Connectivity Research Consultant (Legal Tender - 22531249

Procurement Summary

Country: Switzerland

Summary: Connectivity Research Consultant (Legal and Regulatory)

Deadline: 29 Apr 2018

Posting Date: 18 Apr 2018

Other Information

Notice Type: Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 22531249

Document Ref. No.:

Competition: ICB

Financier: United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership: -

Tender Value: Refer Document

CPV Classification

79111000 - Legal advisory services

Purchaser's Detail

Name: Login to see tender_details

Address: Login to see tender_details

Email: Login to see tender_details

Login to see details

Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Connectivity Research Consultant (Legal and Regulatory).
Background Information:
Connectivity for Refugees is a UNHCR initiative that aims to ensure that refugees regardless of their background, age, or gender, have access to internet connectivity. It started in November 2016 with the launch of research conducted by Accenture Development Partnerships. This showed that a significant impact can be made on the lives of refugees through internet connectivity, in areas of education, livelihoods, communication and as a tool that supports their overall protection.
While UNHCR has been undertaking various projects to enhance the infrastructure available across its operations, in many places significant legal barriers exist which prevent refugees from legally accessing the internet. Alongside this, the UNHCR Identity Management and Registration Service has developed a Digital Identity and Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy and the Connectivity for Refugees initiative recognise the need to find solutions to regulatory barriers that can block refugees legally registering SIM cards or accessing mobile money (KYC requirements), which are often caused by inability of refugees to prove their identity through accepted documentation.
Based a number of stakeholder interviews with UNHCR and other humanitarian actors, the GSMA formulated a policy note on “Enabling Forcibly Displaced Persons to access mobile services by addressing identification barriers” that unpacks issues around KYC requirements, legal access to SIM cards for the forcibly displaced and UNHCR’s registration modalities. UNHCR and the GSMA now wish to expand on this and are seeking a consultant to support country-by-country research to determine specific systematic and policy issues that need to be addressed in each context with a view to developing an advocacy platform to support national authorities successfully adapt their identity and telecommunications frameworks to incorporate refugees.
Research questions are currently being developed that are to be answered through the consultancy. Some examples of such questions might be, for each country:
· Are refugees legally able to register a SIM card? What registration / identification modality is required to facilitate this?
· Are there discrepancies in the different national regimes around identity, SIM card access and KYC requirements vis-a-vis refugees? If so, what are the nature of these discrepancies?
Organizational context:
UNHCR Innovation Service - leading the Connectivity for Refugees initiative - and Identity Management and Registration Service are working closely together with the GSMA to develop a better understanding of the barriers that exist at the national level regarding how refugees can legally access SIM cards and meet KYC requirements for mobile money in a number of priority countries. For the basis of this project the following countries are: Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Angola, DRC, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Kenya, Iran, Bangladesh.
Duties and Responsibilities:
· Develop the framework for the research based on the priority areas defined by UNHCR and the GSMA, including a research questionnaire
· Liaison with UNHCR field offices to determine UNHCR current and planned registration / identity modalities
· Working with regulators and other government agencies to develop a thorough understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing SIM card access for refugees on a country by country basis, and applicability of the respective UNHCR registration approaches as a viable mechanism to meet KYC requirements
· Research and analysis on the information gathered and obstacles / challenges ascertained on a country-by-country basis
· Specific obstacles determined to build and prioritise UNHCR and the GSMA’s advocacy agenda regarding SIM card access to refugees on a country-by-country basis
Core Deliverables (TBC):
· Public report with top level findings country by country
· Internal comprehensive analysis matrix that UNHCR country operations can take forward to update on progress as the situation evolves country-by-country
· Foundational Advocacy roadmap for further enhancement by the UNHCR Innovation communications team
Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required:
Education
· Possess University level qualifications Bachelor's (essential) or Master’s degree (desired) in a relevant area
Job Experience
· Minimum of 7 years work experience relevant to the function.
· Demonstrated experience in undertaking research projects similar in nature and level of complexity.
· Experience working for a UN agency or international humanitarian organization
Language
· Fluency in English (required)
· Knowledge of another language (desirable).

Documents

 Tender Notice