Tenders Are Invited For National Consultant For The Feasibility Study And Design Of A Smart Digital Platform

Tenders are invited for National Consultant for the Feasibility Study and Design of a Smart Digital Platform Closing Date: 16 Oct 2026 Type: Consultancy The International Organization for Migration (IOM) based in Djibouti, is recruiting a national consultant to carry out a feasibility study and the functional and technical design of a standard border post and a smart and interoperable digital trade facilitation platform on the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor "Smart Trade Border Platform" I. Background and Rationale The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a strategic opportunity to strengthen African economic integration, boost intra-African trade and facilitate the mobility of people, in line with the African Unions Agenda 2063. In this dynamic, the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor plays a key role in trade and regional integration. However, its functioning remains limited by insufficient digital infrastructure, poor interoperability of systems, insufficient coordination between border actors and inadequate data exchange mechanisms. These constraints affect the fluidity, security and efficiency of cross-border operations. In this context, IOM plans to recruit a consultant to conduct a feasibility study and contribute to the design of a smart and interoperable digital platform for border trade facilitation along the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor. The consultancy will define the technical, operational and institutional needs, the functional requirements of the solution and a realistic approach for its gradual deployment, while promoting digital modernization and institutional strengthening. II. General objective of consultancy The objective of the consultancy is to produce, for the Djiboutian component, a feasibility study with a functional and technical design and a budgeted roadmap for the establishment of a standard border post and an interoperable digital platform on the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor "Smart Trade Border Platform". III. Specific objectives Specifically, consultancy aims to: Legal and institutional framework: Analyze existing policies, strategies, legal frameworks, technical standards and initiatives in border management, trade facilitation, digital transformation, legal identity and data protection, while reviewing the mandates, responsibilities and coordination mechanisms of the institutions involved. Processes and Stakeholders: Map public institutions, private operators, and other stakeholders involved in border management and the operation of the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor, document procedures for handling people, goods, vehicles, documents, and information, and identify operational difficulties, institutional overlaps, repetitive controls, and disruptions in the flow of goods. information. Existing infrastructure and systems: Assess the digital infrastructure, IT equipment, communication networks, power supply solutions and information systems used by the institutions concerned, paying particular attention to shortcomings related to their interoperability and their ability to ensure continuity of services. Needs and Solution Design: Assess the needs of border, customs, trade, port, security, migration, and identity authorities, as well as those of border users, including traders, carriers, migrants, women, youth, and border communities. Based on this, define the functional, technical, institutional and security requirements of the intelligent and interoperable digital platform, and propose options for architecture, hosting, governance, maintenance and service continuity. Roadmap, capacities and validation: Identify priority IT and digital equipment as well as the training and technical assistance needs of the institutions concerned. Formulate a budgeted roadmap for the design and construction of a border crossing as well as for the development, piloting, maintenance and eventual scaling of the platform. Finally, contribute to the evaluation mission and the validation of the proposed solutions with the stakeholders of the selected sites. IV. Expected results At the end of the consultancy, the following results are expected: Legal and institutional framework: A diagnosis of existing policies, strategies, legal frameworks, technical standards and initiatives in border management, trade facilitation, digital transformation, legal identity, cybersecurity and data protection is established. Institutional mandates, responsibilities, and applicable coordination and governance mechanisms are analyzed and documented. Processes and stakeholders: A comprehensive mapping of institutions and stakeholders is produced, including their mandates, roles, interactions, systems used, data exchange needs, and coordination mechanisms. Procedures for handling people, goods, vehicles, documents and information are documented, while operational constraints, institutional overlaps, repetitive controls and breaks in the flow of information are identified. Existing infrastructure and systems: The inventory of the digital infrastructures, IT equipment, communication networks, power supply solutions and information systems of the selected sites is established. Technical gaps, interoperability deficiencies and risks affecting the availability and continuity of services shall be identified. Needs and solution design: The needs of relevant institutions and users of the corridor, including traders, transporters, migrants, women, youth and border communities, are assessed in a participatory manner. The functional, technical, institutional, security and governance requirements of the border infrastructure and the Smart Trade Border Platform are defined. Architecture, interoperability, hosting, maintenance, and service continuity options are offered in a provisional functional and technical design. Roadmap, capabilities and validation: Priority IT and digital equipment, along with their technical specifications, as well as training and technical assistance needs are identified. A budgeted roadmap is drawn up for the design and construction of a border crossing as well as for the development, piloting, maintenance and eventual scaling of the platform. The findings, the proposed solution and the feasibility study are reviewed and validated with the stakeholders and then integrated into the final report and the mission report. V. Description of the expected activities Activity 1: Carry out the framing of the mission, the document review and the development of data collection tools. Activity 2: Map public and private stakeholders and analyze existing coordination and governance mechanisms. Activity 3: Assess border processes, operational flows and the condition of existing infrastructure and equipment. Activity 4: Consult with corridor users to identify their border service needs, constraints and priorities. Activity 5: Define the functional, technical and governance requirements of the border infrastructure and the smart and interoperable digital border trade facilitation platform of the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor "Smart Trade Border Platform". Activity 6: Develop the technical design of the solution and a detailed roadmap for its phased deployment. Activity 7: Identify priority equipment and prepare technical specifications Activity 8: Validate the results with stakeholders and finalize the feasibility study and all project deliverables. VI. Methodology The consultancy will take a participatory, multi-sectoral and user-centred approach, integrating human rights, gender, interoperability and evidence-based sustainable solutions. The methodology will combine desk review, consultations, interviews, focus groups, field visits, technical analyses and validation workshops, with collection tools pre-approved by IOM and stakeholders. VII. Expected deliverables and provisional schedule This consultancy, which will last 30 working days, will be implemented through four successive deliverables covering the methodological framework, the national diagnosis, the functional and technical design of the solution, as well as the finalization of the feasibility study and the roadmap. Payments will be made in instalments after validation of the deliverables by IOM, according to the following distribution: 10% (Deliverable 1), 40% (Deliverable 2), 40% (Deliverable 3) and 10% (Deliverable 4). Summary Deliverable Indicative time limit Payment offered Deliverable 1: Scoping note and methodological tools 5 days 10 % Deliverable 2: National diagnosis and mapping 10 days 40 % Deliverable 3: Interim Functional and Technical Design 10 days 40 % Deliverable 4: Validated Final Report and Mission Report 5 days 10 % Total 30 business days 100 % The precise deadlines will be confirmed at the kick-off meeting. All deliverables will be submitted in editable electronic format as well as in PDF format. Payments will continue to be conditional on the written validation of the deliverables by IOM. VIII. Stakeholders and beneficiaries of the consultation Key stakeholders will include government institutions in charge of border management, trade, customs, transport, logistics, health and safety, as well as private sector actors and economic operators operating along the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor. Direct and indirect beneficiaries will include national institutions, economic operators, migrants, travellers, women and young cross-border traders, as well as communities, businesses and investors whose livelihoods depend on the smooth functioning of the corridor. IX. Roles and Responsibilities National partners and IOM will verify the quality of the deliverables and validate them before proceeding with payment. IOM will be responsible for the logistical aspects of organizing the assessment missions. X. Technical and functional qualifications required The National Consultant will have to meet the following criteria: Professiona Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4233201/consultante-nationale-pour-letude-de-faisabilite-et-conception-dune-plateforme-numerique-intelligente