REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

Selection of an Individual Consultant for providing Consultancy support to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, through the Smart Regulation and Growth Office, in the field of digitalization and public-private dialogue promotion support

World Bank Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Project

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA Sector: General industry and trade sector IDA Credit No. 71740 IBRD Loan No. 94230 Project ID No. P177895 Reference No. MD-CEP- 547264-CS-INDV

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Project (MSME) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include services aimed to providing high-level facilitation and strategic support to the Smart Regulation and Growth Delivery Office (SRGO) and to contribute to the implementation of the digital component of the Economic Growth Dashboard. The objective will be achieved by facilitating an effective monitoring and coordination of the implementation of the Economic Growth Dashboard digitalisation component.

The assignment will be implemented in the period May to December 2026 with an estimated level of effort of app. 165 man-days.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is attached to this request for expressions of interest.

The Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness Project now invites eligible individual local consultants (“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 qualifications requirements are:

 University degree (Master's or equivalent degree preferred) in economics, international trade, law, public administration, or a related field.  Deep understanding of the Moldovan business environment and EU integration requirements, specifically digitalisation of G2B services, promotion of Digital Economy, e-KYC and e-Commerce.  Relevant experience in smart regulation, e.g. regulatory impact assessment (RIA), administrative simplification, monitoring and evaluation, or related public policy fields.  At least 10 years of professional experience in working with public authorities and institutions, including in policy aspects related to digitalization.  Proven ability to moderate diverse groups (government officials and business leaders) and reach a consensus.  Previous work with public private dialog platforms or international trade projects is highly preferred.  Excellent communication and presenting skills.  Fluency in Romanian and English..

The Consultant shall provide relevant references to confirm the experience and qualifications. 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” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the „Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants” method set out in the Procurement Regulations and to be specifically set out in the Request for submission of the technical and financial proposal.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours.

The applications should include a letter of Expression of Interest, CV, and related recommendation letters, if any, together with a copy of CV in MS WORD format.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by May 07, 2026, COBD, indicating the assignment title in subject line.

Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness Project 180, Stefan cel Mare Ave., office 815, MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Tel: + 373 22 296-723;

e-mail: piu@mded.gov.md with cc: procurementmgf@gmail.com web: https://uipac.md/   TERMS OF REFERENCE Consultancy support to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, through the Smart Regulation and Growth Office, in the field of digitalization and public-private dialogue promotion support A. Project description The Government of the Republic of Moldova (GoM) is pursuing a policy agenda to support export-led economic growth. In this regard, an improved business environment is essential to foster sustainable private sector growth. Significant regulatory and institutional weaknesses in the business environment have been identified by the recently conducted Investment Climate Assessment as major obstacles to the private sector’s ability to perform efficiently and grow, and they also negatively affect investor confidence. The presence of cumbersome regulations undermines the competitiveness of private Moldovan enterprises and prevents increased investment by increasing the cost of doing business. In order to sustain the results of the previous programs implemented and to support the continued implementation of reforms to create a more favorable business environment and facilitate export promotion, the Government of the Republic of Moldova has expressed a strong desire for a project that takes a more comprehensive approach to business competitiveness and has therefore negotiated funding from the International Development Association for the cost of implementing the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitiveness Project. The MSME’s project development objectives (PDO) are: (i) to reduce the regulatory burden, increase access to finance, increase the export competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises, and (ii) in case of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, to respond promptly and effectively to it. The project consists of four components: (i) Regulatory reform and Digitization, aiming at reducing the regulatory burden on businesses by further digitalizing G2B services, enhancing and digitizing inspection services, improving interoperability and integrated service delivery for businesses, simplifying the regulatory environment; (ii) Access to Finance, which aims to support the CGF under the Organization for Entrepreneurial Development (ODA) in providing financial guarantees to MSMEs; (iii) MSME Development and Export Competitiveness, focusing on supporting firms through matching grants, export readiness, supplier linkages, and export promotion programs, as well as facilitating the inflow of investments; (iv) Contingency Emergency Response (CERC) - an unfunded contingency component that can be activated in case of a relevant emergency event. B. Background of the assignment Moldova is entering a decisive phase of economic transformation in which accelerating reforms, reducing bureaucracy, and improving the quality and predictability of the business environment are essential to raising productivity, investment, and ultimately - GDP growth and people’s wellbeing. To translate reform commitments into measurable results in competitiveness, administrative efficiency, and ease of doing business, the Government requires a single, disciplined “orchestrator” that aligns regulation, delivery discipline, and growth priorities across institutions and ensures consistent follow-through. Accordingly, the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MEDD) is establishing the Smart Regulation and Growth Office (SRGO) as a coordination and performance unit, mandated to drive coherent policy direction across ministries and agencies, measure institutional performance through KPIs, and ensure follow-through and support on reforms and high-impact projects. The World Bank financed MSME Project will support the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MEDD) to establish and operationalize the Smart Regulation and Growth Office (SRGO) as its smart regulation and economic growth delivery unit to help MEDD deploy economic growth above the baseline GDP growth scenario for the following 3 years (baseline real GDP growth rates of 1.5%, 1.8%, and 2.0% per year, respectively, subject to official macro assumptions). The SRGO is established with a clear mandate, high-skill delivery capacity, and fit-for-purpose tools to monitor, report, and follow up on institutional performance, to help government institutions implement prioritized reforms more consistently and at higher speed and quality. This will reduce regulatory and administrative burdens, improve the predictability and efficiency of public services, and strengthen the enabling environment for private sector investment and expansion. By enabling smarter regulation, better policy coordination, and stronger delivery discipline, SRGO will help remove constraints that limit business upgrading, adoption of new technologies, and scaling into higher-value activities. The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization has identified additional needs for an experienced local consultant, who could support the ministry in the EU harmonisation process, focusing on implementation of the EU best practices in digitalisation of G2B services, promotion of Digital Economy and of e-Commerce. Within this framework, the Government is seeking the support of the MSME Project in hiring and financing a Digitalization expert for the SRGO (hereinafter Consultant). C. Objective of the assignment The main objective of the assignment is to provide high-level facilitation and strategic support to the Smart Regulation and Growth Delivery Office (SRGO) and to contribute to the implementation of the digital component of the Economic Growth Dashboard. The objective will be achieved by facilitating an effective monitoring and coordination of the implementation of the Economic Growth Dashboard digitalisation component.

