Development of Harmonized Methodology for Agriculture Statistics in Africa — HISWA

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Name of Project: Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA)

Grant No: P169265

Assignment Title: Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy services for the Development of Guideline for Harmonized Methodology on Agriculture Statistics in Africa.

Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-478043-CS-INDV.

• Background

The African Union Commission (AUC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) 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 for the Development of Guideline for Harmonized Methodology on Agriculture Statistics in Africa.

In January 2021, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union adopted the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA II) as a continental strategy for the development of statistics. This strategy aims to accelerate the production and harmonization of statistics in Africa to support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030. To enable the implementation of SHaSA II, 18 Specialized Technical Groups (STGs) were formed to facilitate discussions and knowledge sharing on national practices, international standards and methodological guidelines. One STG was tasked to address the issues affecting Agriculture and specifically to standardize methodologies and standards for production of statistics in this area. This is due to the importance of this sector in Africa as it is the main driver of economic growth in many countries, a primary source of employment and livelihoods and a key contributor to food security.

Despite the importance of the agriculture sector in Africa, many countries lack quality statistics to comprehensively inform policy decisions, plan, monitor, and evaluate its performance. There exist significant discrepancies and inconsistencies among African countries in data collection methodologies, definitions, classifications, and reporting systems. This hinder data comparability across countries, regions and the continent, making it difficult to achieve the regional integration agenda. Therefore, it is important to harmonize the different methodologies/approaches used in the production of agricultural statistics in AU Member States.

To address this challenge, there is a critical need to develop a harmonized guideline on agriculture statistics to promote consistency, comparability, and quality of data across the continent. These statistical standards and methodologies are crucial for supporting the African Union in planning, monitoring, and evaluating agricultural programs and policies at both national and regional levels. Adoption of a harmonized methodology will also result in the usage of standardized tools for collecting and analyzing agricultural data, enabling Member States to strengthen or develop integrated agricultural statistical systems for better management and policy development in the agricultural sector.

• Objectives of the assignment

The main objective of this consultancy is to develop a guideline with a set of harmonized methodologies for agriculture statistics in Africa, taking into consideration key areas of interest of the continent. The guidelines should also include specific recommendations for strengthening coordination, collaboration, data sharing, communication of agricultural statistics and should be aligned with the SHaSA2 and the African Charter on Statistics (ACS).

• Duration and Timeline

The individual consultant is expected to produce a guideline document within 90 days from the date of assumption of duty. The first revised version will be submitted to the AU Member States and the relevant stakeholders from RECs and international organizations for comments and validation.

• Reporting and supervision.

The individual consultant 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 individual consultant must send a C.V. and a methodological note on the understanding of the assignment.

• Timeline.

Activity

Deliverables/ Outputs

Anticipated Duration (Days)

|

• Defining the consultant’s approach to delivering the guideline.

Methodological report outlining the consultant’s approach to undertake this consultancy. This should be after the submission of an inception report.

10 days

|

• Development of the Guidelines on Agriculture Statistics.

• 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 assignment and the tasks in the ToR.

|

• 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 aforementioned Consultancy 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 30th July 2025 at 15:00 Hours Local Time, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Only submitted Expression of Interests (EoIs) mentioning the reference number “TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-478043-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: [email protected]