Technical assistance, support on innovation policy and entrepreneurship strategy implementation for the Government of Botswana

Procurement of a single service provider to plan, co-design, produce and support the implementation of Botswana’s Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) reform programme and the strengthening of its entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem under the Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB) Specific Objective 1 (SO1). The assignment is delivered as one coordinated programme across two complementary reform tracks led by the Ministry of Communication and Innovation (MCI) and the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship (MTE), covering: • Review of and implementation support for the Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) Policy • Operationalisation of the National Research and Innovation Council, including its governance, instruments, and data systems • Development of a National Innovation Sandbox and Testbed Framework • Communication, change management and stakeholder engagement across the reform programme • Ecosystem mapping and evidence generation to inform policy and decision-making (conducted by EstDev under AEDIB) • Ecosystem governance and coordination, including development of the Innovation network (SmartBots) • Entrepreneurship strategy development and/or policy implementation support This assignment provides excellent opportunity for a service provider to co-develop, gather experience, and position themselves with one of the leading European development projects in entrepreneurship and innovation. AEDIB is a Team Europe Initiative connecting African and European partners to strengthen digital entrepreneurship, innovation, and the green transition. Under Specific Objective 1 (SO1), AEDIB enhances innovation policy processes and capacities of policy leaders and implementers. Under the SO2 AEDIB seeks to support entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, and promising entrepreneurs, through grants. Under Specific Objective 3 (SO3), AEDIB improves access-to-finance mechanisms and investor readiness for innovative ventures.

Clarification to the evaluation matrix, item #2.