Consultancy Services to develop EAC Regional Guidelines for AML/CFT — East African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP)

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION) REF NO: TZ-EAC-521040-CS-QCBS East African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) Project ID No/Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: (P176181) Date of Issue: 17th March 2026 CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO DEVELOP EAC REGIONAL GUIDELINES FOR RISK-BASED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING, COUNTERING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM AND COUNTERING PROLIFERATION FINANCING (AML/CFT) COMPLIANCE The East African Community has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Services include the Consultancy Services to develop EAC Regional Guidelines for risk-based Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT) compliance. The assignment is expected to last nine (9) months. The scope includes preparation of an inception report, conducting a baseline assessment and gap analysis of national AML/CFT frameworks, assessing risks in key cross-border payment corridors, and undertaking stakeholder consultations.

The assignment will also include facilitating two regional workshops, drafting and finalizing EAC Regional Guidelines on Risk-Based AML/CFT Compliance for Cross-Border Payments, and developing an implementation roadmap. The specific objective of the assignment is to support EAC Partner States to strengthen and harmonize risk-based AML/CFT/CPF compliance for cross-border payments through the development of practical, regionally adapted guidelines aligned with the FATF Recommendations, while promoting shared risk understanding and stronger supervisory coordination across the region.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://www.eac.int/opportunities/consultancies The EAC Secretariat now invites eligible consulting firms (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 described. The shortlisting criterion is as follows: • Firm’s Existence: The firm must have been legally registered and in operation for at least five (5) years before the tender closing date, with verifiable proof and must Demonstrated compliance with professional and ethical standards. • Experience: The firm must provide evidence of successfully completing at least three (3) similar or related consultancies in the last five (5) years, including project descriptions, client details, duration and reference letters, if available.

Proven experience in AML/CFT policy, legal/regulatory reform, or risk-based supervision; and experience conducting AML/CFT gap analyses or ML/TF risk assessments. • Technical Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in risk-based AML/CFT frameworks, strong knowledge of FATF Recommendations, particularly R.1, R.10, R.16, and R.26; and familiarity with payment systems, digital financial services, and cross-border payments (added advantage). • Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with central banks, FIUs, and financial regulators; proven ability to facilitate high-level consultations and regional workshops; and experience engaging both public and private sector stakeholders. • Regional Experience: Proven experience in multi-country or regional assignments, preferably in Africa; an understanding of regional integration dynamics and regulatory harmonization; and experience working within EAC, COMESA, SADC, or similar regional frameworks (added advantage). • Organizational and Staffing Capability: The firm must demonstrate a clear structure, managerial capacity and the ability to deploy qualified personnel, availability of a multidisciplinary team including legal/regulatory and financial sector experts.

Interested Consultants’ attention 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, revised September 2023), which outline the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but must clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture (JV) or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture (JV), all partners shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract if selected.

Therefore, each JV member must independently meet the evaluation criteria requirements. The experience, technical capability, and managerial capability of a sub-consultant shall not be considered to enhance the qualifications of the lead firm or JV. A Consultant will be selected using the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method as outlined in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information may be obtained at the address below during office hours (9:00AM to 5:00 PM EAT). The consultants would be responsible for ensuring that any addendum available on the website is also downloaded and incorporated. Expressions of Interest must be submitted in English (one original and two copies, where applicable) in written form, either in person or via email, to the address below.

The submission deadline is Tuesday, 31st March 2026, at 11:00 AM (EAT). The subject line should be: " Consultancy Services to Develop EAC Regional Risk‑Based AML/CFT/CPF Compliance Guidelines." The Secretary General Attn: EARDIP East African Community (EAC) Headquarters P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2162100 Fax: +255-27-2162199 Email: eacprocurement@eachq.org, Cc: sangelo@eachq.org