consultancy assignment to develop and deliver training on Strengthening Africa's Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems and Resilience to Hydromet Hazards — Regional Climate Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa 2 Project (RCRP2)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION) Name of Project: Regional Climate Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa 2 Project (RCRP2). Project ID: P181308 Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for the Development and Implementation of a Training Program in support of strengthening the capacities of key senior Hydromet and DRR practitioners among the RCRP countries, AU, SADC, ICPAC and other key regional entities. Reference No. ET-AUC-567618-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 Consultancy Services for the Development and Implementation of a Training Program in support of strengthening the capacities of key senior Hydromet and DRR practitioners among the RCRP countries, AU, SADC, ICPAC and other key regional entities 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: Firm’s core business: The firm should have a core business on training in hydrology, meteorology, climate sciences, physics, information and knowledge management, disaster risk management , Knowledge of MHEWS / AMHEWAS and has a license from a national or regional professional Body. Years in Business: The firm should have Minimum of 5 years’ experience in carrying out such trainings. Specific Experience: The firm should complete a minimum of 5 relevant similar projects financed by the World Bank or International financing Institution. The firm Should have adoption and use of proven training Quality Assurance measures. The firm should have demonstrated experience of having undertaken similar assignments in Africa at continental or regional levels The Firm should have an adequate staff with the required skill and qualification 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 October 8, 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 Consultancy Services for Development and Implementation of a Training Program in support of strengthening the capacities of key senior Hydromet and DRR practitioners among the RCRP countries, AU, SADC, ICPAC and other key regional entities. Introduction Africa is facing accelerated social-economic challenges, compounded by hydrometeorological induced disasters such as droughts, floods, tropical cyclones, mudslides and windstorms which have intensified in frequency and magnitude. This upsurge can be attributed, in part, to lack of mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction in development planning, inadequate investment in hydromet and early warning infrastructure, and lack of data management, open access and innovation in systems along with weak financial and human capacity to prepare, anticipate and respond to disaster emergencies. During the last 40 years, Africa has experienced more than 1000 disasters affecting more than 460 million people. In response to increasing disasters, the African Union Commission (AUC) with the support of the World Bank is implementing the Regional Climate Resilience Programme for Eastern and Southern Africa (RCRP-2) Series of Projects (SOP). This programme is a second operation in the SOPs funded by the World Bank. The programme aims to enhance climate resilience across Eastern and Southern Africa, including the African Union (AU), Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and South Sudan. The AUC is an implementing partner, tasked with strengthening regional coordination and capacity building within RCRP-2 countries. The AUC, therefore, seeks to recruit a team of consultants to undertake this assignment within sub-component 1.4: Strengthening capacity on hydromet services, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), and climate finance mobilisation. This sub-component aims to establishing and strengthening standardized regional systems and fostering technical expertise required to effectively respond to climate shocks and build long-term resilience. The training will build and enhance the capacities of RCRP-2 countries to implement the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme and enhance capacity of hydromet services to produce actionable forecast, alerts, warning advisories in coordination with AMHEWAS Situation Rooms, National Hydromet Agencies and National Disaster Management Agencies. Consequently, the AUC, in collaboration with the World Bank, seeks to recruit a team of consultants to organise a series of three short training courses (over a period of 6 months) to build the capacity of RCRP-2 countries. The training will cover the capacity needs of hydrometeorological and disaster risk management experts in RCRP-2 countries and respective Regional Economic Communities (RECs), particularly the Southern Africa Community Development (SADC) and IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) as well as the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres and other relevant entities within Africa East and South. Objective of the training programme The overall objective of the training programme is to strengthen the capacities of representatives from National Hydromet agencies, National DRM agencies, the African Union, Regional Climate Centres, Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres, and DRR situation rooms from SADC and ICPAC regions for improved understanding, analytics, management and access of weather, water and climate information to support decision support tools that aid policy makers. Scope of assignment The proposed training programme aligns with