Study to develop guidelines on building partnerships — HISWACA - SOP 1 Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Name of Project: Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa - Series of Projects 1 (HISWACA - SOP 1)

Grant No: P178497

Assignment Title: Individual Consultant (IC) to perform the Consultancy services for the development of guidelines for Building strong partnerships with foundations, civil society, and partners in the continent and outside the continent.

Reference No. ET-AUC-478522-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 and Central Africa - Series of Projects 1 (HISWACA - SOP 1) 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 guidelines for Building strong partnerships with foundations, civil society, and partners in the continent and outside the continent.

In response to persistent challenges in production, coordination, and use of statistics across Africa, the second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2) was launched as a continental framework. SHaSA 2 seeks to strengthen the capacity of the African Statistical System (ASS) to produce reliable, harmonized, and policy-relevant data for tracking development agendas such as Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and key integration initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Within the framework of SHaSA 2, the African Union Institute of Statistics (STATAFRIC) plays a central role in coordinating the production of quality statistics across the continent. To support this effort, STATAFRIC is undertaking an initiative to develop guidelines for building strong partnerships with foundations, civil society, and stakeholders both within and beyond the continent

• Overview on the projects and concerned activity

The HISWACA-SOP1 project aims to strengthen the capacities of national and regional statistical systems in West and Central Africa by enhancing the production, comparability, quality, and accessibility of statistical data. It forms part of a broader continental initiative led by the African Union and supported by the World Bank, in alignment with key reference frameworks such as the African Charter on Statistics, the SHaSA 2 Strategy, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)..

In Africa, despite notable progress in the production of reliable statistics, national statistical systems remain fragmented. Coordination among national statistical offices, sectoral ministries, regional organizations, civil society, and international partners is still insufficient, which undermines the effectiveness of the African Statistical System (ASS) and limits the optimal use of data for development.

Recent initiatives across Africa underscore the urgent need for quality statistics that are: reliable, objective, coherent, harmonized, and comparable across time and space. Also, produced regularly and effectively; Accessible to a broad spectrum of users—public, private, and civil society.

Therefore, and as part of the Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2), Strategic Theme 2, Coordinating the Production of Quality Statistics for Africa, seeks to enhance coordination through the establishment of formal collaboration mechanisms. Indeed, in its strategic initiative 2.1.7 Building strong partnerships with foundations, civil society, partners, users in the continent and out-side the continent, it is expected that Actors and financial and technical partners are involved in the development of African statistics. This should be addressed through the establishment of partnerships within all AU Member States, RECs and all ASS actors. Also, it promotes the development of strong and inclusive partnerships, engaging foundations, civil society, data users, and both technical and financial partners. The formulation of specific guidelines is crucial to clearly define roles, facilitate the pooling of resources, and ensure alignment with continental standards.

• Objectives of the assignment

The aim is to develop a guidelines document to establish solid and lasting partnerships with foundations, civil society organizations, data users, and technical partners across the African continent and internationally. This will be achieved through the organization of structured exchanges designed to identify their specific needs regarding statistical data.

This document will serve as a strategic reference for National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and all ASS stakeholders by providing a structured partnership framework for the cooperation in the production, dissemination, and use of statistical data. It seeks to foster inclusive participation at every stage of the process by ensuring accessibility, representativeness, and responsiveness to the diverse needs of data users.

• Duration and Timeline

The Individual Consultant (IC) is expected to produce a final guidelines document within 90 days starting from the date of signing the consultancy services contract. 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 (IC) will work remotely under the supervision of STATAFRIC staff and will provide regular updates according to the agreed schedule. The contract is proposed under the following terms and conditions:

• The duration of this contract is three months.

• The individual consultant must send an updated C.V. and a methodological note on the understanding of the entire assignment and tasks.

• Timeframe.

Activity

Deliverables/ Outputs

Anticipated Duration (Days)

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• Define the consultant’s approach to delivering the guidelines document.

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

10 days

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• Development of the guidelines document for Building strong partnerships with foundations, civil society, and partners in the continent and outside the continent.

• General experience: 10%

Use the general experience indicated in the ToR

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• 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 entire assignment and tasks.

|

• 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 06th March 2026 at 15:00 Hours Local Time, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Only submitted Expression of Interests (EoIs) mentioning the reference number “ET-AUC-478522-CS-INDV“ in the subject field of the e-mail, will be considered.

African Union Commission,

Attn: Head, Supply Chain Management Division - Operations Support Ser