Output Indicator(s) Revised ICT policy adopted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Transcription

1 Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT); Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Terms of Reference Development of plan for efficient Utilization of Telecom Development Fund for Tele-medicine and Tele-education Networks of Afghanistan BASIC DATA: COUNTRY: NAME OF THE PROJECT: SECTOR: CONTRACT TYPE: DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT: DUTY STATION: CONTRACT REFERENCE NO: WORLD BANK GRANT NO: PROJECT ID NO: IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Afghanistan Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project Information Communication Technology Individual Consultancy Contract Lump Sum 3 months Kabul, Afghanistan MCIT/ICTDP/P121755/IDA-H-655-AF/C1.7 IDA-H-655 P Project Implementation and Coordination Unit (PICU) of MCIT

2 1) Background: a) 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 to hire a qualified Individual Consultant to provide Consultancy Support on Efficient Utilization of Telecom Development Fund for Tele-medicine and Tele-education Networks of Afghanistan. This Consultancy Support will be provided to Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) under the World Bank funded Project of MCIT Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project. b) 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. c) Project Development Objectives 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: Impact of Consultancy Support Component 1: Expanding connectivity Expanded reach and availability of telecommunications services and specifically broadband Internet services Output Indicator(s) Revised ICT policy adopted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Access to internet services (number of subscribers per 100 people) Access to telephone services (number of subscriptions per 100 people) Length of fibre optic network built under the Project (km) Component 2: Mainstreaming mobile applications Use of mobile Number of Government applications across agencies or programs using Government for public m-apps for public service services and program delivery or program management management Baseline (2010) 2003 telecom and Internet policy; 2003 ICT policy Proposed targets (2016) Revised policy adopted Page 2 of 9

3 The PDO-level results indicators are as follows: Improved capacity of Government to use IT strategically Component 3: IT industry development Growth of local IT Individual Consultants and job creation in the IT based services sector Output Indicator(s) Number of ministry CIOs and other officials trained under the Project Number of people trained under the Project Baseline (2010) Proposed targets (2016) ) Project Implementation Arrangements: 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 PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE (PSC) for the Project on ICT SECTOR DEVLEOPMENT PROJECT of Afghanistan Program Implementation and Coordination Unit (PICU) Chairman of PICU: H.E. Engineer. Baryalai Hassam, Deputy Minister - Technical of Communications and IT Project Management Office Project Management Specialist Financial Management Specialist Procurement Specialist M & E Specialist Communications specialist Other Specialists/Experts of PMO Mr. Ajmal Ayan- Policy and Planning Director of MCIT Engr. Aimal Marjan- DG-ICT of MCIT Engr. Wakil Shergul- Chairman-ATRA [Co-opted Member] Mr. Mir Ab. Rahman Sadri- Procurement Director of MCIT Engr. Gul Ahmad Rastman- CEO of Af. Telecom Page 3 of 9 Mr. Kabir Ataee- Finance Director of MCIT

4 b) The Directors of the Planning and Policy Department and ICT Department are 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. 3) Brief on Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority and the Telecom Growth: 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 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 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 privatization of Telecom market in 2003, the telecom sector in Afghanistan has grown at a remarkable rate and now approximately 16 million Afghanistan businesses, government entities and consumers have mobile telephone service and over one million users have Internet service. 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 are considering the introduction of 3G (Third Generation) Broadband Mobile Services in the country, all of the current mobile operators in Afghanistan have expressed interest in acquiring 3G spectrum frequency licenses. Page 4 of 9

5 e) Afghan Telecom (AFTEL) is a Telecom Operator, 100 % owned by Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT). It is a Government owned Corporation 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 permitted to own the OFC based Backbone of the Country. The Company is selling Internet Bandwidth by bringing the same from neighboring Countries 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, another 27 Million USD will be spent to connect 05 Provinces and 13 Districts to the existing OFC Ring of Afghan Telecom. Within next 02 years, it is estimated that all the 34 Provincial Capitals and many Districts will be served by the OFC based Backbone which is owned by Afghan Telecom. 4) Brief on Telecom Development Fund (TDF): a) Immediately after the introduction of private participation in the Afghan Telecom market, the Government very correctly realized that the telecom operators may expand their networks to areas where there was opportunity for quick returns on their investments. The areas with not so dense population and/or with not so much business opportunities would lag in coverage and as a result, the people of these areas would not be able to benefit from the telecom services. b) To follow the best practices in other parts of the world, MCIT included in the GSM licenses an obligation to pay 2.5% of the net revenues earned by Mobile Operators as a contribution for the Telecom Development Fund (TDF) of the Government. (This fund, in some other countries, is called the Universal Services Fund). c) In , ATRA has utilized TDF to extend Telecom services to around 120 underserved districts of the country and has also supported the ICT Institute (ICTI) which is the only Telecom and IT institute in the country. d) In 2011, ATRA plans to extend the Telecom services to over one hundred new districts and also plans to provide connectivity to a number of schools and the universities. It is also planned to extend support to the Ministry of Public Heath for establishment of Tele- Medicine facilities in remote hospitals of the Country. 5) Objective of the Consultancy Assignment: The objective of the assignment is to provide consultancy support to plan efficient Utilization of Telecom Development Fund for Tele-medicine and Tele-education Networks of Afghanistan. This Consultancy Support will be provided to Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) and to MCIT at Kabul. Page 5 of 9

