Consulting Services to conduct a Continental Study on the State of Performance of Public Service delivery in Africa — Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION) Country: Ethiopia Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project Grant No : P180117 Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Conduct a Continental Study on the State of Performance of Public Service Delivery in Africa Reference No . ET-AUC-555560-CS-QCBS The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include undertaking a continental diagnostic study on the state of public service delivery in Africa to generate evidence-based knowledge that supports public administration reforms and strengthens governance systems across AU Member States. 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 consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: At least 10-15 years of experience in governance research, institutional diagnostics, or public administration reform. Proven experience conducting large-scale multi-country research studies or governance assessments. Demonstrated experience working with multilateral organizations, regional institutions, or government agencies, preferably within Africa. Strong expertise in public sector reform, governance indicators, institutional performance analysis, or civil service reform. Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality analytical reports and policy publications. Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex research assignments across multiple countries. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. 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. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants’ Quality and Cost-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours . Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 13 August 2026 . African Union Commission, Head of Supply Chain Management Division Building C, 3rd Floor, P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430 E-mail: Tender@africanunion.org TERMS OF REFERENCE CONSULTING SERVICES TO CONDUCT A CONTINENTAL STUDY ON THE STATE OF PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN AFRICA REF: ET-AUC-555560-CS-QCBS Background Strong public administration systems are fundamental to state capacity, democratic governance, and the effective delivery of development outcomes. Public service institutions constitute the operational backbone of government and play a central role in translating public policies into tangible services that affect the daily lives of citizens. Across the African continent, the ability of governments to deliver inclusive development, maintain public trust, and respond to emerging crises depends significantly on the professionalism, efficiency, accountability, and performance of public service institutions. The African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, recognizes the central role of capable public institutions in advancing sustainable development. Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063 calls for an Africa characterized by good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. This also aligns with Moonshot 3 of the Decade of acceleration of Agenda 2063 which states ‘public institutions should be strengthened’. Achieving this aspiration requires professional public administrations capable of implementing policies effectively, managing public resources responsibly, and delivering quality services to citizens. To strengthen public administration systems across the continent, African Union Member States adopted the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration (2011). The Charter provides a continental normative framework aimed at ensuring an efficient public sector in Africa. The Charter further commits Member States to modernizing public administration systems, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing service delivery to citizens. Despite these commitments, numerous governance assessments conducted on the continent have highlighted persistent challenges affecting the effectiveness of public service institutions in Africa. These include limited institutional capacity, fragmented administrative systems, weak performance management frameworks, insufficient monitoring mechanisms, and varying levels of transparency and accountability. Several major continental and international studies have sought to measure governance performance across Africa. These include: The Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) , which provides comparative data on governance and public service delivery[1]. The African Development Bank’s African Governance Outlook ,[2] which analyses financial governance trends across African countries. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) country reports, which identify governance challenges including weaknesses in public administration systems.[3] The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) African Governance Reports , which examine institutional governance and public sector reforms.[4] The World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators , particularly the Government Effectiveness index.[5] The OECD Government at a Glance framework , which provides detailed metrics for assessing public sector performance.[6] The Chandler Good Governance Index measures the capabilities and effectiveness of 133 governments around the world based on 35 unique indicators.[7] While these initiatives provide valuable insights into governance trends, they do not offer a dedicated, systematic continental assessment focused specifically on public service performance in Africa and on the implementation of the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration since its entry into force. This gap was formally recognized during the Second Conference of State Parties (COSPII) to the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration held in April 2021, where Member States highlighted the absence of reliable data on public service performance across the continent. The Conference therefore requested the African Union Commission to undertake a continental study on the State of Public Service Delivery in Africa. The COSP sits under the auspices of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) No. 8 on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization whose aim is to strengthen governance systems and enhance the effectiveness of public administration across African Union Member States. The STC 8 receives financial support from the World Bank through the Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda 2063 (BIASHARA) project which aims to promote regional integration and trade broadly. Improving governance mechanisms on the continent to enable regional trade and continental integration is also one of the key objectives of the BIASHARA Project. This study is therefore intended to provide a comprehensive evidence-based assessment of public administration/services delivery and performance across AU Member States, including comparative analysis, benchmarking of governance practices, and identification of policy reforms necessary to strengthen public sector institutions. The study will support the work of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) No. 8 on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization, as well as the broader governance agenda of the African Union as well as in implementation of the goals of the BIASHARA project which aims at improving good governance and regional integration on the continent. II. Objective of the Assignment The overall objective of the assignment is to undertake a continental diagnostic study on the state of public service delivery in Africa to generate evidence-based knowledge that supports public administration reforms and strengthens governance systems across AU Member States. The specific objectives of the assignment are to: Develop a comprehensive analytical and benchmarking framework to measure public service delivery and performance across Africa and document best practices and successful public sector reforms across African countries. Assess the effectiveness of public service institutions and identify structural, institutional, and policy challenges affecting public administration systems across AU Member States. Evaluate Member States’ progress in implementing the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration. III. Scope of Work The consulting firm shall undertake a comprehensive continental study on the state of public service delivery covering African Union Member States. The assignment