REOI – CHIEF GOVERNANCE EXPERT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

PROCUREMENT NUMBER:REOI/APRM/ME/10/2020  

CHIEF GOVERNANCE EXPERT

1)INTRODUCTION

The APRM is an autonomous entity of the African Union, and is Africa’s homegrown initiative on governance., The APRM comprises 40 AU Member States. The APRM Strategic Plan for 2020–2024 was adopted by the APRM Heads of State and Government in February 2020, and highlights the manner in which the APRM’s work in governance meets  Agenda 2063, where APRM mainly addresses Aspiration 3 on  “An Africa of Good Governance, Democracy, Respect for Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law” and Aspiration 4 on “A Peaceful and Secure Africa.”

The Mechanism fosters the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional economic integration through the exchange of experiences and reinforcement of best practices including identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building of the participating countries. To date forty Member States of the African Union have voluntarily acceded to the APRM.

The Mechanism reviews the performance of a country against four thematic areas of Governance, which are democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance as well as socio-economic development. The APRM has promoted policy dialogue between leaders and citizens through the peer review process, highlighting critical overarching and cross-cutting challenges inhibiting the sustainable development of AU Member States. It has revealed best practices in individual countries and has demonstrated its ability for early warning and conflict prevention.

The APRM provides for four types of reviews:

• A base review, which is the first country review conducted within 18 months after a country’s accession to the APRM;
• Periodic reviews which take place every two to four years;
• A member country can, for its own reasons, request a review that is not part of the periodically mandated reviews; and
• Early signs of impending political and economic crises in a member country would also be sufficient cause for instituting a review.

2)PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the assignment is to assist APRM Senior Management in producing the second edition of the African Governance Report, due in 2021.

3)BACKGROUND OF ASSIGNMENT

Following the decision made by the Head of States at the special Summit of the APRM Forum held on 29 January 2016, APRM Secretariat took steps to develop and launch a strategy to revitalize the Mechanism. Father more in January 2017, H.E President Kagame made a recommendation in the framework of the AU reform and the AU Assembly Decided to expand the mandate of the APRM to truck the implementation of the key governance areas including the Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030.

From 2018 to 2019, APRM created a team that produced the first ever Africa Governance Report and popularised the report in meetings and launches. In 2020, the APRM is working on the second African Governance Report which is focussed on Africa Governance Future scenarios.

APRM is strengthening its capacity by recruiting high qualified and professional staff to be member of the team producing the Africa Governance Report. The APRM Secretariat is seeking for a Chief Governance Expert (P4) to be member of the team and support development of the African Governance Reports (AGR).

4)PROJECT DETAILS

The overall objective of the project is to be involved in the research, management and drafting of the Africa Governance Report.

The aim is to ensure that the biennial African Governance Report is of the highest quality and conform to the APRM principles of good political, economic, social and corporate governance, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, peaceful resolution of conflicts and are delivered in a technically and culturally competent and competent manner, free of political manipulation.

5)SCOPE OF WORK/ DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The scope of the work will cover the integration of governance and political economy issues, organization and institutional analysis, fragility, and change management in the work of the AGR team.

The Chief Governance Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contribute to the innovative and strategic work in one or more themes covered by the AGR report or any other governance related theme that responds to emerging needs;
• Provide intellectual leadership and be a recognized source of solutions in governance;
• Support APRM engagement on public sector governance issues in relevant countries, working in close collaboration with the strategic and other partners and all other stakeholder including civil society. In this role, he/she will respond to client needs, contribute to a program of support drawing on the full range of operational instruments available, and prepare and supervise specific technical assistance, analytical and knowledge products;
• Providing technical advice on public sector and economic governance reforms to teams and member states with a particular focus on institutions fostering inclusion, and on strengthening the delivery of public services;
• Providing technical inputs to analytic work and advisory services, and/or supervising the preparation of analytical products and other relevant technical reports (e.g. analysis, findings, and policy recommendations), in close collaboration with more senior staff;
• Contributing to knowledge generation and dissemination in all areas of governance, in close collaboration with colleagues and experts across the APRM Community;
• Contributing to the development agenda and leadership in knowledge generation through publication, when necessary, of high-quality analytical pieces; and
• Perform other related duties as required.