Component 1.4 of the RCRP-2 project and is a critical mechanism for achieving the Project Development Objective: “To improve resilience to climate- related shocks in Malawi and the Eastern and Southern Africa region, and in case of an Eligible Crisis or emergency, to respond promptly and effectively to it.” Synergies between the training programme and the overall RCRP-2 project objectives; The capacity building initiatives under the AU Commission’s component 1.4 directly contribute to the Project Development Objective (PDO) and Series of Projects objective by addressing critical regional capacity gaps. This training consultancy will be aligned with another activity – Consultancy to support regional hydromet diagnostic, regional engagement, support for systems and capacity building. This training consultancy is to be implemented within the framework of: Integrated EWS and DRR preparedness; The short training programme strengthens the capacity of national and regional institutions including hydromet, DRM agencies and related regional agencies, to strengthen EWS. The programme brings together selected data producers (hydromet) and users (DRM), specifically decision makers to facilitate common operational understanding and procedures. This addresses current data-to-action gaps and ensures that warnings are met with synchronized early actions, directly supporting the objective of responding “promptly and effectively” to shocks. It underpins the successful roll-out of the AMHEWAS programme. Need for a Community of Practice for Collaboration and partnerships: Products produced by National Hydrometeorological Agencies are used by National Disaster Management Agencies and other sectors. Lack of national coordination, collaboration and partnerships results in ineffective use of the information and inadequate preparedness and/or response by weather-dependent sectors. This leads to delayed response time to take anticipatory action by the users of hydrometeorological information. By bringing the relevant institutions in the same training, the training courses will foster interoperability, collaboration and improving the producer-user needs. Fostering a shared community of practice would allow for greater understanding and coordination. Regional coordination: The programme formally strengthens regional mechanisms for cooperation, which are essential for managing transboundary climate and weather-related challenges and harmonizing data and response protocols across borders, a core tenet of the RCRP SOP. The Consultancy will deliver a training program and support the establishment of the abovementioned community of practice. This will contribute to strengthening capacities of country representatives as well as those of AU, Regional Climate Centres, Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres, SADC, and ICPAC. This group will include service producers and end-users across multiple-sectors and within the project participating countries to improve resilience to climate shocks. Tasks of the consultants Task 1: Develop a defined training strategy including establishing the community of practitioners: The consultants, with support from AU (COP) will establish the COP with due attention to roles, functionalities mandates, qualifications and potential for impact. The consultant team will detail in its inception report the technical approach, methodology, and implementation strategy for the training programme. Based on initial consultations, the consultant firm will confirm the training scope, thematic areas and modalities for training including virtual and in-person trainings. Task 2: Develop training materials: The consultant firm will design detailed training modules for the prioritized thematic areas, with the content covering areas relevant to the design and implementation of multi-hazard early warning systems in RCRP-2 countries, including hazard monitoring and observation systems, Disaster Risk Reduction, data access, management, and use in decision support. The training materials will incorporate practical demonstrations of Multi-hazard early warning systems and align with tools and systems used by the COP. The consultant firm will also include the AMHEWAS system in their training and will be provided with the requisite access. Task 3: Implement the training program through webinars and at least one advanced training course (in-person) for the COP: The consultant One webinar and one advanced training workshop for the RCRP-2 participating countries (Malawi, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan). The AU, ICPAC and SADC SHOC as well as other regional bodies, will also participate in advanced training to strengthen synergies and seamless operations with the RCRP-2 countries. This training workshop will facilitate intensive, localized, and context-specific training and form the basis for strengthening regional transboundary coordination mechanisms. Countries like Malawi and Mozambique, will be given opportunities to share their experiences and practices as well as technical capacities to prepare and respond to disaster emergencies. Task 4: Build the capacity of the COP through consultative engagement: The consultant firm will foster the engagement of the community of practice established through this initiative (RCRP+) and establish a modality of communication between the COP members. This will include the development and implementation of a communication strategy. Deliverables/ outputs The table below shows the deliverables and outputs of the assignment. Deliverable No. # Deliverable title Linked Task(s) Key Contents / Acceptance Criteria (minimum) Indicative Timelines Responsible Party