REOI – TECHNICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT TO THE APRM NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL (NGC) OF SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM PROCESS

FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Procurement Number: EOI/APRM/TRI//EU/06/2021

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT TO THE APRM NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL (NGC) OF SOUTH AFRICA

Background

1. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was established in 2003 by the African Union Heads of State and Government with the primary purpose of fostering practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development, as well as accelerated regional and continental integration. It seeks to rectify underlying deficiencies in governance and socioeconomic development processes among member states of the African Union. Participating countries undertake detailed review processes (including consultations with government, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders), culminating in a peer review exercise at the level of Heads of State and Government. A key feature of the APRM is that it is home grown. This, as well as its voluntary nature, are important in buttressing and consolidating Africa’s ownership of its development agenda. As an assessment and monitoring tool, the APRM can also help to track progress towards meeting regional and international development aspirations and commitments including AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Union and its Heads of State and Government are cognizant of this, and in January 2017, expanded the mandate of the Mechanism from core reviews in governance to also include monitoring and evaluation role for African Union Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. This reflects the confidence reposed in the Mechanism by Continental leaders and will contribute to the universalization of the APRM good governance efforts, where all AU member states will become members of the APRM.
2. The South African National Governing Council (NGC) is the body which oversees the implementation of the APRM process at national level. It is responsible for amongst other tasks for providing policy direction, and ensuring professionalism, credibility, and the independence of the national APRM self-assessment and review process. The NGC is composed of key stakeholder groups from government, civil society, and the private sector, in line with the APRM principle of broad-based participation.
3. In order to strengthen and fast-track the current ongoing Second-Generation Country Review and self-assessment process and to ensure that it is technically competent, credible and independent, the Continental APRM Secretariat, on behalf of the Republic of South Africa’s NGC calls for the additional technical support of Technical Research Institutions (TRI) who have the requisite expertise, technical competence and capabilities in the following thematic areas that are directly related to the APRM Review process:

• Democracy and Political Governance;
• Economic Governance and Management;
• Corporate Governance; and
• Socio-Economic Development.

4. The Technical Research Institutions (TRI) shall, inter alia, ensure that: the APRM self-assessment submissions and other research thus far completed are complemented using tools including the APRM Questionnaire, and that these tools are understood fully and widely among stakeholders in completing the Country Self-Assessment Report using research methods including stakeholder validation. The Technical Research Institutions shall support the production of a country self-assessment report that is objective, accurate and representative of the views of the public.

5. Qualification and Experience of the TRI

The following qualifications and experience are required. The TRI shall:

1. Have intimate knowledge of the current ongoing Second-Generation Country Review process; and
2. Have the requisite expertise, technical competence, and capabilities in one or more of the following thematic areas that are directly related to the APRM Review process:

• Democracy and Political Governance;
• Economic Governance and Management;
• Corporate Governance;
• Socio-Economic Development; and

c. Be able to complement an extensive set of documents already completed by the Republic of South Africa in completing its country self-assessment report, within a tight timeline, to complement the progress that the NGC has made. The assignment duration is 60 days and is expected to start in the first week of August 2021.

d. The TRI must be a national or regional institution with offices based in South Africa. The working language for all processes and written outputs is English.

In line with the above, the prospective Technical Research Institutions are requested to accordingly respond by indicating their willingness to support the National Governing Council (NGC) in their areas of expertise in accordance with the thematic areas listed in paragraph 5.b above.

6. A non-compulsory virtual briefing session will be held with all TRIs on, 8th July 2021 at 10:00 South Africa time. The meeting link of the session will be communicated on or before 8th July 2021 to those TRIs who confirm their attendance in writing through email, [email protected].

The short-list and the selection procedure shall be in done in accordance with the AU Procurement Manual, version 2.0 dated July 2016. Only shortlisted candidates shall be issued with the Request for Proposal (RFP)

Interested Consultants may obtain further information by contacting [email protected]  during office hours (8h00 -17h00 SAST). Clarification shall be published on the APRM website (www.aprm-au.org) and MUST be requested not less than seven days prior to the closing date of the bid.

SUBMISSION OF BID:

1. Expressions of interest must be submitted via email: [email protected] or physically delivered to: Procurement office, African Peer Review Mechanism, Private Bag x09, Halfway House, 1685. Physical Address: 230 15th Street, Randjies Park, 1st Floor, Midrand, South Africa on or before 15^th July 2021 at 11.00 am South Africa Time. The EOI Shall be opened on 15^th July 2021 at 11.00 am South Africa time.
2. Submission to be titled: Procurement Number: EOI/APRM/TRI //EU /06/2021- EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT TO THE APRM NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL (NGC) OF SOUTH AFRICA.
3. Only bids submitted on time shall be accepted. Bids submitted with wrong submission title shall be rejected. Bid must be properly titled.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL

Date: 01 July 2021