will involve the collection of primary and secondary data, analysis, synthesis, and dissemination of evidence on the functioning, effectiveness, and performance of public service institutions across the continent. The purpose of the assignment is to generate a robust evidence base on public administration systems in Africa, identify key structural and institutional challenges affecting public service delivery, document innovative reform initiatives and best practices, and produce policy-relevant recommendations that can support public administration reforms across AU Member States. IV. Deliverables and Schedule for Completion of Tasks The assignment is expected to commence upon signature of the consultancy contract and is anticipated to be completed within a six (6) month period from the contract start date. The consulting firm shall deliver the outputs outlined below in accordance with the agreed work plan and schedule. The deliverables shall reflect the successful completion of the key tasks described in the Scope of Work and shall be submitted to the African Union Commission for review and approval. Assignment Start Date The assignment is expected to commence within Two weeks following contract signature and after the official kick-off meeting with the African Union Commission. Deliverables and Timeline The consulting firm will be required to produce the 3 deliverables within the duration of the assignment, and the payment will be deliverables based: - Deliverable 1: Draft Continental Study - Report including all primary and secondary data collection following the approved methodology Deliverable 2: Final Report after review of the Committee of Experts established by the African Union and World Bank Deliverable 3: Compendium of Best Practices in good governance/public sector practices Review and Approval Process All deliverables shall be subject to review and approval by the African Union Commission. The consulting firm shall incorporate comments and feedback provided by the Commission within an agreed timeframe before the deliverables are considered final. Approval of each deliverable will constitute the basis for progressing to subsequent stages of the assignment and for the release of milestone payments under the consultancy contract which will be deliverable. V. Data, Services, and facilities to be provided by the Client: To facilitate the effective implementation of the assignment, the African Union Commission (AUC) will provide the consulting firm with relevant information, documentation, and institutional support where available and applicable. The consulting firm will remain responsible for undertaking all analytical work required to complete the assignment. The African Union Commission will provide the following support: Access to Information and Documentation The AUC will provide access to relevant policy frameworks, reports, and documentation that may inform the study, including but not limited to: The African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration Relevant AU governance frameworks and policy instruments Reports and documentation from the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) No. 8 on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization Existing AU studies related to governance, public administration and institutional reform Relevant continental governance reports and publications produced by AU partners where available Facilitation of Institutional Engagement The AUC will facilitate communication and coordination with relevant stakeholders where necessary, including: AU Member States Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Public service institutions and national civil service authorities Relevant continental governance institutions and partners Administrative Coordination The assignment will be coordinated through the Directorate for Governance and Conflict Prevention - Secretariat of the Specialized Technical Committee on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization (AU-STC No. 8) within the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS). The consulting firm will be expected to work closely with the STC 8 Secretariat to ensure alignment with AU policy priorities and institutional processes. Reporting Requirements The consulting firm will be required to submit periodic progress reports and final outputs to the African Union Commission throughout the duration of the assignment. The African Union will have these reports evaluated by the Committee of Experts. All reports shall be submitted in English, in electronic format (Microsoft Word). Deliverables must be submitted in editable format suitable for further publication and dissemination by the African Union Commission. Consultant’s Qualifications, Experience Requirements and Consultant’s Team Composition with Estimate of Key Experts Input. A. Firm Qualifications and Experience The consulting firm (or consortium) must demonstrate strong institutional capacity and experience relevant to the assignment. The firm should meet the following minimum requirements: - At least 10-15 years of experience in governance research, institutional diagnostics, or public administration reform. Proven experience conducting large-scale multi-country research studies or governance assessments. Demonstrated experience working with multilateral organizations, regional institutions, or government agencies, preferably within Africa. Strong expertise in public sector reform, governance indicators, institutional performance analysis, or civil service reform. Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality analytical reports and policy publications. Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex research assignments across multiple countries. B. Team Composition and Key Experts The consulting firm shall propose a multidisciplinary team composed of qualified experts with demonstrated experience in governance research and public administration reform. The proposed team should collectively cover the following areas of expertise: Governance and public administration Civil service reform Public sector performance measurement Institutional diagnostics Data analysis and statistics Policy research and comparative governance analysis Editorial and publication support The consulting firm shall clearly indicate the roles and responsibilities of each team member and provide evidence of relevant experience in similar assignments. Assignment Management Arrangement: The assignment will be managed by the Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate (GCPD) within the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the African Union Commission. Supervisory Structure The consulting firm will work in close collaboration with the Governance Expert of the Governance and Human Rights Division and report to: Head of Division for Governance and Human Rights /Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Specialized Technical Committee No. 8 (STC-8) Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate Review and Approval Process The African Union Commission will review and approve all deliverables submitted by the consulting firm. The review process will involve: Submission of deliverables by the consulting firm. Technical review by the relevant units within the African Union Commission. Engagement with Member States on the review of the data collected. Provision of comments and feedback to the consulting firm. Revision of deliverables by the consulting firm based on comments received. Formal approval of deliverables by the African Union Commission. Contract Type Contract Type The assignment will be implemented under a deliverables-based Consultancy Contract , covering all professional fees and associated costs required for the completion of the assignment. Contract Duration The expected duration of the assignment is six (6) months from the date of contract signature. Assignment Location The assignment will be implemented through a combination of home-based field work (for data collection) and stakeholder consultations, which may include engagement with AU Member States and regional institutions. [1] https://iiag.online [2] https://elibrary.acbfpact.org/acbf/collect/acbf/index/assoc/HASH01f9/ffd736c8/eb6f0eb8/8963.dir/file%200103.pdf [3] https://aprm.au.int/en/documents/reports [4] https://archive.uneca.org/publications/african-governance-report-v [5] https://databank.worldbank.org/source/worldwide-governance-indicators [6] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/06/government-at-a-glance-2025_70e14c6c.html [7] https://chandlergovernance.com/cggi