TOR – ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE EXPERT FOR THE AGR 2021 PROJECT

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

TERMS OF REFERENCE

ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE EXPERT FOR THE AGR 2021 PROJECT

1. BACKGROUND

The African Peer Review Mechanism 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. The APRM covers four thematic areas: (i) Democracy and political governance; (ii) Economic management and governance; (iii) Corporate governance; and (iv) Socio-economic development. Participating countries go through detailed review process (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. Annex 3 presents details of the APRM structures and review processes. 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’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Union and the Heads of State are cognizant of this and in January 2017 expanded the mandate of the mechanism from the core reviews to monitoring and evaluation role for the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030. This is a reflection of the confidence still reposed in the mechanism and will contribute to the universalization of the APRM. The ultimate goal is that all member states of the AU will become members of the APRM.

Description of the Project

The Africa Governance Report (AGR) is a publication of the African Union (AU) Assembly on the state of governance in Africa. It is produced by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Secretariat in collaboration with members of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Platform, with participation and inputs from a broad stakeholder base. The primary purpose of the AGR is to provide relevant, accurate and informative assessments and reports on selected and key governance areas in all the 55 Member States of the AU. Based on expert research and analysis, the AGR aims to present evidence-based, objective, and balanced reviews on the state of African governance, towards attaining long-term political, social and economic stability and development on the continent.

The inaugural AGR 2019 presented a baseline assessment of the current state of governance in Africa, according to five thematic areas: transformative leadership; constitutionalism and the rule of law; peace, security and governance; development and governance; and, the role of regional economic communities in African governance. Further, the AGR 2019 presented a set of thirty (30) recommendations, itemized per each theme, as a basis for bolstering governance enhancement and reforms at continental, regional and member state levels. The AGR 2019 has been successfully launched at several regional events with ongoing dissemination and uptake of the contents and recommendations.

2. OBJECTIVE

The APRM and the AGA are now working to produce the next edition of the AGR. The proposed AGR 2021 will provide a complementary lens on African governance from a futures perspective. Proceeding from the initial AGR 2019 theme of Promoting African Union Shared Values, the AGR 2021 will utilize scenario building and apply a strategic foresight lens to chart plausible African governance futures in 2063. The scenarios, which will be generated organically, will depict best to worst case possibilities, as well as surprise aspects that may emerge, in the journey to realizing a future of the ‘Africa we want’ within the next forty (40) years.

2.1 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

The APRM requires the services of an Economic Governance Expert to contribute to the development of the AGR 2021, including conducting researching and writing reports on economic governance in Africa.

3.SCOPE OF THE SERVICE

1. Provide research, analysis, writing and reporting for the AGR 2021; with particular thematic focus on economic governance;
2. Submit governance research and analysis in areas relating to national budget analysis, public finance, gender sensitive budgeting, illicit financial flows, international trade regulation, and fiscal and monetary policy;
3. Collect and analyse information from governance integrated programs implemented by African Union Member States, Institutions and Organs and initiatives, inclusive of RECs;
4. Provision of recommendations and technical advice on economic governance reforms to APRM Member States;
5. Reporting on writing progress;
6. Attend, participate and report in all relevant meetings, as required;
7. Provision of technical inputs to analytic work and advisory services relating to Economic governance in the AGR 2021 or as required by the project;

4) REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION

The Consultant shall report directly to the APRM Africa Governance Report Coordinator. The report will be reviewed by the AGR project implementation team before it is submitted to stakeholders and management.

5) DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver the following major outputs, and reports. Not limited to the schedule below, the consultant shall prepare a detailed work plan of activities.

Throughout the process emphasis will be placed on highly effective, regular and detailed communication with the Project Coordinator.

6.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA

Only bidders who will attain a threshold score of 70% and above in the technical evaluation will be considered technically responsive and subjected to financial evaluation.

7. FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT

The Client will provide access to all information and stakeholders to facilitate the assignment.

8. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND PAYMENT

The expected duration of the assignment is 6 months upon signing of the contract by both parties.

Payment schedule 

15% upon submission of the inception report

25% upon submission of a zero draft

60% upon submission of the Final and validated report

9. LOCATION

The Consultant will work remotely for the duration of the assignment.

10.  GENERAL INFORMATION

All consultancies will be advertised on an equal opportunity basis.

11.  LANGUAGE OF ASSIGNMENT

The language of the assignment shall be English Language.

12.0 REMUNERATION

The Consultant shall provide their financial proposal on a different paper.

13.0 MODE OF APPLICATION

All applications in writing should be accompanied by up-to-date detailed Curriculum Vitae with the names and addresses of three referees, one of which should be the last consultancy.

The Consultant is required to send her/his CV with information (on her/his education, experience, expertise, skills and former position capability pertinent to the items related to the evaluation criteria as described in the paragraph 6.0.

The applications to be addressed to:

Project Coordinator

African Peer Review Mechanism Secretariat

Private Bag XO8, Halfway House

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

Raandjies Park, Midrand, 1685,

South Africa

All applications must be submitted to Email: [email protected]

Bid Closing date: 16 June 2020 at 11am RSA time.