6 6) Scope of Work: The Individual Consultant will execute the following tasks: Overall scope of work The Consultant shall provide high-quality strategic and technical support to the ATRA Board on the design and implementation of projects supported by the TDF. In particular, the Consultant shall provide technical support to the ATRA Board and the TDF Department on the design and implementation of tele-medicine and tele-education programs. Specific tasks and associated deliverables to be completed The Consultant shall undertake the following tasks: 1. General strategic advisory services: a. Identify international best practices on the use of TDF-type funds to support the education or health sectors in other countries with a specific focus on developing countries; b. Provide recommendations to ATRA regarding the use of TDF to support the education or health sectors; c. Draft and develop charts and norms for quality of service which will be expected from the telecommunication service providers in the country for services provided under the TDF supported programs; 2. Support the development and implementation of TDF-supported programs in education: a. Define the scope of programs to be supported with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education in terms of supporting the access of schools and universities to ICT networks and services; b. Draft program documents with the guidance of the ATRA Board and the TDF Department for consultation with the Ministries and with stakeholders on the scope of the program; c. Finalize with the consent and guidance of the ATRA Board and the TDF Department the program for TDF support in education; d. Draft rules and procedures, based on best practices in the developed countries on various aspects of provision of ICT-enabled education services in Afghanistan; e. Draft MoUs between the MCIT/ATRA and the Ministries of Education and Higher Education; f. Development of program implementation documents; g. Support ATRA and the relevant ministries in the execution of the program through the pilot or initial stages; 3. Support the development and implementation of TDF-supported programs in public health: Page 6 of 9

7 a. Define the scope of programs to be supported with the Ministry of Public Health in terms of supporting the access of schools and universities to ICT networks and services; b. Draft program documents with the guidance of the ATRA Board and the TDF Department for consultation with the Ministry and with stakeholders on the scope of the program; c. Finalize with the consent and guidance of the ATRA Board and the TDF Department the program for TDF support in health; d. Draft rules and procedures, based on best practices in the developed countries on various aspects of provision of ICT-enabled health services in Afghanistan; e. Draft MoUs between the MCIT/ATRA and the Ministry of Public Health; f. Development of program implementation documents; g. Support ATRA and the relevant ministries in the execution of the program through the pilot or initial stages; 4. Capacity building support a. Help the relevant ministries build capacity in their departments, and b. Advise ATRA on other issues related to Tele-projects. 7) Deliverables and Reporting Requirements: The Consultant should submit the following deliverables to ATRA/MCIT at Kabul: a) Inception Report: To be submitted within 01 week of the assignment. This should include a detailed workplan and methodology for the assignment. b) Initial Report: To be submitted within 04 weeks after joining the Assignment. This should include: i) Results of the consultations done with the Ministry of Public Health and analysis of exact requirements for Tele-medicine Networks. ii) Results of the consultations done with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and analysis of exact requirements for Tele-education Networks. iii) Document on program scope and implementation timetable for both health and education programs. c) Mid-Term Report: To be submitted within 09 weeks after joining the Assignment. This should include: i) Technical Specifications and the location requirements of the Communication Nodes to be established for Tele-medicine and Tele-education Networks. ii) SOPs and the MOUs to be signed between ATRA, MCIT, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education at Kabul, for establishing needed Networks by utilizing the TDF. iii) Draft bidding documents. d) Final Report: To be submitted within 12 weeks after joining the Assignment. This should include: i) The Bidding Documents to be used by ATRA to establish Tele-medicine and Teleeducation Networks by utilizing TDF. Page 7 of 9

8 ii) Final Report of the Consultant, covering all the aspects of the Assignment. e) Other deliverables: These include weekly and monthly briefings to the MCIT, ATRA and the World Bank Teams at Kabul. All the reports as outlined above shall: be written such that they stand alone, without the reader needing to refer to other documents; shall include a dated cover letter with the distribution list, and shall note key issues of interest in the report for management s attention; Report should be submitted to ATRA and MCIT on time in hard and soft copy. Comments on all draft reports will be provided within one week of receipt, after which it shall be assumed there will be no further comments for accommodation in finalizing the report. 8) Timelines and payment schedule The Consultant will complete the assignment in 12 Weeks, after joining the Assignment at Kabul and shall be paid as per the following schedules: Milestone Timeline (number of weeks from Assignment Commencement Date) Payment schedule (% of total contract amount) Delivery of inception report 01 10% of contract amount Deliery of Initial report 04 20% of contract amount Delivery of Mid-Term Report 09 30% of Contract amount Delivery of Final Report 12 40% of Contract amount TOTAL 12 weeks 100% Milestones will be considered complete only upon the acceptance and formal approval of the designated ATRA and MCIT staff. All payments will be paid within 30 days from date of formal approval. 9) Qualifications Requirement: a) The Individual Consultant should have Engineering Degree in Telecom/Electronics and Communications/IT from any well recognized University, with at least 07 years of experience in planning and designing of Telecom and Data Networks. b) The Individual Consultant should have working experience of at least 03 years in formulation of inter-ministerial MOUs and the Business Plans for efficient utilization of the Government Funds under similar circumstances. c) The Individual Consultant should have demonstrated experience in designing the Network Architectures for Satellite based and Microwave media based Networks. d) The consultant should have practical experience working on universal service fund issues, tele-education and tele-health issues. Page 8 of 9

9 e) The Individual Consultant should be willing to travel to Kabul (Afghanistan) for the accomplishment of this task. 10) Facilities and Support that will be provided by the client: ATRA shall provide the following support: A suitable working space within a secure room inside the ATRA Complex. Internet connectivity in Office. Facilitation of entry visa. Relevant background documents. Facilitate and arrange for meeting with relevant stakeholders and partners. Vehicle for mobility during working hours A counterpart staff in ATRA s TDF division. Page 9 of 9

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