR

• Facilitate communications to gather data as required for the report
• Monitor and facilitate the progress of the assignment
• Review and provide comments to the deliverables in a timely manner
• Facilitate necessary contacts
• Make payments upon completion and acceptance of each deliverable

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

The other conditions that may apply in the undertaking of the assignment include:

Basis of payment:

Payments based on acceptance of the deliverables.

Format of outputs:

Editable electronic form

Language of reports/publications and other documentation and working language in country of assignment:

English and Dhivehi

Ownership of output:

Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology

Interested candidates should submit proposal inclusive of fee details to the following address:

Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology
Kalaafaanu hingun
Male'
20064
Maldives

Or applications can be submitted via email through:

[email protected]

Application deadline: before 13:30 hrs of 13th October 2020.

Note: If the submitter is an Individuals submit the CV and relevant educational certificates (attested) and national ID (for locals) or passport copy. If the submitter is a company please submit the attested copy of company registration and if the company is registered for GST, submit the GST registration copy along with the proposal.

For further inquiries please contact + 960 3302200 or email [email protected]