Develop Guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys

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 Guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC-AUC-546834-CS-INDV. • Background

Demand for timely, high-frequency, and cost-effective data has led African countries to explore innovative ways of data collection and statistical production. Traditional face-to-face surveys, while essential, are often resource-intensive, time-consuming, and difficult to implement during emergencies, conflicts, pandemics, natural disasters, and other situations that restrict field operations. Recent advancements in mobile phone penetration, telecommunications infrastructure, digital technologies, and data science have created opportunities for conducting Phone Observatory Surveys (POS) as a complementary data collection mechanism. Phone surveys have proven effective in generating rapid information on socio-economic conditions, employment, food security, health, education, migration, business performance, agricultural activities, prices, and citizen perceptions. Despite the growing uptake of phone surveys across Africa, there remains a significant gap in continent-specific, harmonised guidelines that address the unique challenges of the continent. The absence of such guidelines results in fragmented approaches, inconsistent methodologies, and data that are difficult to compare. Therefore, there is need to develop continental guidelines that provide methodological, operational, institutional, and ethical standards for the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. The guidelines will support National Statistical Offices (NSOs), Central Banks, Ministries, Research Institutions, Regional Economic Communities, and Development Partners in producing reliable, timely, and internationally comparable data through phone-based data collection systems. It is against this background that Africa Union seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to develop comprehensive and practical Guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. • Objectives of the assignment

The objective of this assignment is to develop harmonised, standardised and Africa-specific guidelines for the design and implementation of Phone Observatory Surveys across the continent. The specific objectives are to: • Review and assess the existing international, continental and regional guidelines, frameworks, standards, and best practices for phone-based surveys. • Assess the landscape of phone observatory surveys currently being conducted across African countries, identifying gaps, challenges, and lessons learned. • Develop comprehensive, step-by-step guidelines covering all phases of a phone observatory survey, from design and sampling through to data dissemination and archiving. • Propose a harmonised set of core indicators and modules that can be adapted for use. • Provide recommendations for institutionalising phone observatories within national statistical systems and for ensuring their sustainability. • Duration and Timeline

The Individual Consultant (IC) is expected to produce a guideline document within 90 days from the date of signing the consultancy services contract. • Reporting and supervision

The Individual Consultant (IC) 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 consultant is expected to send an updated C.V and a methodological note about the understanding of the entire assignment. • Timeframe

| Activity | Deliverables/ Outputs | Anticipated Duration (Days) | • Defining the consultant’s approach to delivering the guideline. | Methodological report outlines the consultant’s approach to undertaking this consultancy. This should be after the submission of an inception report. | 10 days | • Development of guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. | Assessment report and outline of the guideline. | 20 days | Draft of the guideline. | 30 days | stakeholders’ consultations and validation report with feedback on the draft guideline. | 10 days | Report for in-person presentation of the updated guidelines to STATAFRIC and other stakeholders | 10 days | Finalized guideline. | 10 days • Required Qualifications and Experience

The Individual Consultant (IC) should have at least a master’s degree in statistics, demography, economics, Social Sciences, or a related field with at least 15 years of professional experience. • Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in survey methodology, statistical data collection, or National Statistical System development. • Demonstrated experience in designing and/or implementing phone-based surveys or high-frequency surveys, preferably in Africa

• Experience with CATI systems, digital data collection tools and survey sampling methods. • Experience working with National Statistical Offices, African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities, or international statistical organisations. • Prior experience developing guidelines, standards, or methodological frameworks for statistical purposes. • Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and technical workshops

• Demonstrated effective, oral, written communication skills and able to write concise and understandable reports;

• 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 stipulated tasks in the ToR and the entire assignment. | • 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 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 06th August 2026 at 15:00 Hours Local Time, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Only submitted Expression of Interests (EoIs) mentioning the reference number “TN-STATAFRIC-AUC-546834-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: tender@africanunion.org Terms of Reference Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy Services to develop Guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. • Background

Demand for timely, high-frequency, and cost-effective data has led African countries to explore innovative ways of data collection and statistical production. Traditional face-to-face surveys, while essential, are often resource-intensive, time-consuming, and difficult to implement during emergencies, conflicts, pandemics, natural disasters, and other situations that restrict field operations. Recent advancements in mobile phone penetration, telecommunications infrastructure, digital technologies, and data science have created opportunities for conducting Phone Observatory Surveys (POS) as a complementary data collection mechanism. Phone surveys have proven effective in generating rapid information on socio-economic conditions, employment, food security, health, education, migration, business performance, agricultural activities, prices, and citizen perceptions. Despite the growing uptake of phone surveys across Africa, there remains a significant gap in continent-specific, harmonised guidelines that address the unique challenges of the continent. The absence of such guidelines results in fragmented approaches, inconsistent methodologies, and data that are difficult to compare. Therefore, there is need to develop continental guidelines that provide methodological, operational, institutional, and ethical standards for the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. The guidelines will support National Statistical Offices (NSOs), Central Banks, Ministries, Research Institutions, Regional Economic Communities, and Development Partners in producing reliable, timely, and internationally comparable data through phone-based data collection systems. It is against this background that Africa Union seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to develop comprehensive and practical Guidelines for Phone Observatory Surveys in Africa. • Objectives of the assignment

The objective of this assignment