Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

(Selection under Fixed Budget Selection Method: For Selection of IT Training Institute/University for Imparting Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Training

for 200 selected IT Professionals in 05 Provinces of Afghanistan)

Project Name: / Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project
Project ID No: / P121755
World Bank Grant No: / IDA-H-665-AF
Implementing Agency: / Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)
Sector: / Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Name of Assignment: / Consultancy Services for Imparting Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Training
Contract Reference No: / MCIT/ICTDP/P121755/IDA-H-665-AF/C-3.X.5/ Training in 05 Provinces of Afghanistan
Selection Method: / FBS(Selection Under aFixed Budget)
Duration of Assignment: / 04 Months

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the ICT Sector Development Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for these consulting services.

The Consultancy Services (“the Services”) include imparting of Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Training for 200 IT Professionalsin 05 Provinces of Afghanistan by the selected IT Training Institute/University (called Consultant) to the competent and qualified IT Professionals in Afghanistan, under overall directions of Deputy Minister-IT of MCIT.To develop the IT Capacity in the public and private sectors of Afghanistan, a study was undertaken by MCIT under ICT Sector Development Project to assess the Skill gaps of the IT Sector and to formulate a methodology to bridge the gaps as existing now in IT Skills. Recognizing the gaps between the skills demanded by the IT industry in growth areas and the level of skills among Afghan graduates, MCIT has already conducted skills development programs, which were held by IT Training Institutes/Universities/Organizations (Consultants) as selected in 2012, 2013 and 2014. These Consultants successfully conducted the Pilot Phase of the IT Training at Kabul in 2013 and the Advanced Level IT Training at Kabul in 2014 and in first half of 2015. A total of 1500 IT Professionals of the Country have already received advanced Level IT Training in the Country so far, which included 85 % from the Private Sector and 15 % from the Government Sector.

The Consultant will be selected by MCIT under this TORto conduct the Advanced Level Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Training under Scaled up Skills Development Program of MCIT, following the Fixed Budget Selection Process for selection and employment of Consultants. Maximum Budget allocated to this Assignment is 300,000 USD {inclusive ofApplicable Taxes}, for training 200selected IT Professionals in 05 Regional Headquarters of the Country. In major Regional Headquarters of the Country like Mazaar-e-sharief, Heraat and Jalalabad, it is planned to train 50 IT Professionals at each Regional Headquarter and at Kandahar and Kundoz Regional Headquarters, it is planned to train 25 at each Regional HQ.

Thus, Training will be imparted as under:-

1. 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Mazaar-e-sharief;
2. 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Heraat;
3. 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Jalalabad;
4. 25 IT Professionals to be trained in Kandahar;
5. 25 IT Professionals to be trained in Kundoz;

This program will provide 200 IT graduates with an opportunity to improve their skills and become ‘industry-ready’ through training in technical, business, and other ‘soft’ skills (e.g. communication, workplace etiquettes etc). This approach will ensure that there is a tight integration between ongoing academic programs and industry requirements.

This activity will support an approach to build much needed sector skills through partnerships between MCIT and higher education and technical training institutes, in close coordination with Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Education. MCIT will competitively select (based on criteria mentioned in this TOR) IT training center/institution/University (“Consultant”) to deliver the program. The Consultant will train recent and soon-to-be graduates and also selected government staff selected through a competency assessment. Trainers from theConsultant will also be trained under the program as part of a train-the-trainers program. Upon completion of the training, students’ competency will again be tested to verify the performance of the training program and to identify employable graduates for Afghan IT Industry/Organizations to hire.

