Develop a Continental Statistical Database with a Consultant

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT) Name of Project: Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program-for-Results (EARSPforR) Grant No: P176371 Assignment Title: Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy services to develop a Continental Statistical Database. Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC-AUC-546831-CS-INDV. • Background

The African Union Commission (AUC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results Project 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 to develop a Continental Statistical Database. Reliable and harmonized statistical data are critical for monitoring development progress, guiding resource allocation, and supporting evidence-based policy-making across Africa. The African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC), established under the African Union (AU), plays a central role in coordinating statistical development and strengthening the African statistical system at the continental level. The importance of good quality data cannot be over-emphasized, and a lot of efforts and investments have been made in data production by different stakeholders. However, access to harmonized, centralized, and consistently documented statistical datasets remains largely limited due to: • Fragmented and siloed national and regional databases with incompatible structures. • Inconsistent application of data standards, indicator definitions, and classification frameworks. • Absence of automated or structured mechanisms for data submission to continental repositories. • Limited data documentation and metadata, reducing discoverability and usability. • Restricted public access to existing datasets, hindering research and policy uptake. To address these structural gaps, STATAFRIC intends to establish a Continental Statistical Database (CSD), a centralized and harmonized repository and dissemination platform for key socio-economic indicators across Africa. The CSD will consolidate data from NSOs and RECs, ensure compliance with international standards, and provide open and structured access to continental statistics. STATAFRIC therefore seeks to recruit a qualified individual consultant to lead the design, development, and operationalization of this continental statistical database. • Objectives of the assignment

• Conduct a structured assessment of existing statistical data sources, repositories, and data quality across African countries, National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as relevant global institutions (e.g., ILOStat, FAOStat, UNSD) in coordination with STATAFRIC. • Design a conceptual and logical data model for the Continental Statistical Database, aligned with international statistical standards and with statistical harmonization standards/guidelines developed by STATAFRIC. • Develop and deploy the operational database with ingestion pipelines, validation mechanisms, and scalable storage infrastructure. • Establish data harmonization procedures, developed by STGs in each thematic area, to align indicators, classifications, and metadata across diverse sources. • Develop a user-friendly dissemination platform with data visualization, API access, and open data capabilities. • Build the institutional capacity of STATAFRIC staff through training and comprehensive documentation. • Expected Deliverables

This consultancy service is a lump-sum and deliverables based, and submissions must be submitted in English and/or French. Deliverables are subject to review and approval by STATAFRIC before corresponding payment is made. A request by the consultant for additional time on a specific deliverable may be considered and approved by STATAFRIC, provided the overall contract duration and lump-sum budget are respected. | # | Deliverable | Description and Minimum Content | Number of Days | D1 | Methodological report and inception Report. | Detailed methodology; work plan with milestones; stakeholder engagement strategy; list of data sources to be assessed; risk register. | 10 days | D2 | Data Source Assessment Report. | Structured inventory of data sources with metadata profiles; assessment of formats, standards, and quality; gap analysis; prioritized list of datasets for integration. | 20 days | D3 | Database Architecture & Data Model Design Document. | Conceptual and logical data model; entity-relationship diagrams; data dictionary; metadata standards specification; physical architecture and hosting strategy; technology stack justification. | 15 days | D4 | Operational Continental Statistical Database. | Deployed and functional database; ingestion pipelines; validation rules; data versioning system; UAT report signed off by STATAFRIC; source code repository with documentation; deployment guide. | 30 days | D5 | Data Harmonization Framework & Guidelines. | Harmonization procedures; indicator alignment documentation; quality flags specification; data quality review workflow; mapping tables for key classifications. | 15 days | D6 | Dissemination Platform & API. | Deployed web interface; interactive dashboards; public API documentation; tiered access system; mobile-responsive design; metadata catalogue. | 10 days | D7 | Training Materials & Documentation. | Training programme agenda and materials; administrator manual; end-user manual; API documentation; maintenance and sustainability plan. | 10 days | D8 | Final Implementation Report. | Summary of all activities and outputs; lessons learned; recommendations; handover checklist. | 10 days • Required Qualifications and Experience • • Academic Qualifications • An advanced university degree (Master's level minimum) in one of the following fields: Statistics, Data Science, Database Systems, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a closely related discipline. • • Professional Experience The following experience is required: • A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in database design, development, and management, with at least three (5) years in statistical or data-intensive environments. • Demonstrated experience working with large-scale statistical datasets, including data from NSOs or international statistical agencies. • Practical knowledge of data harmonization methodologies and metadata standards (SDMX, DDI, or equivalent). • Experience designing and implementing data ingestion pipelines, ETL processes, and automated validation mechanisms. • Experience developing data dissemination platforms or open data portals accessible to non-technical users. • Experience conducting data source assessments and gap analyses. The following experience is an asset: • Prior work with African Union institutions, regional economic communities, or national statistical offices in Africa. • Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP or equivalent) for database hosting and management. • Familiarity with the SDG indicator framework and international statistical classification systems (ISIC, COICOP, ICLS, ICD, etc.). • Proficiency in both English and French. • • Technical Competencies Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: • Relational database design and management (PostgreSQL, MySQL, or equivalent). • SDMX or DDI metadata standards implementation. • ETL pipeline development and data transformation tools. • API design and development (REST, JSON-stat, or SDMX-JSON). • Data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, D3.js, or equivalent). • Web application development for data dissemination portals. • Version control and technical documentation (Git, Confluence, or equivalent). • Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated using the following evaluation criteria. Only candidates achieving a minimum technical score of 70 out of 100 will be considered. | No. | Evaluation Criterion | Sub-criteria | Max. Points | •

| Technical Approach & Methodology. | Clarity, relevance, and feasibility of proposed approach; quality of work plan; understanding of the assignment. | 25 | •

| Relevant Professional Experience. | Depth and quality of experience in database design, statistical data systems, and dissemination platforms. | 20 | •

| Demonstrated Technical Competencies. | Evidence of skills in databases, ETL, SDMX/DDI, API development, and data visualization. | 20 | •

| Academic Qualifications. | Relevance and level of academic qualifications and professional certifications. | 15 | •

| Experience with International/Regional Organizations. | Prior work with AU, UN, RECs, NSOs, or equivalent statistical bodies in Africa. | 10 | •

| Language Proficiency. | Demonstrated proficiency in English and/or French; bilingual capacity is an advantage. | 10 | Minimum passing score: 70/100 | 100 • Application (Expression of Interest) EoI requirements:

Interested individual consultants should submit the following documents as a single application package: • A technical proposal (maximum of 15 pages) including: understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology and approach to data harmonization, work plan with milestones, and summary of relevant experience. • An updated curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant qualifications and experience, with at least three (3) professional references contactable by STATAFRIC. • At least two (2) samples of similar work previously undertaken (e.g., database design documents, data model specifications, dissemination platform documentation, or assessment reports). • Copies of relevant academic certificates and any professional certifications. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest. The African Union Commission now invites el