81301102-Feasibility study for a co-creation space in Cotonou

Description

The "Beninnovation"-project enhances cooperation between public administration and local private companies in the field of the administration's digital transformation, especially as regards the digitalization of public services. So far, the main achievements in the digitalization of public services in Benin have been realized by the Information Systems Agency (ASIN) with the help of Estonia's E-Governance Academy and advisory services provided by Cybernetica (an Estonian ICT company). As a result, several e-services are available to the citizens but the Government's objective is to digitalize all administrative services ("industrialization of e-services"). This exceeds by far ASIN's capacities and hence the private sector is needed to fill the gap. As of today, only a few local companies seem to have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively contribute to the digitalization of services. Other companies are working in similar fields (financing sector) or show interest to enter this potential market. This decision however requires a solid information basis, regarding technological standards, market potential, tendering procedures, required skills and experience, etc. One of the key elements of the support provided by the Beninnovation-project is to prepare the establishment of a co-creation space, which is meant as a crystallisation point for new ideas and solutions, that will enable the stakeholders to successfully co-create new ideas and services. Lot 1: The present tender covers the definition of the co-creation framework, the feasibility study for the establishment of an either physical or virtual (or both) co-creation space at the meso-level, and the elaboration of a roadmap for the establishment of the new space. The idea of the space is a shared environment where diverse ideas, actors and technologies converge and, ideally, are creatively networked to arrive at new (shared) innovations. In this regard, the space is supposed to help create an (B2G-)offer for the development of innovations for the improvement of digital transformation processes in public administration while promoting principles like people-centred digital transformation and user-friendliness. In order to reach these goals, three work packages have been identified for which the contractor is responsible. In a first step, the contractor shall analyse the current status of the digital transformation of the public administration in Benin, especially the existing framework for co-creation and the potential for further supporting the digital transformation through co-creation - and based on these findings, develop potential services and activities that the planned Co-Creation Space should deliver. This also includes the piloting of co-creation methods by implementating at least two pilot projects and the development of two service prototypes in collaboration with local companies. In a second step, the contractor shall make suggestions for a sustainable business/operation model and a business plan for the co-creation space. Suggestions shall also be made for its embeddedness, its governance as well as for its technical needs and design. As it has not yet been decided whether the co-creation space will be a physical or a virtual (or a mix of both) and whether it should be a stand-alone offer or integrated into an environment existing structure, several options can be proposed at this stage. In step three, the contractor shall - based on the findings from steps one and two - outline a concrete roadmap for the establishment of the co-creation space together with a plan for first activities. This is split in two parts: the first part not only entails the securing of financial resources/funding and the registration of the institution but also the establishment of the governance (structure) as well as plans for how to find and attract staff, defining needed staff profiles, needed roles and responsibilities as well as processes and procedures for the operation of the co-creation space.