Specialized Technical Assistance for the design, development and launch of a virtual platform for the promotion of Upper Egypt.

Recruitment of a specialized Technical Assistance for the design, development and launch of a virtual platform for the promotion of sustainable tourism in destinations of Upper Egypt1. IntroductionWithin the framework of the program Promotion of Sustainable Economic and Social Alternatives Based on Tourism in Upper Egypt with a Special Focus on Women and Youth implemented by CIDEAL Foundation with financial support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), a specialized technical assistance is required for the design, development and launch of a digital platform aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in destinations of Upper Egypt.The platform will serve as a strategic digital tool to promote sustainable tourism in Luxor and Aswan, strengthen the visibility of local entrepreneurs—particularly women and youth—and foster coordination among tourism stakeholders.2. About CIDEAL FoundationCIDEAL Foundation for Cooperation and Research is an independent organization with 40 years of experience in implementing international cooperation projects in developing countries. Its main areas of work include productive development, generation of livelihoods, women empowerment and youth promotion. CIDEAL currently implements programmes in Upper Egypt focused on strengthening tourism value chains, fostering innovation, and promoting public-private collaboration.3. Context and justificationUpper Egypt holds strong potential for the development of sustainable and community-based tourism. The region’s rich cultural heritage, landscapes, traditional crafts and local experiences oRer opportunities to diversify tourism and promote more inclusive local economic development.Within this context, the programme implemented by Fundación CIDEAL with the support of AECID promotes initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism value chains, supporting local entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, and encouraging collaboration among tourism stakeholders.The digital platform “Discover Upper Egypt” seeks to consolidate these efforts into an accessible digital space that enhances the visibility of sustainable tourism initiatives, facilitates access to information for visitors, and strengthens connections among tourism actors in Luxor and Aswan.4. Objectives of the Technical AssistanceThe overall objective is to design, develop and launch a fully operational multilingual digital platform that:1. Promotes innovative, inclusive and sustainable tourism initiatives in Luxor and Aswan.2. Showcases entrepreneurs supported by the programme.3. Enhances visibility of underrepresented destinations and experiences.4. Provides practical tools and resources for tourism entrepreneurs.5. Offer accessible and reliable information for potential visitors interested in discovering sustainable tourism experiences and products in Upper Egypt.6. Facilitates networking and coordination among tourism stakeholders.The platform shall be available in Arabic, English and SpanishTarget audiences: tourists, entrepreneurs and tourism stakeholders (government entities, NGOs, universities, agencies, private sector actors).5. Scope of WorkThe selected company will be responsible for:• UX/UI design• Technical development• CMS configuration• Multilingual implementation• Testing and debugging• Hosting and domain configuration• Post-launch technical supportThe assignment includes full-cycle development from conceptual design to launch, stabilization and maintenance.6. Platform structureThe platform is expected to include several sections combining general information about the initiative (such as Home, Contact and Project) with content specifically designed for key actors in the tourism ecosystem (entrepreneurs, stakeholders).These sections will provide visibility to tourism destinations and experiences in Upper Egypt, promote local entrepreneurs and initiatives, and oRer relevant information and resources for tourism stakeholders.The final structure, navigation and detailed content organisation will be agreed with CIDEAL.6.1. Technical requerimentsThe platform must comply with the following minimum standards:• Responsive design: Fully functional on desktop, tablet and mobile devices.• Multilingual CMS: Content management in Arabic, English and Spanish, allowing easy updates by CIDEAL.• SEO optimisation: Basic optimisation for tourism-related search terms, including metadata and sitemap configuration.• Performance: Optimised loading speed and smooth navigation, including in low-connectivity areas.• Accessibility: Clear typography and adequate colour contrast.• Open access: No login required for public content.• Data protection: Secure data handling and spam protection mechanisms.• Hosting & support: Hosting, domain configuration and minimum 12 months of post-launch technical support.