6)EXPECTED OUTPUT/ DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

• Desk and other research in support of the development of the African Governance Reports;
• Supervision of teams developing the sections in the African Governance Reports, including teams located in Member States and/or globally; and
• Research to support the development of advice to select countries and development partners in relation to governance.

The Consultant to be paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.

7) DURATION OF THE WORK

The duration of contract shall be for 6 months. The Consultant will work closely with APRM Continental Secretariat and will from time to time submit the progress of activities as agreed.

8) DUTY STATION

The Duty station is Midrand, South Africa.  However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Consultant may undertake some distance (online) mode of working based on agreed workplan and methodology, as advised and discussed with the APRM Secretariat, depending on travel and/or other restrictions.

9) PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The consultant shall be paid upon satisfactory deliverables.

10) QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES

Education:

Minimum PhD in governance, international relation, or related field; Sound knowledge of diplomacy, governance, peace, and security in Africa.

Experience:

• Minimum fifteen (15) years working experience in international organization with progressively more experience in governance research in various capacities.
• Academic research and work with research institutions, universities, think tanks or policy advisories related to governance in Africa is required.
• Experience in writing and/or editing materials for publications.
• Good analytical skills. Strong policy development experience at international and regional level.
• Have project management experience, managing the work of others, and able to respect deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of the Constitutive Act of the African Union as well as the overall objectives of the APRM, particularly in the thematic area of Corporate Governance and its interactions with the other areas; and
• Experience with the African Union or other international institutions in the above disciplines and areas is an added advantage. Good interpersonal and diplomatic skills; ability to work in a team in a consultative and collaborative manner observing protocol.

Skills & Requirements

• Ability to analyze and interpret data to inform program and resource mobilization decisions;
• Comfortable working in teams, with a diverse group of people of various nationalities and cultural backgrounds, as well as acting independently in the implementation of specific tasks, multitasking and prioritizing, working under pressure and meeting deadlines;
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills, including editing skills;
• Fluency or professional working proficiency in English is desirable;
• Organizational competencies include: Communication & Collaboration; Ethics & Integrity; and Professional Skills.

11)SELECTION/ EVALUATION CRITERIA ARE AS FOLLOWS:

12) CLARIFICATION

Clarification can only be sought through Email: [email protected] during working hours- Monday to Friday time 8.00a.m hrs to 5.00 p.m hours local time.

13) MODE OF APPLICATION/ SUBMISSION & DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED BY CONSULTANTS

The consultant should submit an expression of interest, containing a technical proposal and a Financial proposal. The technical proposal should, among others, list the profile of the consultant, understanding of the ToRS, understanding of the methodology, detailed workplan, references and contact persons.

The financial proposal should give a cost breakdown consultant fee and other relevant expenses. The proposal should be in USD and inclusive of all taxes and other statutory obligations as may apply.

The Technical & financial Proposal clearly marked ‘REOI: Procurement Number: REOI/APRM/ME/10/2020  CHIEF GOVERNANCE EXPERT Shall be submitted through Email: [email protected] on or 13 November 2020 at 11.00hrs local time. Eligible women are encouraged to apply. The REOI shall be opened immediately after the closing date and time.

All applications in writing should be accompanied by up-to-date Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents (Note: do not send originals) with the names and addresses of referees, one of which should be the last consultancy and SUBMIISION OF THE BID MUST BE TITLED : REOI/APRM/ME/10/2020 

CHIEF GOVERNANCE EXPERT: addressed to the address below and must be  submitted to: [email protected]

African Peer Review Mechanism

Private Bag XO8, Halfway House

Physical Address: 230 15th Road, 1st Floor,

Randjespark, Midrand, 1685,

South Africa

Tel: +27 11 256 3401