Brief on World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project (ICTDP) of MCIT:

a)Skills Development Program is being run by MCIT under the World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project (ICTDP). The aim of the ICT Sector Development Project is to expand broadband connectivity, mainstream use of mobile applications across the Government and develop the capacity of the IT sector to facilitate improved service delivery across Afghanistan while accelerating job creation and economic growth. The project will do so by: (a) Creating the enabling environment and making strategic investments for the development of Afghanistan’s backbone and broadband infrastructure; (b) Supporting the mainstreaming of mobile applications across Government by supporting innovations and creation of cross cutting enablers; and (c) Developing local IT infrastructure and capacity in the public and private sectors.

b)Project Development Objectives of ICTDP, with their Output Indicators for each Project Component of the World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project of MCIT are listed below:

The PDO-level results indicators are as follows: / Output Indicator(s) / Baseline (2010) / Proposed targets (2016)
Impact of Consultancy Support / Revised ICT policy adopted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan / 2003 telecom and Internet policy; 2003 ICT policy / Revised policy adopted
Component 1: Expanding connectivity
Expanded reach and availability of telecommunications services and specifically broadband Internet services / Access to internet services (number of subscribers per 100 people) / 3 / 10
Access to telephone services (number of subscriptions per 100 people) / 55 / 80
Length of fibre optic network built under the Project (km) / 0 / 1000
Component 2: Mainstreaming mobile applications
Use of mobile applications across Government for public services and Program management / Number of Government agencies or Programs using m-apps for public service delivery or Program management / 0 / 10
Improved capacity of Government to use IT strategically / Number of ministry CIOs and other officials trained under the Project / 0 / 100
Component 3: IT industry development
Growth of local IT Individual Consultancy Consultant/Organization/Companies and job creation in the IT based services sector / Number of people trained under the Project / 0 / 1500

Brief on the Project Implementation Arrangements of ICTDP:

a)The Project has a centralized management structure. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is the implementing agency for the project. MCIT is implementing a number of sectoral projects funded by the government and other development partners. To manage its portfolio of investment projects better, MCIT has established a Program Implementation and Coordination Unit (PICU) that the Deputy Minister (Technical) of MCIT chairs. A Schematic of PICU is below:

Schematic of Project Implementation and Coordination Unit

b)The Director of the Planning and Policy Department and H.E. DM-ITare the core members of the PICU. The Finance and Procurement Directorates of MCIT provide support to the PICU. This is to ensure further strengthening and sustainability of Program management capacity that has been developed over the last few years within MCIT. Core financial management and procurement functions for the project are handled by the respective departments within MCIT. A Project Management Office (PMO) supports MCIT in implementation of the IDA project. This PMO is part of the established PICU.

Brief on the ICT Sector Growth of Afghanistan:

a)The Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) was established in 2006 for issuance of licenses, monitoring of quality of services provided by the licensees and taking measures towards developing the sector by encouraging private sector investments. Activities of ATRA are mainly based on the Telecom policy developed and adopted by the Minister of Communications and IT on 03 July, 2003 with the vision to develop the Telecom and Internet sector in order to provide affordable and quality services to the citizens of Afghanistan on a nationwide basis.

b)In July 2003, two licenses for GSM Services (in 900 MHz) were issued to Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC) and Telecom Development Company Afghanistan (Roshan). Pursuant to the Policy, they were provided a duopoly on GSM Services until the end of 2005. Based on the fact that the three year term of the two original licenses was about to come to an end, on 21 May 2005, ATRA officially launched an international competitive tender for two additional licenses for GSM Services (and any other services in the assigned 900 and 1800 MHz bands). As a result, two additional GSM licenses were issued in May 2006, one to MTN and another to Etisalat.

c)The former Telecommunication Department of the Ministry of Communications of Afghanistan was taken out of the Ministry of Communications and became a government owned Telecommunications Company which also received a Unified Services license from ATRA in 2005. It was named Afghan Telecom (AFTEL). AFTEL also inherited Fixed Line and Fiber Optic networks. In addition, AFTEL also provides Internet services through its fixed line facilities as well as through WiMAX frequencies allocated to it by ATRA.