D1 Inception Report (Training Strategy & Implementation Plan) Task 1 Confirmed training scope and thematic areas; stakeholder consultation summary; training modalities (virtual/in-person); 6month workplan and milestones; coordination and QA approach; learning evaluation method (pre/post); logistics and risk assumptions. Weeks 1 - 2 Consultant (lead) with AU oversight D2 Community of Practice (COP) Establishment Package Task 1 COP concept note; draft COP ToR; roles (AU/secretariat/moderation); membership categories and initial roster; operating procedures; initial engagement calendar aligned to trainings. Weeks 2 - 4 Consultant (draft) + AU (validation/approval) + COP members (inputs) D3 Training Curriculum & Module Designs (three short courses) Task 2 Course outlines (3 module bundles): learning objectives; session plans; target audience segmentation (hydromet producers/DRM users/decision-makers); prerequisites; delivery approach; practical exercises and case studies. Weeks 3 - 6 Consultant (lead) with AU/WB technical review D4 Full Training Materials Package (Participant + Facilitator) Task 2 Slide decks; participant workbook/handouts; facilitator guide (runofshow, timings, pedagogy); exercises, datasets (where feasible), tool guidance; pre/post assessments (with keys); evaluation forms; job aids (checklists, SOP templates). Weeks 5 - 10 (iterative) Consultant (lead) with AU/WB technical review D5 AMHEWAS Integration & Demonstration Materials Task 2 AMHEWAS demonstration scripts and scenarios linking forecast→alert→warning advisory→decision triggers→early action; guidance on coordination between AMHEWAS situation rooms, national hydromet and national disaster management agencies. Weeks 6 - 10 AU lead with consultant (AU AMHEWAS team for system access/support) D6 Training Facilitators Program / ToT Toolkit Task 2 Facilitator competency framework; selection/nomination criteria and template; ToT agenda and materials (microteaching); facilitation observation rubric and quality checklist; proposed recognition/certification approach (if required). Weeks 6 - 12 Consultant (lead) with AU/RECs (candidate nominations) D7 Webinar Delivery Package (minimum 1 webinar) Task 3 Final webinar agenda; speaker/facilitator list; participant list; materials used; recording or replay link/file (if permissible); Q&A summary; participant feedback analysis; attendance report by country/institution type (where feasible). Month 2 - 4 Consultant (delivery) with AU (convening) and RECs/countries (participation) D8 Advanced InPerson Training Workshop Package (minimum 1) Task 3 Workshop concept note and agenda; participant list and completion list; all training materials used; practical exercise outputs (e.g., draft SOPs/data-sharing workflows/action plans); case study notes (e.g., Malawi/Mozambique); postworkshop evaluation report. Month 4 - 6 Consultant (delivery) with AU (convening/logistics) and host country (support) D9 COP Communication and Engagement (minimum set over 6 months) Task 4 Objective, channels/tools (e.g., chat/linkedin group/email lists); moderation roles; content plan (digests/knowledge sessions); knowledge management/repository approach; KPIs for engagement; at least 2 COP knowledge exchange sessions with notes; 2–3 COP digests/newsletters; issues log and followup actions. Month 2 - 6 (ongoing) Consultant (draft and facilitation) + AU (implementation lead, moderation lead) + COP members (content sharing) D10 Consolidated Training Completion & Recommendations Report Tasks 1–4 Summary of all trainings delivered (dates, modality, participants); aggregated learning results (pre/post); participant feedback and lessons learned; remaining capacity gaps; recommendations and roadmap for sustaining COP and future trainings; annexes (agendas, attendance, materials index). End of Month 6 Consultant (lead) with AU/WB review Note: Timing is indicative for a 6month assignment and should be aligned with AU/WB scheduling and logistics. Training delivery The delivery of the assignment will be led by a team of consultants (details in the Annex) under the guidance and with the support of the AUC. Designated Account Upon completion, participants and their respective institutions are expected to achieve the following: Shared Understanding and Operational Mechanisms for Early Warning and Early Action: Establish a common operational understanding across hydromet, DRM, and regional institutions on multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) and AMHEWAS. Consistently utilize hydrometeorological data, aligned with national and regional systems, to improve forecast accuracy and regional coherence. Apply standardized operational procedures (SOPs) for data exchange, warning generation, and coordination between national and regional actors. Strengthening integration of global observation systems and national forecasting workflows into routine operational practice. Operationalization of Early Action and Enhanced Preparedness: Demonstrate the capacity to interpret early warning information and translate it into timely, impact-based early actions at national and sub-national levels. Apply forecast-to-action frameworks, linking early warnings to predefined triggers, contingency plans, and sectoral responses. Improve coordination between hydromet agencies and disaster risk management institutions to enable timely, anticipatory decision-making. Strengthening the use of risk-informed decision support tools to reduce loss of life, livelihoods, and infrastructure damage during climate shocks. Sustained Regional Collaboration and Functioning Community of Practice Establish and operationalize a functional Community of Practice (COP) connecting RCRP-2 countries, AU, SADC, ICPAC, and other regional centers. Facilitate regular knowledge exchange and peer learning, including sharing of good practices, tools, and lessons learned. Promote regional collaboration and replication of successful approaches, ensuring sustained capacity development beyond the training program. Strengthened Capacity Base and Sustainability of Training Efforts Develop a COP of trained facilitators capable of delivering and adapting training at national and regional levels. Institutionalize training materials, tools, and methodologies within participating agencies to support continuous professional development. Potential Measurable Indicators ≥70–80% of participants demonstrate improved knowledge (pre/post training). At least 1–2 operational SOPs or coordination workflows adopted or refined per participating country. Onward training - Each trained facilitator trains minimum 1-2 additional persons in their country/institution. Evidence of early action triggered using forecast information in at least one case during the 6-month period. Target countries The training programme will target RCRP 2 plus countries which are Malawi, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan. Apart from RCRP countries, additional Member States may be selected, with a geographical focus on countries in Africa East and South, with priority being given to Member States that have already established, are planning, or are in the process of establishing MHEWS Situation Rooms. The COP would also include representatives of SADC as well as other regional institutions such as ICPAC/IGAD, Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), RCCs, and RSMCs. Module description The scope of the training programme will focus on the following core modules: Module 1: Hydromet services and integrated EWS. Module 2: Disaster preparedness and Early Action. Module 3: Climate Science and forecasting. Module 4: Short term training AMHEWAS experts on data and Earth Observation. Proposed training modules; Module Key focus areas Profile of participants Module 1: Hydromet services and integrated EWS. Target multi-sectoral participants including data/information generators and users. Topics include: Principles of data exchange and sharing in the context multi-hazard risk knowledge. Interpretation of climate prediction and linking weather forecast to user confidence, effective early warning systems components, Interpretation of floods and drought monitoring and early warning models and other available models. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) components. Integrating exposure, vulnerability for impact-based forecasting and warning services. Translating technical EW outputs into simplified risk communication (effective dissemination and communication). This module will target experts from NDMAs and NHMAs with the following profile: Degree holders from reputable institutions with at least 3 to 10 years of work experience Managing situation rooms/ emergency operating centres Demonstrated experience in data management, weather forecasting, climate prediction and multi-hazard early warning systems Experience in risk mapping, GIS and vulnerability assessments Experience in translating technical EW outputs into simplified risk communication (effective dissemination and communication) Module 2: Disaster preparedness and Early Action. Focus on DRM and sectoral users (agriculture and livestock, energy, transport and water etc) Topics include: Developing and using multi-hazard risk assessments for sectoral planning Anticipatory action (pre-arranged financing, triggers and thresholds) Actionable standard operating procedures for sectoral resource mobilization and coordinated actions Disaster preparedness (pre-arranged financing, contingency planning, etc) This module will target experts from NDMAs (EOCs and Situation Rooms) and NHMAs with the following profile: The candidate must have the following academic and professional background: Relevant degree in DRM, Geography, Environment, Natural Resources, or equivalent from a recognized University Must be currently working with the relevant institution for not less than five years Must be in middle management level and a decision maker Good understanding in multi-hazard risk knowledge, anticipatory action, impact-based forecasting and disaster preparedness, and climate financing Module 3: Climate science and forecasting Focus on climate science and forecasting for decision-makers. Topics include: Access to regional and national products and information Early warning and anticipatory action This module will target experts from NDMAs and NHMAs with the following profile: Degree holders from reputable institutions with at least 3 to 10 years of work experience. Managing situation rooms/ emergency operating centres. Demonstrated experience in data management, weather forecasting, climate prediction and multi-hazard early warning systems. Experience in risk mapping, GIS and vulnerability assessments. Experience in translating technical EW outputs into simplified risk communication (effective dissemination and communication). Module 4: Training programme. Practical hands-on, results-oriented on-the-job training for selected experts at continental and regional bodies, focusing on: Multi-sectoral multi-source data integration, Dissemination and communication, This module will target experts from NDMAs and NHMAs with the following profile: Degree holders from reputable institutions with at least 3 to 10 years work experience. Managing situation rooms/ emergency operating centres. Demonstrated experienced in data management, weather