Study on Advancing Digital Trade Statistics in the East African Community — EARDIP Project

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION)

REF NO: TZ-EAC-556254-CS-CQS

East African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP)

Project ID No/Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: (P176181)

Date of Issue: 16th June 2026

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR UNDERTAKING A SURVEY ON ADVANCING DIGITAL TRADE STATISTICS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The East African Community has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The East African Community (EAC), with support from the World Bank, is implementing the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) to strengthen regional digital integration across Partner States by enhancing cross-border digital infrastructure, improving broadband access, and fostering a conducive environment for digital services. The project is anchored on key components including connectivity and market integration, data market development, online market integration, and project management, all aimed at creating a seamless and secure digital ecosystem. Complementing these efforts, the EAC E-Commerce Strategy adopted in July 2022 seeks to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks, build institutional capacity, promote trust in digital trade, and enhance regional collaboration to support the growth of e-commerce and expand opportunities for MSMEs.

In this context, the proposed assignment seeks to develop and pilot a survey methodology to capture trends in digital trade at domestic, regional and international level. With a first deployment of this methodology as a pilot, the exercise will also inform about the current market conditions for digital trade, the opportunities and challenges relating to e-Commerce developments in the EAC region as well as the socio-economic impact and the main actors. It will recommend policy interventions to promote inclusive growth and sustainable digital trade. The scope of work will include undertaking stock of the developments on e-commerce in the EAC Partner States and document the main factors and actors contributing to growth or inhibiting adoption, the gaps in infrastructure, policy and legal frameworks. The findings will be expected to inform recommendations to catalyze e-commerce growth.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website:

EARDIP: To Undertake a Survey on Advancing Digital Trade Statistics in the East African Community

The EAC Secretariat now invites eligible consulting firms (Consultants’) to express 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 described.

The shortlisting criterion is as follows:

• Firm’s Existence: Proof that the firm has been in continuous existence and active practice for at least five (5) years prior to the closing date of this tender. The firm must provide verifiable documentation confirming its legal registration, status, and good standing
• Relevant Experience: Evidence of having undertaken and completed two (2) similar or related nature of assignments in the last five (5) years providing brief description, client details, contract duration, and relevant references.
• Technical Expertise, Organization and Staffing: A dedicated team of key experts including Team leader, Trade expert and Research expert with requisite academic background, technical research skills, and contextual knowledge of digital trade and regional integration as per the detailed qualification criteria in the TOR. The firm must demonstrate a clear organizational structure and sufficient managerial capacity to oversee regional and dynamic technical assignments. It should have the ability to deliver highquality outputs within set timelines.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Should demonstrate experience engaging with diverse stakeholders across public and private sectors, including tech platforms, civil society, regulatory authorities, and digital market players, with evidence of successful consultation outcomes and proven ability to facilitate structured technical workshops, validation sessions, and broader multistakeholder engagement processes.
• Regional Experience: The firm should provide clear evidence of working in the East African region or similar regional economic blocs demonstrating familiarity with integration and regional policy and crossjurisdictional coordination. It should also show experience in assignments implemented through Regional Economic Communities, preferably within Africa or participation in broader regional trade integration or harmonization initiatives. Interested Consultants’ attention is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (November 2020, revised September 2023), which outline the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but must clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture (JV) or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture (JV), all partners shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract if selected. Therefore, each JV member must independently meet the evaluation criteria requirements. The experience, technical capability, and managerial capability of a sub-consultant shall not be considered to enhance the qualifications of the lead firm or JV.

A Consultant will be selected using the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method as outlined in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information may be obtained at the address below during office hours (9:00AM to 5:00 PM EAT). The consultants would be responsible for ensuring that any addendum available on the website is also downloaded and incorporated.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted in English (one original and two copies, where applicable) in written form, either in person or via email, to the address below. The submission deadline is Tuesday 30th June 2026, at 11:00 AM (EAT). The subject line should be: "Consultancy Services to for Undertaking a Survey on Advancing Digital Trade Statistics in the EAC."