African Union Commission

Individual Consultant to develop Guidelines on Industry Statistics.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT) Name of Project: Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) Grant No: P169265 Assignment Title: Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy services for the Development of Guideline for Harmonized Methodology on Industrial Statistics in Africa. Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-478046-CS-INDV. • Background The African Union Commission (AUC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include Selection of an Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy services for the Development of Guideline for Harmonized Methodology on Industrial Statistics in Africa. The industrial sector is a key factor in improving livelihoods in many countries due to its role in job creation and revenue generation. Despite the significance of industrial systems in Africa, many countries lack good, reliable, and quality statistics for measuring industrial activities comprehensively. Industrial censuses or surveys are irregular or absent in many African countries and when they are conducted, they often suffer from low response rates, poor sampling methods, limited scope of coverage. There are also inconsistencies in the use of standards and methodologies across countries and weak adherence to international classifications such as the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). Several initiatives have been put in place to address these challenges of industrial sector statistics in Africa but disparities in definitions and data collection methodologies still exist across countries. It is therefore important to harmonize the different approaches used for collecting and analyzing industrial data and advocate for implementation of industrial censuses and surveys in Africa as recommended by the second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA2). Using a harmonized approach in collecting, analyzing and disseminating industrial data in Africa is crucial for supporting planning, monitoring, and evaluating industrial programs and policies. A harmonized guideline is required to be developed/adopted by African countries which will translate in harmonization of essential tools, including questionnaires for industrial surveys. Additionally, the guideline will benefit AU Member States to strengthen and integrate National Statistical Systems for better management and policy development in the industrial sector. To support African countries in strengthening their technical tools on industrial statistics, this guideline should harmonize the existing concepts, definitions, aggregates and classifications in the industrial sector. • Objectives of the assignment The main objective of this consultancy is to develop a harmonized guideline for industrial statistics in Africa. The guidelines should include specific recommendations for strengthening coordination, collaboration, data sharing, communication of industrial statistics and should be aligned with the SHaSA2 and the African Charter on Statistics (ACS) • Duration and Timeline The individual consultant is expected to produce a guideline document within 90 days from the date of assumption of duty. The first revised version will be submitted to the AU Member States and the relevant stakeholders from RECs and international organizations for comments and validation. • Reporting and supervision. The individual consultant will work remotely with STATAFRIC staff and will provide regular updates according to the agreed timeline. The contract is proposed under the following terms and conditions: • The duration of this contract is three months. • The individual consultant must send a C.V. and a methodological note on the understanding of the assignment. • Timeline. | Activity | Deliverables/ Outputs | Anticipated Duration (Days) | • Define the consultant’s approach to delivering the guideline. | Methodological report outlining the consultant’s approach to undertake this consultancy. This should be after the submission of an inception report. | 10 days | • Development of guideline on industrial statistics in Africa. | Assessment report and outline of the guideline. | 20 days | Draft of the guideline. | 30 days | stakeholders’ consultations and validation to get feedback on the draft guideline. | 10 days | In-person presentation of the updated guideline to STATAFRIC and broader stakeholders’ group. | 10 days | Finalized guideline. | 10 days • Required Qualifications and Experience The ideal Individual Consultant (IC) should have: • At least a master’s degree in statistics, economics, or a related field with at least 15 years of professional experience. • Profound experience in economic statistics with a focus on industrial Statistics; • Demonstrated effective, oral and written communication skills; • Excellent Analytical and quantitative skills; • Teamwork: the ability to work in a multicultural environment; • Proper multitasking abilities and the ability to deliver in a timely manner; • Excellent drafting ability, especially in the preparation of clear, concise and understandable reports for decision-makers; • Ability to extract, interpret and analyze data format from a variety of sources; • Language proficiency in at least one of the AU languages (Arabic, English, French or Portuguese). • Evaluation Criteria The Candidate shall be evaluated based on the following criteria: | Evaluation Criteria | • General experience: 10% Use the general experience indicated in the ToR. | • Specific experience: 40% Use the Specific experience indicated in the ToR. | • Qualifications: 25 % Use the qualification indicated in the ToR. | • Methodological note: 15 % Understanding the assignment and the tasks in the ToR. | • Language: 10 % The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest. The African Union Commission now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Individual Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the aforementioned Consultancy Services. 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” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form following the above shortlisting criteria to the address below (in person, or by mail) before 08th August 2025 at 15:00 Hours Local Time, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Only submitted Expression of Interests (EoIs) mentioning the reference number “TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-478046-CS-INDV “ in the subject field of the e-mail, will be considered. African Union Commission, Attn: Head, Supply Chain Management Division - Operations Support Services Directorate Building C, 3rd Floor, P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430 E-mails: [email protected]