Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - http://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 90614.

The information and communication technology (ICT) industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina has started to flourish during the past few years and represents a rare growth area in the economy of the country. Immensely competent staff, relatively cheap workforce, a favorable geographical location and adequate Internet and software infrastructure allow the country to compete with the world’s largest ICT powers.

At the same time, globally, innovation became the key differentiator between successful and unsuccessful companies, and the contemporary competition between countries is fueled by their R&D capacity. Many countries have increased investment in R&D and have used innovation policy as a counter-cyclical instrument to economic downturn, to secure new sources of sustainable growth.

Currently, the knowledge base of research and technology to foster new sources of competitiveness in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the ICT sector, is extremely under-developed, which hinders the potential for growth and contributes to brain drain. Key obstacles include low expenditure and investment in R&D and almost non-existing policy, fiscal or legal tools to incentivize stronger engagement of the ICT sector in R&D. The country’s estimated total allocations for R&D amounts to less than 0.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (compared to 2.15 % in the European Union).

Strengthening the link between business and research is part of the Science and Technology Strategy of Republika Srpska 2017-2021, as well as of the E-Government Strategy 2019-2022, which sets the long-term direction and priorities that aim to set in function an e-governance system based on advanced ICT infrastructure, launch of e-services and enhanced human capacities in this domain. Both strategies are implemented by the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska.

Against this background, the Consultant will support the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, particularly its Sector for Information Society, and conduct a robust legal and policy analysis that will help identify a portfolio of viable public measures (policy, legal/tax, financial, etc.) that can stimulate  R&D and innovation in the ICT sector in the short- to mid-term.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based on request for support by the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, UNDP will deploy quality expert to support the thorough review of existing relevant RD-related policy and legal framework in the country, as well as in the entity of Republika Srpska and identify specific measures that can foster engagement of ICT companies in R&D, thus contributing to innovative economy and development in general, while increasing economic opportunities for the industry.

More specifically, the Consultant will perform the following specific tasks:

Conduct a participatory review of the existing R&D-related policy and legal frameworks and identify opportunities and gaps that can be translated into policy measures:

• Review and analyze the existing R&D-related policy and legal frameworks in the country and specifically in Republika Srpska (including strategic, policy/public measures/, fiscal, legal/tax, etc.), with a particular lens linked to R&D in the ICT sector.
• Organize a series of discussions with ICT sector representatives to capture their perspective and solicit ideas.
• Based on the assessment, identify strategic gaps and/or opportunities that can be addressed by new/revised policy/legal/fiscal frameworks and public tools. In identifying the gaps and opportunities, the Consultant should bear in mind the general standards and good practices in the European Union in regard to R&D in the private sector and specifically – in the ICT industry. 

The analysis will be conducted in close interaction with UNDP and the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, and will also entail discussions with representatives from all relevant institutions and ICT sector. The work under this Constancy will be captured in a sharp and thorough Analytical Report, which should include (but may not be limited to) the following chapters:

• (i) Introduction and purpose of the analysis
• (ii) Methodology
• (iii) Analysis of the environment that relate to R&D and specifically – to R&D in the   private sector:
  • Policies and strategies at state and at the level of Republika Srpska;
  • Regulatory framework at state and at the level of Republika Srpska;
  • Fiscal (tax, credits) and policy (public grants and support schemes, etc.) incentives in Republika Srpska.
  • The voice of the ICT sector: challenges and opportunities for its engagement in R&D.
• (iv) Overview of strategic gaps and/or opportunities that can be addressed by new/revised policy/legal/fiscal frameworks and public tools.

It is envisaged that this task will take place in March 2020 and will not exceed 10 expert days.

Apply analytical foresight to anticipate the social, economic and environmental effects and impacts of the potential strategic measures

• Further, the Consultant is expected to apply analytical foresight for each of the identified strategic gap/opportunity and forecast the potential social, economic and environmental effects and impacts (e.g. through basic economic modelling, quantitative forecasting) if each of these is applied in practice, with focus on gender equality aspect.

• The Consultant will then propose one, or a combination of strategic measures for stimulating R&D and innovation in ICT sector, which will evidently have positive social, economic and environmental effects and impact.

• These efforts will be captured within the Analytical Report through the following chapters:

(v) Analytical foresight for the identified potential measures and forecasts for their potential social, economic and environmental effects and impact.

(vi) Preliminary set of proposed structural, strategic measures (regulatory, policy,  fiscal, etc.) which can evidently stimulate R&D in the ICT sector, which are in the direct jurisdiction of Republika Srpska entity.

It is envisaged that this task will take place in April 2020 and will not exceed 25 expert days.

Participatory definition of the final portfolio of proposed measures that will stimulate R&D and innovation in the ICT sector:

• Present the preliminary set of proposed structural, strategic measures to the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, as well as to ICT sector representatives;
• Make necessary adjustments based on the feedback with stakeholders and prepare the final set of proposed structural measures.
• For each measure, develop the main types of law amendments, or the description of the new/revised policy incentive, etc., which will then serve as roadmap for further action by authorities.
• These efforts will be captured within the final chapter of the Analytical Report titled:

(vii) Final set of proposed structural, strategic measures which can evidently stimulate R&D in the ICT sector accompanied by description of legal changes/scope of measures, which are in the direct jurisdiction of Republika Srpska entity.

It is envisaged that this task will take place in May 2020 and will not exceed 5 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Core values:

• Innovation;
• Critical thinking;
• Ability to make new and useful ideas work;

Leadership:

• Ability to persuade others to follow;

People Management:

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;
• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform;

Delivery:

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement;

Technical/Functional:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands;
• Excellent ability to multi-task in a high-demand and fast-paced work context;
• Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the office;
• Ability to conceptualize, write and present in a clear and concise manner;

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Expertise and knowledge in the field of R&D and innovation in the private sector;
• Strong knowledge of legal and policy measures applied to successfully incentivize R&D and innovation in the private sector, specifically – within the ICT industry.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• Advanced university degree in economics, law, finances, accounting or related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the area of R&D and innovation in public and private sectors;
• Knowledge of and proven previous experience in applying analytical foresight and modelling for policy design and delivery;
• Previous experience in analysis and recommendations related to public measures to stimulate R&D and innovation in the private sector, and specifically – in the ICT industry in the Western Balkans is a unique asset.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in English.
• Understanding of the official languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian) is a unique asset.   

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Final Evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
• Proposal:
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant;
  •  Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.