Consultancy Service for Advanced Digital Skills Trainings for 1,000 individuals

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN TAJIKISTAN DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS PROJECT

Date: November 9, 2026

Assignment Title: Consultancy Service for Advanced Digital Skills Trainings for 1,000 individuals

Reference No .: PIC-TDFP-CS-3

State Institution "Projects Implementation Center for Tajikistan Digital Foundations" of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan is implementing Tajikistan Digital Foundation Project (thereafter referred to as Project) co-financed by the World Bank and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The total cost of the project is US$46.2 million, of which the IDA grant is $30M, SDC Trust fund is $14.8M and GoTJ share is $1.4M. and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include the Advanced Digital Skills Trainings for 1,000 individuals

The consultant will have to perform the following tasks: Tasks shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Program Design and Preparation Develop a time-bound implementation plan which includes target numbers of trainees to be trained, and description of monitoring mechanisms of the training program execution and quality of training offered Develop modular digital skills training programs or use off the shelf courses on AI, Cloud, Network, System Administration and Cybersecurity aligned with labor market relevance in Tajikistan and addressing language requirements, inclusivity considerations, infrastructure constraints, and applicability of skills. Develop of complementary business soft skills training modules , that will be delivered in Russian and Tajik to enhance participants’ readiness for employment and further skills development. Ensure blended and online delivery modalities through the Platform for Educational Needs, describing delivery options, sequencing, and implementation considerations to support regional equity of access and sustainability beyond the project period. Develop an inclusive outreach and participant selection framework, including eligibility criteria and targeting approaches, to support the participation of youth, NEET populations, women, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries in line with the inclusion targets defined in the Objective section. Develop and adapt training curricula and learning materials in Russian, English, and/or Tajik, leveraging and contextualizing existing resources available in Tajikistan and identifying gaps where supplementary materials may be required. Develop and implement employer engagement mechanisms to facilitate internships and job matching for the course beneficiaries. The Consultant shall track employment outcomes for at least six (6) months following graduation. Collaborate with other training centers to achieve the objectives of this assignment. Develop an implementation plan with milestones, deliverables, and performance indicators. Coordinate with the PIC EOP and relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with Component 2 objectives. Transfer full documentation, training materials (free of copyrights) to PIC EOP upon contract completion.

Duration The total duration of the contract is 24 months .

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1avZ1BiaGMRme-LLyzJU5MgukzT2-brdg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101229496586602350179&rtpof=true&sd=true The State Institution "Projects Implementation Center for Tajikistan Digital Foundations" of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

(i) At least 3 years of experience in designing and delivering educational programs. (ii) Demonstrated experience in designing and implementation managing large-scale digital skills and workforce development programs of at least 800–1000 participants within a single project or across multiple concurrent projects. (iii) Minimum 2 successfully completed contracts in digital skills and workforce development training within the past 3 years, with a total contract value of not less than USD 150,000. (iv) Demonstrated experience in integrating advanced technical digital skills and employability or soft skills components within program design frameworks, aligned with labor market relevance and contextual constraints (v) Demonstrated ability to engage and coordinate with public and private sector institutions, and stakeholders, training or education providers in the context of advanced digital skills or workforce development initiatives. (vi) Prior experience implementing educational or capacity-building programs in Tajikistan or Central Asia is considered an advantage

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the CQS (Consultant’s Qualifications-Based Selection) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:00 to 17:00 hours. The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest has been extended. Exp