d)Since private entry into the Telecom market in 2003, the telecom sector in Afghanistan has grown at a remarkable rate and now approximately 18 million Afghanistan businesses, government entities and consumers have mobile telephone service and over one million users have Internet services. And, the current installation of an AFTEL Fiber Optic ring throughout Afghanistan is connecting Afghanistan with the rest of the World at lower costs for voice and data services. Now, that the basic needs of the people in Afghanistan have been fulfilled, MCIT and ATRA introduced 3G (Third Generation) and Broadband Wireless Services in the country in 2012.

e)Afghan Telecom (AFTEL) is a Telecom Operator, 100 % owned by Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT). It is a Government owned Corporation and planned to be privatized in due course of time. In 2006, Optical Fiber Cable Ring Project was funded by the Government from the Core Development Budget, to establish an OFC Ring of 3100 Kms and again in 2010, another 500 Kms have been funded. AFTEL is the only Operator in Afghanistan currently permitted to own the OFC based Backbone of the Country. The Company is selling Internet Bandwidth by bringing the same from neighboring Countries (Pakistan, Iran, Tajakistan and Uzbekistan) through OFC Backbone. Telecom Operators and ISPs are hiring the OFC based Internet Capacities and the Fiber Capacities from Afghan Telecom.

f)Under the World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project as approved in May, 2011, up to 27 Million USD will be spent to connect 05 Provinces and 13 Districts to the existing OFC Ring of Afghan Telecom. Within next 03 years, it is estimated that all the 34 Provincial Capitals and many Districts will be served by the OFC based Backbone Network. The Backbone is currently owned by Afghan Telecom and in the future may likely be owned or managed by a Private Management Partner.

g)There are about 80 ISPs operating in Afghanistan, providing Internet Services based on different Technologies and the Media. These are in addition to the five GSM Operators (including AFTEL), who also provide Internet Services in the Country.

Scope of this IT Training Assignment, under Scaled up Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Program of MCIT:

• The Consultant will advertize the Training Program widely to attract the students for the program. The target population for this Course would be only Qualified IT Professionals of the Country as under:

(1) Third year and final year university students or recent graduates of engineering and technology programs;

(2) Teachers in such programs in Afghanistan;

(3) Microsoft or Cisco or Oracle Certificate Holders with enough experience in IT fields/disciplines and

(4) With the assistance of the MCIT, IT staff of the Government.

Only nationals of Afghanistan will be eligible for this training. While selecting the Trainees, preference will be given to those who are trying to find Jobs in the ICT Sectors of the Country.

• An approved competency assessment for entry (written test + interview) will be designed and administered by the Consultant at each of the Regional Headquarters, to select trainees for this Course, to be conducted for IT Professionals in the following Provinces:-
• 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Mazaar-e-sharief;
• 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Heraat;
• 50 IT Professionals to be trained in Jalalabad;
• 25 IT Professionals to be trained in Kandahar;
• 25 IT Professionals to be trained in Kundoz.

Aptitude Tests and the Interviews for interested Candidates will be held at the same time and on the same date in all the 05 Provinces as mentioned above. The Course contents will be widely published in each of the Provinces as mentioned above.

• Such a competency assessment scheme and the related documents will be approved by DM-IT of MCIT. Training will be delivered by the Consultant based on the approved curriculum which is based on the Students’ Feedback collected during IT Training held by MCIT in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Trainees will be able to specialize in multiple themes. A crosscutting theme—soft skills development—will also be included for all trainees. Trainees will receive a certificate, potentially endorsed by MCIT, upon successful completion of the Course. Curriculum drawn for this Course of 04 months duration of Training will cover Advanced level topics of each major IT discipline like: Systems Administration; Networking; Cyber Security; Microsoft Technologies; Red Hat; Linux; Data Base Administration; Web Designing and Software Development.

