Consulting Services for an Independent Verification Agent — BIASHARA 2063 Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

Country: Ethiopia

Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Grant No: P180117

Assignment Title: Consulting Services for an Independent Verification Agent (IVA)

Reference No. ET-AUC-534916-CS-QCBS

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include to verify the status of the agreed performance targets, assessing whether they have been achieved (or not) in accordance with the PBC and results framework, as outlined in the relevant project documents.

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 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. The shortlisting criteria are:

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• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and experience with performance based or disbursement linked indicator mechanisms. Knowledge of Investment Project Financing (IPF) with Performance Based Conditions (PBCs) modality preferred.

• Proven experience of independent verification of results or performance assessment of government agencies or large private sector firms within the last ten (10) years.

• The IVA shall present at least two references to prove possession of each of the above qualifications and experience.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

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.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Quality and Cost-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 20 May 2026 before 1700Hrs.

African Union Commission,

Head of Supply Chain Management Division

Building C, 3rd Floor,

P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

E-mail: [email protected]

TERMS OF REFERENCE

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM)

CONSULTING SERVICES FOR AN INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION AGENT (IVA)

• Background

The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda 2063 (BIASHARA) project is a five-year US$50 million (2023 – 2028) Investment Project Financing (IPF) initiative funded by the World Bank to enhance regional integration and intracontinental trade in Africa. Among the 13 AUC Agenda 2063 flagship projects, BIASHARA specifically supports the implementation of i) the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement) ii) Single African Air Transport Market, (SAATM) and the Free Movement of Persons (FMP). It is jointly implemented by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat through separate project implementation units (PIUs). As part of the project’s result monitoring and evaluation framework, the AUC is seeking the services of an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) to validate the achievement of the project’s Performance Based Conditions (PBC) and submit formal verification reports.

The project is being delivered under three main components:

Component 1: Improved effectiveness of the AUC and AfCFTA management functions. This component strengthens the AUC’s institutional systems by modernizing financial management, procurement, HR, and ICT. It supports activities to improve efficiency and accountability through upgraded tools, policies, and automation, while improving service delivery and data security. These reforms support the AUC’s transformation into a high-performing, results-driven organization aligned with international standards

Component 2: Improved capacity for implementation of commitments to enhance intracontinental trade and investments. BIASHARA finances activities to accelerate the deepening of measures to expand intracontinental trade and investment, liberalize air connectivity, and enhance the free movement of people.

Component 3: Project Implementation, Result Based Management, and Stakeholder Engagement. This component supports effective project management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and adherence to environmental, social, financial, and procurement standards. It also strengthens inter-agency coordination, and finances stakeholder engagement and communications across the AUC, AFCAC, AfCFTA Secretariat, and RECs. Key activities include developing and implementing change management, stakeholder engagement strategies, conducting support workshops and regular Steering Committee (SC) engagements.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve the capacity of the AUC and the AfCFTA Secretariat in supporting member states to negotiate and implement selected commitments to enhance regional integration and intracontinental trade in Africa. There are several PDO level indicators to track progress and Intermediate Result Indicators (IRIs).

There are three (3) Performance-Based Conditions

PBCs as shown in the table below are well aligned to the respective project components.

• PBC 1: US$5 million is committed to support the AUC Finance Department to have modernized critical financial management processes within 5 years. It is implemented by the AUC.

• PBC 2: An allocation of US$10 million over the five-year project period to ensure compliance of State Parties with the AfCFTA Treaty obligations. It is implemented by the AfCFTA Secretariat.

• PBC: 3: The AfCFTA secretariat is allocated US$7million to undertake activities towards the operationalization of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Body.

PBC

Indicative Activities to be Completed

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• The Finance Department Has Modernized Critical Financial Management Processes.

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• Implementation of multi-year planning and budgeting.

• Deployment of SAP modules: Grant Management, and business consolidation.

• Expansion of e-procurement.

• Data warehouse and business intelligence.

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• Increased Compliance of State Parties with the AfCFTA Treaty Obligations.

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• Assessing State Parties' Implementation of AfCFTA Commitments

• Increasing Transparency in the Implementation of AfCFTA Provisions

• Promoting Adherence to Rules and Disciplines

• Identifying Challenges and Facilitating Solutions

• Encouraging Peer Learning and Experience Sharing

• Development of a mechanism for conducting trade policy

• Conducting AfCFTA implementation reviews in at least 10 countries

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• Operationalization of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism.

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• Selection and onboarding of the Appellate Body.

• Development of training materials for State Parties

• Development of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) portal

• Selection and onboarding of an expert review group.

• Objective of the Consultancy Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to verify the baselines and achievements of all the three (3) PBCs in line with the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework, and in accordance with specific verifications protocols as approved by the World Bank.

• Scope of Work

The main task of the IVA firm is to liaise with the PIUs of the AUC and AfCFTA Secretariat to verify the status of the agreed performance targets, assessing whether they have been achieved (or not) in accordance with the PBC and results framework, as outlined in the relevant project documents.

• Deliverables

The following are the key deliverables for this assignment:

4.1 Inception Phase and Reporting – (2 weeks into the assignment)

The consultant is expected to prepare and present an inception report, detailing among others, the following: -

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• Methodology for the assignment

• Outline the tools for assessing the baselines and results against each PBC, informed by the verification protocol and guidance described in the following project documents i) Project Appraisal Document (PAD), ii) Financing Agreement (FA), and the Project Operation Manual (POM).

• A proposed list of stakeholders to be consulted, including a schedule of suggested meetings and or site visits (if any).

• A draft Work Plan – specifying timelines for the assignment. The team composition.

• A final Inception Report revised following the Consultant’s presentation to a team of AUC, AfCFTA and World Bank staff.

4.1.2 Conduct Verification and Analyses of the PBCs

Conduct verification activities for PBC 1, 2 and 3 in a timely manner in accordance with the verification protocol approved by the World Bank. Specifically:

• Review and analyze internal and external documents held by the PIUs[1]

• Ascertain the level of completion of reported results for the PBCs.

• Conduct field visits to the AUC HQ and the AfCFTA as may be appropriate and necessary.

• Conduct verification of the results through virtual consultations with selected key informants

4.1.3 Draft and Final R