Call for Digital Platform Expert(s) – EuroMed Clusters Forward

Posted on February 3, 2025
Overview

Context & Background

About Berytech:

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.

 

About Euromed Clusters Forward:

ECF is a 4-year project that aims at establishing and improving clusters legal policies, strengthening clusters capacity & regional cooperation, and strengthening regional value chains. Berytech is the implementing partner of ECF in Lebanon, that is funded by the European Union and coordinated by Anima Investment Network with 3 implementing partners and 9 affiliates from the Euromed region.

 

About Cluster Booster:

Cluster Booster is a technical assistance activity under the Euromed Clusters Forward led by Berytech. It aims at strengthening the skills of cluster managers, staff, and SME members in the South Mediterranean region. This 18-month program offers training and technical help to help clusters grow and succeed.

Key focuses include establishing and improving the governance and sustainability models; developing strategies to attract new members; analyzing value chains for better market positioning; scaling-up their business performances and enhancing technological and innovation capabilities to foster North-South Mediterranean collaboration.

 

Cluster Overview:

An Egyptian NGO, founded in 2012, focused on the development of the renewable energy and energy efficiency market in Egypt by supporting and bringing together industrial, public and private institutions, and companies operating in this field. It ambitions to achieve five strategic objectives: Promoting the sustainable energy concept among different stakeholders, advocating for initiatives/changes in policies related to sustainable energy, delivering capacity-building activities for organizations working in the field of sustainable energy, becoming a house of expertise in sustainable energy-related matters, and facilitating access to finance for organizations working in the field of sustainable energy.

 

Scope of Work

The consultant/expert will:

  • Organize interviews with the cluster’s management team to better understand the scope of the assignment and their needs in terms of digital services.
  • Translate the collected needs into a tech solution with key features and core functionalities.
  • Clearly describe the different services that will be offered by the digital platform.
  • Determine the different user profiles and map their various journeys.  
  • Define the needed data structure and the data governance aspects (i.e. security, privacy, localization, redundancy, recovery, ownership, and sharing).
  • Propose a basic architecture and technical specifications for the platform.
  • Identify the potential risks and challenges for the design and the implementation of the digital platform.
  • Devise an implementation plan with well-sequenced steps from the inception to the full operationalization of the platform.
  • Compile all the platform’s components into a concept proposal.
  • Map and select potential platform development partners.
  • Share the concept proposal with the selected IT development companies.
  • Secure introductory meetings with at least three interested IT development services providers and obtain their quotations.
  • Assist the cluster in choosing the most suitable platform development partner.

 

Expected Deliverables

  • A comprehensive and detailed concept proposal that includes, among other things:  
    • The digital platform’s objectives
    • The key features, core functionalities, and main services that will be offered by the online portal
    • The user profiles and their different journeys
    • The data structure and data governance aspects
    • The basic architecture and technical specifications
    • The risk analysis
    • The implementation plan
  • A mapping and a ranking of the potential IT firms that can design and develop the digital platform
  • At least 3 meetings with interested IT development services providers
  • 3 different quotations for the platform development costs.

 

Timeline:

The total number of working days allocated for this consultancy is set at 40 days.

 

Activity:

  • Collecting the needs of the cluster in terms of digital services
  • Due Date: 02 March
  • Developing a first draft of the concept proposal
  • Due Date: 16 March
  • Elaborating the final concept proposal
  • Due Date: 30 March
  • Mapping and ranking the potential IT development services providers
  • Due Date: 06 April
  • Reaching out to the potential platform development partners and securing introductory meetings
  • Due Date: 16 April  
  • Collecting three quotations
  • Due Date: 23 April
  • Assisting the cluster in in choosing the most suitable platform development partner
  • Due Date: 30 April

Qualifications

  • An IT/software consultancy firm/consortium of individual consultants/individual consultant with at least 7 to 10 years of experience in the development of specifications for software applications, digital platforms, and dynamic websites.
  • A proven track record in providing advisory services in the domain of tech solutions design and development to non-governmental organizations.
  • A sound experience in the virtual platforms and web applications fields.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with the different stakeholders to understand their requirements, their pain points, and their feedback. 
  • Fluency in English and Arabic.

 

Budget

Up to 10,000 EUR

 

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your proposal (technical and financial), agenda of activities, along with your resume and work/ project portfolio by email to: procurement@berytech.org before February 24, 2025, BoD with the subject: Cluster Booster – Digital Platform Expert(s)

The Application should include:

  • Technical proposal describing the methodology, content of the mission
  • Financial proposal describing the costs incurred in preparing and providing the mission. The financial proposal shall be quoted in EURO.
  • CVs of the individuals involved

The shortlisted candidates will be contacted by March 01, 2025.

Berytech is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, valuing diversity and ethical conduct as keys to our collective success.

About Berytech

Berytech is an ecosystem for entrepreneurs, providing a dynamic environment for the creation and development of startups and SMEs, fostering innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in Lebanon.