The objective of this assignment is to provide preparatory technical assistance for the design and development of the approach for the three components: a. cluster competitiveness initiatives; b. industrial zone management framework; and c. firm level assistance at the subnational level in Qena and Sohag. It is expected that the components will be carried out in parallel.
– Component 1: TA on the design and approach for Cluster Competitiveness Initiatives
TA to support the government in designing an adaptive program for cluster competitiveness development at the sub-national level based on international experience. This includes defining the roles of various actors (governorate authorities, central government authorities, support agencies, private sector participation, and consultants), defining criteria for proposals for allocation of Program funds for cluster competitiveness initiatives, mechanisms for cluster facilitation and development of cluster competitiveness action plans, exit criteria for continuing initiatives, and mechanisms for addressing emerging policy/ reform priorities.
This includes the design of the Stakeholder Engagement / Public Private Dialogue (PPD) framework to be implemented under the program; recommendation of the process for value chain analysis and market analysis and exploration; and the design of investment promotion activities, including promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities and private sector cooperative opportunities to be promoted within the cluster initiatives. The scope of work also encompasses the development of TORs for consulting services to be contracted by the government for the implementation of the cluster development program.
– Component 2: TA on design and approach of an Industrial Zone Management Framework
The industrial zone management framework defines the functions for industrial zone management, development, and promotion including the standards, responsibilities, and resources for the following:
a. Provision of regulatory services for establishment and operation of firms in the industrial zone (land allocation, licensing, construction permit, and inspections) and collection of fees
b. Planning and provision of maintenance and basic tenant services within the zone
c. Planning and provision of infrastructure upgrades and expansions in the zone
d. Marketing and promotion of the zone
e. Provision of business development and other support services to tenants in the zones The management framework will provide options for models for industrial zone management based on international experience, and the management model to be used in each industrial zone (Sohag: 4, Qena: 2). Once developed, the industrial zone management framework is agreed by the Industrial Development Authority and the governorates. It will form a part of the Industrial Zone Management Plan (IZMP) developed by each of the two governorates which in addition to the IZ management framework will include plans for industrial zone upgrading including both maintenance and investment needs for each industrial zone in each governorate, based on a demand survey of existing and potential tenant needs. The scope of work also encompasses developing the TORs for consulting services to be contracted by the government for the preparation of the industrial zone upgrading plan for maintenance and investment needs and the implementation of the industrial zone management framework.
– Component 3: TA on design and approach for Firm-level AssistanceTechnical assistance to the Industrial Modernization Center (IMC) and the governorates on designing a context-appropriate and effective program for addressing within-firm deficiencies, particularly low productivity. The IMC currently runs a Business Development Services (BDS) program nationwide with little uptake in Upper Egypt, likely due to a mismatch between the design of the program and needs and capabilities in Upper Egypt. TA will be provided to bring global expertise to bear to design a firm-level assistance program appropriate to the context and linked to the other elements of the program (cluster competitiveness and IZ management).
The scope of work encompasses developing a firm-level assistance approach that can be used as the basis for TORs for services to be contracted by the government for with IMC (and/ or other public or private agencies) to provide firm-level assistance to SMEs within the governorates.