TOR – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON ‘STRENGTENING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: FINDINGS OF APRM COUNTRY REVIEW REPORTS’
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON ‘STRENGTENING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: FINDINGS OF APRM COUNTRY REVIEW REPORTS’
PROCUREMENT NUMBER: APRM/012/SIDA/ SYP/2020
1)BACKGROUND
In December 2019, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) received financing from the Swedish International Developed Agency (SIDA) and intends apply part of the grant as payment towards the procurement of an experienced Individual / Consultants to draft an independent study on ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance: Findings of APRM Country Review Reports’. The study will contribute towards a new APRM Youth Tool Kit and the workplan of the APRM Youth Network. Moreover, the study will be share with APRM Member States at the annual APRM Methodology Forum.
2)DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
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 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 the 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, they expanded the mandate of the Mechanism from the core reviews to monitoring and evaluation role, for the African Union Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. This is a reflection of the confidence reposed in the Mechanism and will contribute to the universalization of the APRM where all AU member states will become members of the APRM.
To date, over a period of 17 years, the APRM has conducted 23 Country Review Missions across the African continent covering extensive analysis of standards of governance in the four thematic areas, i.e. democracy and political governance, economic management and governance, corporate governance; and socio-economic development.
Youth mainstreaming has been prioritized as part and parcel of the revitalization of the APRM. The inaugural APRM International Youth Symposium held on the 1-2 July 2019 in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad, President Idriss Deby Itno and then APR Chairperson reiterated the need to have youth at the centre of governance matters associated with the APRM review process. The APRM CEO, Prof Eddy Maloka committed to mainstreaming youth in the APRM processes. Youth were further encouraged to form APRM Youth Networks in their countries under the guidance of APRM national offices, National Governing Councils (NGCs), APRM Secretariat and their government APRM Focal Points.
Soon after the Symposium in Chad, the APRM Secretariat signed in September December 2019, a collaborative framework with the AUC Youth Division aimed at further enhancing AU youth programs. The Secretariat has also supported the newly established APRM Youth Network. The study on ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Good Governance’ will therefore provide an overall report on how youth governance challenges have been reported in APRM Country Review Reports. The previous includes areas that the APRM should focus on and showcasing of the best practices in youth policy implementation that have been identified in country review reports. The study will provide a baseline study for APRM Youth Programmes and also give direction to the APRM Youth Network workplan.
3)OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The main objective of the assignment is the production of a comprehensive study titled: on ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance: Findings of APRM Country Review Reports’
4) SCOPE OF THE ASSSIGNMENT
4.1) Outputs
The Consultants shall deliver the following specific outputs:
An initial study which shall be a stocktaking report with the APRM Country Review Reports being used as the main reference. Desktop research of the APRM Reports, academic and other African /international focused reports should be utilised to identify the key challenges, emerging best practices, outstanding issues faced by African member countries regarding youth and good governance.
4.2) Output Timeline
The consultants shall deliver all outputs based on the following schedule:
i)Produce the Ist Draft which, in addition, should contain the methodology, work plan, the concrete design of the specific topic, and timelines after the awarding of the contract (1 week).
ii)Produce an outline of the 2nd Draft of the study within three weeks of project commencement
iii)Receive Comments and Feedback on the 1st Draft
iv)Produce the on ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance: Findings of APRM Country Reports’ study within one and half months.
5)DELIVERABLES
i)The main deliverable of the assignment is a Produce the on ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance: Review of APRM Country Reports’ study within one month
The study should at least have a 10 pages study per Member State Country Review Report
ii)Provide best practices identified and recommendations provided in the study
iii)Specific recommendations for Member States to focus on as they embark on 2nd Generation Country Reviews
iv)Propose Recommendations for the APRM to enhance its reporting tools
6)TIME FRAME /DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
This is 2 months assignment
7)QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
7.1 Education
Minimum Honours in Social Sciences (i.e. Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field) with 5 years’ experience or
Relevant Masters or PHD (i.e. Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field) with 3 years’ relevant experience
7.2 Relevant Experience
- An expert level understanding of the APRM and the governance challenges of the African Continent.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the development of public policy and youth development
- Knowledge on youth development and public policy at local, regional and international level
- Demonstrated ability to write academic and policy work as evidenced by samples of previous work
- Experience in managing projects, meetings, and teams
- Fluency in spoken English or French and ability to write lucid reports and documents in English or French is required; knowledge of the other language will be an added advantage.