• Total time period available for imparting IT Training to 200 Trainees under Scaled up Job Oriented ICT Skills Development Program of MCIT shall be09 months from the Contract Signature Date. During these available 09 months, the Consultant shall conduct the Course of 4-months duration for200 Trainees in selected 05 Provinces.
• Soft Skills will be taught to all the 200 students of the course, spannedthroughout the Course duration of 04 months.
• The Course having 200 Students will be of 04 months duration, having a total of 264 Training Hours per Trainee in each Province; This is worked out as 03 Training Hours per Day x 22 Working Days in a Month x 04 Months. These 264 Training Hours will also include 36 Hours of Training to be given on Soft Skills {say 9 Hours of Soft Skills Training per month}.
• Training will be run for all the 04 months, for each Trainee to have wide spectrum of knowledge in the following:

Advanced Level Systems Administration Disciplines;

Advanced Level Networking and Cyber Security Disciplines;

Advanced Level Microsoft Technology Disciplines {Including Red Hat and Linux}.

Advanced Level Data Base Administration Disciplines;

Advanced Level Web Designing and DevelopmentDisciplines;

Advanced Level Software Development Diciplines.

Exact Syllabus for the whole Composite Course having 264 Training Hours in total in each Province for each Trainee and covering the above Disciplines will be drawn in consultation with the short-listed Consultants under this Assignment.

• In addition to the IT Skills Development training , each Trainee will be given 36 Hours of training(9 Hours per month) on the following Topics of the Soft Skills: Communication Skills; Self-Development; Team Work; Time Management; Presentation Skills; Problem Solving; Interpersonal Skills; Motivation; E-Mail writing and IT Ethics. These 36 Hours of Training on Soft Skills will be spanned throughout the 4-months of the Course duration (say 9 Hours per month).

• Consultant will establish one Class Room for each Batch of Training, having 25 Trainees per Batch, having at least 25 Computers/Laptops in each Class Room connected in the Networking Mode and all having Internet Facilities and Fail-safe Mode Power Supply. Such Laboratories-cum-Class Rooms will be established by the Consultant in each Province.

• Consultant will provide assistance to find employment for trainees who graduate including through job fairs and matchmaking. Government officials and teachers are expected to return to their employers and will not be eligible for this support.

• Consultant will also provide facilitation for Certificate Examinations like Microsoft Certifications, Cisco Certifications and Oracle Certifications etc.

• Consultant will also pay an Administrative/Transport Allowance of 50 USD per month to each selected Trainee. This Cost is already included in the Fixed Budget Cost of 300,000 USD for this Assignment. This amount of 200 USD will be paid at the end of the Course by the Consultant only to those Trainees who have an average attendance of 90 % in the Course duration of 04 months{ Trainee should have attended 237 Training Hours out of 264 Hours}

• Consultant will also cater for special Incentive Schemes to attract Qualified IT Professionals (Females) of the Provinces to undergo the IT Skills Development Course. Cost on account of these attractive Schemes shall also be included in the Fixed Budget Cost of 300,000 USD as established for this Assignment.

• Consultant will prepare monthly reports for the DM-IT and the PMO of ICTDP of MCIT on the conduct of the training during the month, outputs, outcomes, and strategic lessons learnt during each month.

Key personnel to be dedicated for the Assignment:

While the number of trainers will depend on the training curriculum and modules to be provided in each Province, the Consultant should at a minimum have the following:

• Project Manager for each Province: Should be a well qualified IT Professional with minimum experience of 10 years in managing and running similar training programs. Should have a good understanding of the local job market and demonstrated experience of working in the ICT industry in general. Should have demonstrated understanding of soft skills required by all employers.

• 03 Master Trainers in each Province: Minimum of five years of training experience in each of the specific disciplines. Possess industry certification in the key areas. Should have demonstrated experience of having conducted courses for both students and trainers. At least one Master Trainer will be required to conduct the training in each of the following in each Province:

Systems Administrator(SA) related Subjects;Networking related Subjects and Cyber Security related subjects;