Result of Service

Expected Outputs The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• An Inception Report for the Digital Readiness Assessment process across the four implementing countries, covering the approach to engaging across all four countries, including finalized methodology, assessment framework aligned with the ITU Digital Transformation Wheel and complementary frameworks, stakeholders mapping and preliminary data sources, including a plan for collaboration with the National Consultant, clearly defining respective roles and responsibilities, guidance, coordination and inputs to the development of the four national Inception Report by the national consultants.
• Documented guidance, feedback, oversight andr coordination provided to four national consultants throughout the process for the development of the four Digital Readiness Assessments at the national level.
• A Draft Synthesized Digital Readiness Assessment Report consolidating findings from the four national Digital Readiness Assessments and structured through the Access, Adoption and Value Creation dimensions, incorporating cross-country analysis, findings and preliminary recommendations.
• Consolidated summary of outcomes from the four national stakeholder workshops, including key inputs and feedback from national stakeholders to inform the refinement of the Digital Readiness Assessments. Technical review and quality assurance comments on the Draft and Final Digital Readiness Assessment Reports prepared by the four national consultants, ensuring methodological consistency and analytical coherence across countries. Final Synthesized Digital Readiness Assessment Report prepared in collaboration with the National Consultants, incorporating input, comments and finalized recommendations. Key Tasks and Deliverables The following provides an overview of the key tasks to be conducted by the Digital Readiness Assessment Expert/Consultant, in collaboration with the national consultants. Tasks: 1) Inception and coordination: Lead initial set-up of the Digital Readiness Assessment process across the four implementing countries, including finalization of the methodology, analytical framework, stakeholder mapping, confirmation of data sources, and coordination with the National Consultants on assessment tools, scope, timeline and division of responsibilities. 2) Ongoing coordination, oversight guidance and quality assurance: Regular coordination with four national consultants on progress against timeline and agreed division of responsibilities. Provide continuous technical oversight, methodological guidance and structured review of draft outputs produced by the National Consultants to ensure consistency, comparability and adherence to agreed timelines. 3) Desk review and baseline assessment: Review national digital strategies, policies, laws, institutional arrangements and existing initiatives related to digital government, ICT and digital economy, including relevant UNSDCF and UN partner documents and existing diagnostics and conduct comparative analysis to ensure cross-country coherence and alignment with the agreed analytical framework. Work undertaken in collaboration with national consultants, with clear agreement on division of research areas, and provision of regular guidance. 4) Data collection and stakeholder consultations: Supervise the National Consultants on methodology and data collection for both qualitative and quantitative data on digital readiness across Access, Adoption, and Value Creation dimensions. and review collected data to ensure completeness, reliability and alignment with the agreed analytical framework. 5) National Workshops: Participate virtually and co-moderate in national workshops, supporting the national consultants in preparing workshop presentation, and collecting feedback and input from all participants, to ensure the final Digital Readiness Assessments (both at the national level and synthesized version) incorporate all inputs from stakeholders. 6) Provide technical guidance and supervise the national consultants on analysis and drafting of country inputs: Analyze collected data, identify gaps, bottlenecks, and cross-cutting issues (including interoperability, data sharing, cybersecurity, inclusion, and sustainability), and contribute country-level analysis and preliminary recommendations. 7) Validation and finalization: Provide final technical review and quality assurance of the four National Digital Readiness Assessment Reports and preparation of a final synthesized Digital Readiness Assessment Report incorporating findings from each of the implementing countries. Deliverables:
• Inception Report for the Digital Readiness Assessment process across the four implementing countries, including finalized methodology, analytical framework and reporting template, stakeholder mapping, data collection plan, timeline, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities between the International and National Consultants.
• Documentation of regular meetings with four national consultants outlining guidance and coordination. Formal written review comments and consolidated technical feedback provided on draft national Digital Readiness Assessment Reports.
• Consolidated desk review summary and baseline inputs on Implementing Countrys digital governance and institutional landscape ensuring coherence and cross-country comparability.
• Data collection notes, including the list of interviewees, proposed interview questions, final interview schedule, interview notes, survey results and consultation summaries. Reviewed and validated consolidated data collection summaries from the four implementing countries, ensuring consistency and adequacy for analytical purposes.
• Engagement in four national workshops, inputs to presentations prepared by four national consultants, and reflection of workshop inputs in synthesized and national-level Digital Readiness Assessments. Preparation of consolidated summaries of stakeholder feedback incorporated into the national and Synthesized Digital Readiness Assessment Reports.
• Reviewed and quality-assured. Four Draft National Digital Readiness Assessment Reports, including findings, gap analysis, and preliminary recommendations.
• Four finalized and quality-assured National Digital Readiness Assessment Reports and one Final Synthesized Digital Readiness Assessment Report consolidating validated findings, stakeholder feedback and comparative analysis. Work Location Remote Expected duration 9 months Duties and Responsibilities Digital transformation is a critical enabler of inclusive growth, institutional effectiveness, resilience and sustainable development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Governments increasingly rely on digital technologies to enhance public service delivery, improve policy coherence, strengthen transparency and accountability, and enable innovation across the economy. However, progress remains uneven, with persistent gaps in connectivity, digital skills, institutional coordination, data governance and cybersecurity. LDCs in Asia such as Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Nepal have made notable gains in digital infrastructure and connectivity, with internet penetration surpassing 50%, well above the LDC average of 34%. These advancements underscore growing readiness across the region to harness digital technologies for development. At the same time, the rapid pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and increasing demand for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) underscore the urgency for LDCs to strengthen institutional frameworks and leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These tools offer transformative potential, including AI for adaptive social protection systems, blockchain for transparent land registries, and IoT for boosting agricultural productivity and resource efficiency. Strategically deployed, such technologies can modernize public service delivery and foster more responsive and resilient governance. The UN Technology Bank for LDCs (UN Technology Bank) in…