D. Scope of Work The Consultant will support the MEDD in the implementation, coordination, and acceleration of the digital component of the Economic Growth Dashboard, with a focus on EU alignment, public-private dialogue, and delivery of high-impact digital reforms. The scope of work will include, but will not be limited to, the following thematic areas:

1. Digitalization of essential public services for companies The Consultant will support the assessment, promotion, and implementation of the Contactless Business Initiative, including validation of Moldova’s readiness, promotion of the Government Decision on essential public services for businesses, and continuous monitoring of implementation by relevant stakeholders.

2. Development and promotion of Digitalization Packages The Consultant will contribute to the design and implementation of two legislative and policy packages on digitalization by: • identifying priority reform topics and mobilizing funding and expertise; • supporting drafting and submission to MDED; • facilitating promotion and coordination within Government and Parliament.

3. Digital identity and wallet ecosystem (EVO) The Consultant will monitor and support the coordinated implementation of the eKYC platform, in collaboration with the e-Governance Agency and the World Bank, ensuring alignment with broader digital identity and wallet initiatives.

4. Alignment with EU digital signature and digital identity frameworks The Consultant will support Moldova’s alignment with EU trust services and digital identity standards by: • monitoring the implementation of EU signature verification tools integrated in MSign; • promoting the extension of EU-qualified trust service providers to Moldova; • facilitating consultations with relevant authorities on Moldova’s integration into the EU Trusted List framework.

5. Innovation and digital ecosystem development The Consultant will support the launch and coordination of key innovation instruments, including: • the AI Antenna program in Moldova; • the Moldova IT Park Innovation Fund for digital start-ups; • High Impact Innovation Teams (HIITs) in priority sectors (health, agriculture, energy, transport), including alignment with regulatory sandbox initiatives and facilitation of public-
   private dialogue.

6. Integrated service delivery through private platforms (CUPS+) The Consultant will facilitate the development of integrated business service platforms delivered via private operators, covering company lifecycle services (setup, compliance, financing, digitalization, export, partnerships), including coordination with stakeholders and relevant public authorities.

7. Cybersecurity and digital resilience for SMEs The Consultant will consult on the development of cybersecurity frameworks for SMEs by: • facilitating consultations with key stakeholders (including agencies, international partners, telecom operators, other stakeholders); • assessing market perspectives and alternatives to 1C; • contributing to the promotion of support instruments linked to digital readiness and resilience.

8. AI-enabled regulatory and business support tools The Consultant will contribute to the development of AI-based instruments for regulatory alignment and business support, including: • EU harmonization and regulatory framework development with a locally trained AI and LLM component • AI Business Ombudsman instrument; • modernization of legal databases; • digitalization of business archives.

9. e-Commerce and e-Export development The Consultant will contribute to measures to enhance Moldova’s integration into global digital trade by: • facilitating the attraction of international eCommerce platforms; • supporting the digitalization of customs procedures and export processes; • promoting tools and platforms enabling SMEs to access international markets.

10. End-to-end digitalization of labour relations The Consultant will support the digital transformation of labour-related processes, including: • monitoring the digitalization of medical certificates; • supporting full digitalization of HR processes and employment records; • contributing to digital solutions for identification, work permits, and residency services.

11. Digital-by-default governance and KPI framework The Consultant will support the development of a performance and governance framework by: • defining digital KPIs for public authorities; • promoting improvements to the legal framework (Law 100/2017) to ensure that all normative acts are “digitally ready”. E. Reporting arrangement The Consultant will submit monthly reports, which will state activities performed by the Consultant according to the TOR, during the appropriate month, the time spent on each activity. The Consultant will attach to the monthly reports, the materials developed as he/she carried out the activities (deliverables). The Consultant shall coordinate the reports/deliverables with the Head of SRGO and the MEDD. The payments will be made by the PIU based on the reports approved by the MEED’ assigned person. All deliverables will be provided in electronic form and in hard copies. The language of the deliverables shall be Romanian. G. Period of the Assignment The assignment requires a full-time involvement and will be implemented in the period from May to December 31, 2026 with an estimated level of effort of app. 165 man-days. The contract can be extended beyond this term, subject to the MEDD’s needs and Consultant’ satisfactory performance. H. Requirements for the assignment The implementation of this assignment will require services of an individual local consultant with relevant expertise in the field of the assignment, who has experience in providing similar or like services, and who has: • University degree (Master's or equivalent degree preferred) in economics, international trade, law, public administration, or a related field. • Deep understanding of the Moldovan business environment and EU integration requirements, specifically digitalisation of G2B services, promotion of Digital Economy, e-KYC and e-Commerce. • Relevant experience in smart regulation, e.g. regulatory impact assessment (RIA), administrative simplification, monitoring and evaluation, or related public policy fields. • At least 10 years of professional experience in working with public authorities and institutions, including in policy aspects related to digitalization. • Proven ability to moderate diverse groups (government officials and business leaders) and reach a consensus. • Previous work with public private dialog platforms or international trade projects is highly preferred. • Excellent communication and presenting skills. • Fluency in Romanian and English.

I. Terms of payment The Contract will be the standard World Bank time-based contract.