Result of Service

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

• Country-level Inception Report for the Digital Readiness Assessment, developed in collaboration with the international consultant, including contextualization of the agreed methodology to Timor-Leste’s context, methodology, assessment framework aligned with the ITU Digital Transformation Wheel and complementary frameworks, stakeholders mapping and preliminary data sources, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities between the national and international Consultants, and a detailed work plan and timeline;
• Draft Digital Readiness Assessment Report, prepared in coordination with the International Consultant, structured including through a framework of Access, Adoption and Value Creation dimensions and incorporating country-level analysis, findings and preliminary recommendations;
• Preparation and delivery of a presentation on the Digital Readiness Assessment at the national stakeholder workshop, provision of substantive and logistical support to the organization and facilitation of the workshop, and preparation of a consolidated summary of stakeholder feedback to ensure that key inputs are reflected in the revised Draft and Final Reports;
• Country-level Final Digital Readiness Assessment Report prepared under the coordination of the International Consultant, who will provide inputs and guidance to the report, incorporating inputs, comments and finalized recommendations, including those received at the national workshop. Key Tasks and Deliverables The following table provides an overview of the key tasks to be conducted by the Digital Readiness Assessment Expert/Consultant. Tasks: 1) Inception and coordination: Support initial set-up of the Digital Readiness Assessment, including stakeholder mapping, confirmation of data sources, and coordination with the International Consultant on assessment tools, scope and timeline. 2) Ongoing coordination: Regular coordination with the international consultants on progress against timeline and agreed division of responsibilities, ensuring alignment with the agreed analytical framework and reporting template, and incorporating technical guidance and review comments provided by the International Consultant. 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, in collaboration with international consultant and provide structured baseline inputs aligned with the agreed analytical framework. 4) Data collection and stakeholder consultations :Conduct interviews, surveys, and consultations with government ministries, public institutions, and relevant stakeholders, including a stakeholder engagement workshop, to collect qualitative and quantitative data on digital readiness across Access, Adoption, and Value Creation dimensions, in collaboration with the international consultant and ensure documentation and consolidation of evidence in line with agreed templates. 5) National Workshops: Provide logistical and substantial support to the national workshops, including delivering a workshop presentation, providing workshop facilitation, and collecting feedback and input from all participants, to ensure the final Digital Readiness Assessments incorporate all inputs from stakeholders. 6) 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: Revise the Draft Timor-Leste Digital Readiness Assessment Report based on stakeholder feedback and formal review comments provided by the International Consultant, and finalize the report. Deliverables:
• Development of the national-level Inception Report, including stakeholder mapping, data collection plan, and agreed roles and responsibilities between the national and international consultant.
• Documentation of regular meetings with international consultant outlining agreements and coordination.
• Desk review summary and baseline inputs on Timor-Lestes digital governance and institutional landscape, developed with guidance and inputs from the international consultant.
• Data collection notes, including the list of interviewees, proposed interview questions, final interview schedule, interview notes, survey results and consultation summaries.
• Logistical and substantive support to the national workshop, delivery of workshop presentation and summarizing workshop outcomes in consultation with the International Consultant.
• Draft Timor-Lestes Digital Readiness Assessment Report, including findings, gap analysis, and preliminary recommendations, incorporating inputs from international consultant.
• Validation of inputs/ feedback from stakeholders and final country inputs for the Final Digital Readiness Assessment Report for Timor-Leste, incorporating inputs from the international consultant. 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 the LDCs (UNTB) in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) is implementing a three-year project entitled Promoting Digital Transformation of Selected Asian LDCs for a Sustainable and Resilient Future. The project covers Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal and Timor-Leste. Using a whole-of-government approach, this project aims to contribute towards addressing systemic barriers by providing targeted support to national strategies, inclusive digital ecosystems, and regional knowledge cooperation. It builds on the work of the UN system, which have supported digital transformation efforts in the selected LDCs. The present TORs are for conducting a digital readiness assessment in Timor-Leste, using a whole-of-government methodology and informed by initial national-level stakeholder engagement and consultations. The assessment will be developed in collaboration with an international consultant, who will support the development of Readiness Assessments in the four implementing countries. Roles and responsibilities between the National and International Consultants will be clearly delineated and further elaborated in the respective Inception Reports. The digital readiness assessments will…