• Intellectual property: Full ownership of the platform and its contents shall belong to Fundación CIDEAL.7. Deliverables1) Inception Report: Work plan, proposed technical architecture, design and wireframes.2) Beta Version of the Platform: Fully functional draft version for review and testing.3) Final Operational Platform: Final validated version including multilingual content integration.4) Technical Documentation & Maintenance Plan: CMS manual and one-year support plan.8. Duration of the ConsultancyThe consultancy is expected to last approximately 4 months, covering the phases of platform design, development, testing and launch.In addition, the selected company will provide 12 months of post-launch technical support, including maintenance, troubleshooting and minor updates to ensure the proper functioning and stability of the platform.HOW TO APPLYContract type: Technical AssistanceDeadline for proposal submission: 29/03/20269. Company RequirementsTo submit an offer, CIDEAL Foundation seeks a company with demonstrated qualifications aligned with the following profile:Legal status & capacityo Legally registered company with proven capacity to contract and deliver digital development services.o Ability to operate in Egypt and provide invoices in accordance with applicable tax regulations.Relevant experienceo Minimum 5 years of experience in web platform development(design + build + deployment).o Proven experience delivering multilingual websites/platforms (Arabic/English mandatory).o Experience working with international cooperation / NGOs / donor-funded projects or tourism platforms will be considered an asset.Technical capabilitieso Demonstrated capacity to develop a platform with a CMS enabling non-technical staR (CIDEAL) to update content easily.o Ability to implement forms and workflows, including a contact request form with internal validation/review logic.o Strong competence in performance optimisation (fast loading) and SEO-ready structure.UX/UI & accessibilityo Strong UX/UI design capacity, with an ability to propose a clean, modern and visually attractive interface aligned with the project’s visual guidelines.Hosting, security & data protectiono Capacity to deliver hosting and domain configuration and ensure basic web security standards (secure forms, spam protection, data handling).Maintenance & supporto Ability to provide minimum 12 months post-launch technical support, including bug fixing, security updates and basic troubleshooting under an agreed SLA/light support arrangement.Languages o Working proficiency in English required.o Capacity to work with Arabic content (RTL implementation) required.o Spanish is an asset.Skills & work approacho Strong planning and project management capacity, with clear timelines and milestone-based delivery.o Proven ability to coordinate feedback loops with the client and deliver within deadline.o Results-oriented approach and clear communication practices.10. Application DossierThe applicant’s dossier must include a technical offer and a financial offer.The technical offer must contain the following elements:a) A duly signed cover letter.b) A summary of the understanding of the Terms of Reference, including a detailed proposed methodology.c) The timeline for the mission execution.d) The consultant’s updated CV, duly signed.e) Reference certificates for similar missions carried out by the consultancy firm.The financial offer for the service must be submitted in Egyptian pounds (EGP), excluding taxes. It is important to note that the financial offer must cover any potential expenses related to this mission (travel expenses, accommodation, and any other costs associated with the execution of the mission).Evaluation Methodology for offersThe evaluation of the offers will be based on the weighting of technical and financial evaluation criteria.Evaluation of the Technical Offer (80% of the total score)A technical score (St) with a maximum of 100 points will be assigned to the technical proposal according to the following table:Organisation and Methodology - 25• Overall understanding of the mandate and intervention context - 10• Clarity, structure, and coherence of the proposed methodology - 15 Expertise / Experience - 50• Relevance of the profile and experience in similar projects and in line with the required qualifications -15• Training - 5• Functional skills - 5• Professional experience - 15• References (similar missions) - 10 Proposed Methodology and approach - 25• Quality of the proposed approach/methodology - 15• Quality of the proposed work plan - 10 Total global score - 100Offers that do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Terms of Reference or do not reach the minimum technical qualification threshold of 70 points out of 100 will be eliminated at this stage.Evaluation of the Financial Offer (20% of the total score)The financial proposal of the lowest-priced offer (Om) will be assessed based on the total price and the coherence of its breakdown. This offer will receive a financial score (Sf) of 100 points.The financial scores of the other offers (F) will be calculated using the following formula: Sf = 100 x Om/FOm = the lowest-priced financial offerF = the price of the evaluated offerFinal Evaluation of the Overall OfferThe final evaluation of the oRer will be conducted by weighting the technical and financial evaluation criteria.Coordination and supervisionThe work will be supervised by the coordination team designated by CIDEAL.Application procedureInterested candidates must submit their application before 30th of March 2026 to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] incomplete application will not be considered.