8)FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT
The APRM Secretariat shall:
Facilitate access to relevant information, data and stakeholders
9) LOCATION
This is a home-based assignment. The Consultant is expected to use own laptop, data and other required equipment to carry out the task.
10) PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The assignment will be conducted in two months and the consultant will be paid upon certification of satisfactory work as per work plan and endorsed by APRM Continental Secretariat.
| Item | Deliverable | Payment fraction of the contract |
| 1 | Submission and acceptance of the 1st draft
|
20% |
| 2 | 40% of the contractual value upon submission and acceptance of the 2nd Draft with comments | 30% |
| 3 | 50% of the contractual value upon submission and acceptance of the Final Report. | 50% |
11)GENERAL INFORMATION
All consultancies will be advertised on an equal opportunity basis.
12)LANGUAGE OF ASSIGNMENT
The ‘Strengthening Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance: Review of APRM Country Reports’ final product should be presented in English/or French.
13) EVALUATION CRITERIA
The selection will be done based on the following criteria.
| Mandatory criteria | ||
| a)Minimum Honours level in Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field and minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in youth development or public policy, or
b)Relevant Masters or PHDin ( Governance , Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field) with 3 years’ relevant experience Submit CV and relevant Academic and Professional certifications |
||
| Technical Evaluation Criteria | Max. Point | Score |
| Academic /Education qualification with professional professional experience Minimum Honours level in Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field
Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in youth development or public policy, or Relevant Masters or PHD (Governance, Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Politics, Law or any other relevant field) with 3 years’ relevant experience
|
15 | |
|
20
|
||
| Knowledge of APRM and AU Youth Programmes particularly the knowledge products of the African Union, Evidence of a relevant knowldge product | 35 | |
| Expert level understanding of public policy, the APRM, the AU and its processes and the governance challenges of the African Continent, including drafting of policy briefs, essays, research reports on youth development | 20 | |
| Demonstrated ability to write to a very high standard as evidenced by previous examples of relevant work accomplished in the field. State at least two previous similar assignments | 15 | |
| Understanding of the ToRS- Responsiveness to the Terms of Reference | 5 | |
| Understanding of Methodology amd workplan to undertake the assignment within the two months | 5 | |
| Total Score | 100% | |
14)REPORTING
Overall the consultant is accountable for deliverables to the CEO APRM. However, on a day to day basis the Consultant shall report directly to the Project Coordinator.
15) RESERVATIONS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
APRM reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines. In the event of the producer ending the contract prior to delivering all agreed upon products, a portion of the payments shall be returned to the APRM.
The consultant undertakes to maintain confidentiality on all information that is not the public domain and shall not be involved in another assignment that represents a conflict of interest to the prevailing assignment. The Consultant shall undertake to refrain from promoting any political or religious beliefs in the documentary movie which is the subject of this contract.
16)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 at least seven days before closing. Response shall be published on APRM portal. DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR BID THROUGH THIS EMAIL
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 per milestone and take into consideration all 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: APRM/012/SIDA/ SYP/2020: INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON ‘STRENGTENING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: FINDINGS OF APRM COUNTRY REVIEW REPORTS’ Shall be submitted through Email: [email protected] on or before 15th October 2020 at 11.00hrs South Africa 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 certified Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents (Note: do not send originals) with the names and addresses of three referees, one of which should be the last consultancy and addressed to:
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
Send Bid to Email: [email protected]
