Ref.
2025/FDAPECA/13294
Job offer type
Experts
Type of contract
Service contract
Deadline date
2025/06/22 23:59
Duration of the assignment
Beaded expertise
Duration
3-6 months
Central Asia - Digital projects prospection expert (M/W)
Departement Economie Durable et Inclusive - EDIN > Pôle Entreprenariat et Innovation
Published on : 2025/06/05
ASIE
KAZAKHSTAN
CENTRAL ASIAN CAPITALS
Mission description
The primary objective of this consultancy is to support Expertise France and AFD’s strategic engagement in Central Asia’s digital transformation by conducting a structured prospection effort aimed at identifying concrete opportunities for feasibility studies and/or workshops that advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital development.
1. Identify opportunities for feasibility studies and/or workshop activities in Central Asia aligned with D4D and AFD strategic priorities.
2. Establish and strengthen relationships with AFD offices, relevant governmental bodies, regional organizations, development partners, and civil society stakeholders.
3. Propose and support the design of potential activities to be submitted for funding under the FEXTE mechanism.
4. Contribute to the strategic visibility and positioning of Expertise France and AFD as key partners in the digital transformation of Central Asia.
Under the supervision of Expertise France's Project Manager and in coordination with the AFD regional offices, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks:
1. Mapping and diagnostics
a. Conduct a mapping of national and regional digital strategies, ongoing reforms, and major digital development initiatives (e.g., e-Government programs, data infrastructure projects, cybersecurity initiatives).
b. Identify and establish contact with key stakeholders (ministries, digital agencies, regulators, sectoral ministries, regional bodies).
c. Analyze regional needs and gaps where FEXTE-funded studies, technical assistance, or workshops could add value.
2. Stakeholder engagement
a. Facilitate bilateral meetings and stakeholder dialogues with AFD offices, national and regional authorities, and development partners.
b. Conduct targeted interviews and/or informal consultations with key informants and organize exploratory workshops if appropriate.
c. Gather and compile intelligence on government priorities, donor activities, and market trends relevant to digital development.
3. Opportunity identification
a. Identify 3-5 concrete opportunities for action (e.g., feasibility studies, technical assistance, training workshops), formulate into structured opportunities.
b. For each opportunity, propose an initial outline covering objectives, context, added value, potential counterparts, risks, and preliminary budget estimates.
4. Strategic advisory
a. Provide strategic advice and actionable recommendations to Expertise France and AFD on prospection strategy in Central Asia for digital development topics.
b. Provide recommendations on entry points for future engagement and long-term cooperation perspectives.
5. Reporting
a. Submit regular progress updates (biweekly written notes).
b. Deliver a final Prospection Report summarizing activities, findings, and concrete proposals.
The Consultant will adopt a pragmatic, context-sensitive approach, maintaining flexibility to adapt as new information and opportunities emerge. The main deliverables are as follows:
|
Deliverable |
Description |
Timeline |
Expected outcome |
|
Inception note |
Workplan, list of stakeholders, proposed engagement methodology |
Week 1 |
Clear and actionable roadmap for prospection activities |
|
Mid-term Progress note |
Summary of initial findings and stakeholder contacts |
Week 3 |
Adjusted engagement strategy based on early insights |
|
Opportunity identification report |
Structured proposals for 3–5 priority opportunities, validated through stakeholder consultation and preliminary feasibility assessment |
Week 5 |
Strategic entry points for EF/AFD interventions identified |
|
Final prospection report |
Full synthesis of diagnostics, engagements, opportunities, recommendations |
Week 7 |
Consolidated action plan and strategic positioning advice |
Project or context description
Expertise France (EF), under the mandate of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is implementing the "FEXTE Digital for Development (D4D) Asia-Pacific" program. This initiative aims to discover opportunities for AFD to strengthen digital ecosystems in emerging and developing countries in Asia-Pacific through feasibility studies, knowledge exchange workshops within the scope of the FEXTE. The FEXTE deals with 3 major areas of interventions which are: digital connectivity and infrastructure (including management of e-waste), digital governance and transformation, and artificial intelligence and geospatial data usage.
