Consulting Services for Developing the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Handbook — BIASHARA 2063 Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

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

Contract Title: Consulting Services for Developing the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Handbook

Type of Contract: Individual Consultant Selection

Project ID: 180117

Grant No.: E2020

RFB Reference No.: ET-AFCFTA-517610-CS-INDV

• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

• The consulting services (“the Services”) is for Developing the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Handbook. The expert will be responsible for developing the 1st Edition of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism Handbook. The primary deliverable of this consultancy will be a set of milestones and reports outlining the full realization of the AfCFTA DSM Handbook. The handbook will be designed to assist State Parties and other stakeholders in effectively navigating the Dispute Settlement Mechanism within the AfCFTA framework.

• The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment found at the following website: https://au-afcfta.org/bids/ (home page).

• The AfCFTA Secretariat now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interests in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information, as stipulated in the TOR, demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The consultant must meet the minimum qualification and selection criteria indicated below:

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in international law, regional integration, and inter-state party dispute settlement.

• Experience in international trade law.

• Experience in developing and publishing similar Handbooks for international dispute settlement mechanisms.

• The candidate is required to hold an advanced university degree, Master of Laws degree (LLM) in Law, International Law (public international law, international organisations law, international trade law) with a specialization on Dispute Settlement from a recognised University with a minimum of fifteen (15) years’ professional experience in international law, regional integration, and dispute settlement. Experience in international trade law is an added advantage.

• The Consultant(s) will be selected in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated July 2016 and revised 7th Edition of September 2025 which can be found at the following website: www.worldbank.org/procurement.

• The duration of the consultancy services is Six (6) Months.

• 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” Fifth Edition of September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

• Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

• Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [weekdays Monday to Friday 0800hrs to 1700hrs local time excluding public holidays]. Interested Consultants are required to constantly and continually check the AfCFTA website: https://au-afcfta.org/bids/ for any additional information or clarification that may arise before the submission date.

The Secretary General

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat,

Africa Trade House,

Ambassadorial Enclave, Liberia Road, Ridge,

Accra, Ghana

Email address: [email protected]

Website: www.au-afcfta.org

• Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address above (in person, or by e-mail) by 12th March, 2026 at 5.00 pm GMT.