Within the framework of this program, Central Asia (notably Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) has emerged as a strategic region with high potential for digital development cooperation. The countries in this region are undertaking reforms and investments in digital government, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data governance, presenting opportunities for EF and AFD to engage through studies, technical assistance, or workshops.
Central Asia presents a dynamic yet complex digital landscape, characterized by growing investments in digital government services, national broadband infrastructure, cybersecurity frameworks, and innovation ecosystems. However, persistent challenges remain, including unequal access to digital services between urban and rural areas, fragmented governance structures, limited cybersecurity capacities, and varying levels of digital literacy across the region. Addressing these challenges through well-designed cooperation activities will be essential to foster inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
To identify, develop, and support such opportunities, Expertise France seeks to recruit a locally-based Prospection Consultant.
Required profile
Minimum Qualifications
· University degree in Digital Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Development Studies, ICT, or related fields.
· Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in digital development, public sector reform, donor-funded projects, or strategic consulting.
· Demonstrated knowledge of Central Asian institutional landscapes, political economy, and digital sector ecosystems.
· Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, diagnostics, opportunity scoping, and drafting technical proposals.
· Fluency in English (spoken and written) is mandatory; proficiency in Russian is a strong asset; proficiency in French is welcomed but not mandatory.
· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently with limited supervision.
· Previous collaboration with international partners (e.g., AFD, EU, World Bank, UN agencies) highly desirable.
Soft Skills
· Analytical and strategic thinking.
· Ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely.
· Cultural sensitivity and diplomatic engagement capacity.
· Strong organizational and reporting skills.
· Ability to build trustful relationships with diverse institutional stakeholders.
· Capacity to adapt and perform effectively in complex and evolving environments.
Additional information
Duration and level of effort
The consultancy is estimated at 45~60 working days over a three-month period.
The Consultant will be remunerated at a local expert daily rate, in accordance with Expertise France and AFD regulations.
Location
The Consultant will be based in one of the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or Turkmenistan), with flexibility to travel locally and regionally if required. Remote work arrangements are acceptable, with periodic in-person engagements as required.
Contract management and supervision
The Consultant will report directly to Ms. Andreea Musca, FEXTE D4D Asia-Pacific Project Manager (Expertise France, Paris), and Mr. Hieu Danh Luu, Project Coordinator (Expertise France, Hanoi), and in close coordination with the AFD regional offices.
Close coordination will be maintained with:
1. Expertise France Headquarters (Paris)
2. AFD regional offices in Central Asia.
3. Other local or international consultants engaged under the D4D program, as appropriate.
All deliverables will be reviewed and validated by Expertise France.
Logistics and support
Expertise France will provide templates for reporting.
AFD offices may assist in facilitating introductions to governmental stakeholders.
Travel and mission costs (if any) will be reimbursed according to Expertise France guidelines and upon prior approval.
Expertise France will provide reasonable support in facilitating access to key documentation and contacts as needed.
Confidentiality
The Consultant shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information obtained during the course of this assignment and shall not use, disclose, or publish such information without prior written authorization from Expertise France.
All reports, data, and materials produced under this consultancy will remain the property of Expertise France and AFD and may not be used for any purpose beyond the scope of this assignment without prior written authorization.
Sustainability and inclusion
In alignment with AFD Group’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, the Consultant shall give due consideration to promoting digital inclusion, gender equality, and climate-resilient digital practices throughout the prospection activities, ensuring that identified opportunities contribute to broader societal and environmental benefits.
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s training/skills/experience
- Candidate’s expected linguistic understanding
- Candidate's knowledges related to local context (country or region intervention)
Deadline for application : 2025/06/22 23:59
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.