forecasting, climate prediction and multi-hazard early warning systems. Experience in risk mapping, GIS and vulnerability assessments. Experience in translating technical EW outputs into simplified risk communication (effective dissemination and communication). Annexes Annex 1: Roles and responsibilities Introduction: The AUC AMHEWAS recognizes the distinct roles and responsibilities of NDMAs, NMHSs and other stakeholders at continental, regional and national levels. The mandate for hydrological and weather observation, monitoring, forecasting and analyses at national level lies with the meteorological and hydrological agencies respectively depending on the national context. The NDMAs are basically users of the products provided by NMHSs. The AUC AMHEWAS simply aggregates regional guidance products from Regional Climate Centres and RSMCs, and make them available to Member States to have a synoptic analysis of Transboundary Risks. AMHEWAS does not produce early warnings and forecasts but aggregates information from national level to provide guidance to Member States for Anticipatory Action and further analytics. The AMHEWAS in respect to this training is to bring the services providers and the users on board to narrow the gap between early warning and anticipatory action. The involvement of RCC that are responsible for climate information and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMC), Pretoria and RSMC La Reunion is to build regional and national capacities against severe weather and tropical cyclones. Their involvement in the training will help RCPR-2 countries to understand regional capacities, utility and services provided by these institutions. The goal of the AMHEWAS is if all member states are equipped with AMHEWAS situation rooms, the role of the AUC AMHEWAS will be simply to aggregate the information from the national and regional level to support the Civil Protection Mechanism and higher-level response. This approach seeks to enhance co-creation, co-designing, co-production and interoperability of multi-hazard early warning systems. AU AMHEWAS will play the following roles and responsibilities: Support the consultants with the organisation of a series of training courses for the consultants and support the validation of the training materials. The AU will be responsible for the convening of the training. This will include logistical and administrative arrangements for the participants. The AU AMHEWAS team will support the consultants with relevant materials. Provide overall coordination and stakeholder engagement for the training programme, including liaising with NDMAs, NMHSs, water authorities and other relevant institutions; coordinating participant nominations and official communications; facilitating consultations between consultants and national focal points; consolidating feedback on training materials; and ensuring that training activities are aligned with AMHEWAS objectives and country needs. Annex 2: Consultant Team Composition and Expertise RCRP-2 Training Facilitators Program and Community of Practice (AMHEWAS) will be composed of a team of consultants with the following qualifications, skills and core functions: Role Key Responsibilities Required Expertise Core Competencies Minimum Qualifications Team Leader / Senior DRM–EWS Specialist Overall technical lead; ensures alignment with RCRP-2 and AMHEWAS; oversees deliverables and stakeholder coordination Multi-hazard EWS, DRM systems, anticipatory action, institutional coordination, data-to-action Building Partnerships Drives Accountability Culture Learning Orientation Communicating with impact Ability to develop Capacity Development Programmes must be added advantage Advanced degree (Masters/ PHD); 12–15+ years in DRM/EWS; regional program experience Senior Hydromet Services & Forecast-to-Warning Expert Leads technical content on observation, forecasting and warning services NMHS operations; forecasting workflows; hydromet observation systems (WIGOS, GTS/WIS, WIPPS, satellite, radar); country-level forecasting systems; IBF; CAP; climate services Foster accountability culture: Makes decisions, sets priorities or chooses goals based on calculated inputs and outputs, makes explicit considerations of potential return on investment or cost-benefit analysis of outcomes Learning orientation: Promotes and role models ongoing learning and development through establishing mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing in the business area. Communicating with impact: Uses personal rather than positional power to influence and motivate others to achieve results Advanced degree; 10+ years in hydromet services Training Design & ToT Specialist Designs curriculum and facilitators program; develops training materials and assessment tools Adult learning, competency-based training, facilitation, ToT, evaluation methods Foster accountability culture: Makes decisions, sets priorities or chooses goals based on calculated inputs and outputs, makes explicit considerations of potential return on investment or cost-benefit analysis of outcomes Learning orientation: Promotes and role models ongoing learning and development through establishing mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing in the business area. Communicating with impact: Uses personal rather than positional power to influence and motivate others to achieve results Advanced degree; 8–10+ years training design experience Data Management & Decision Support Specialist Develops modules on data management, interoperability and tools Data governance, hydromet/DRR systems, geospatial tools, dashboards Building relationships: Establishes a broad network of contacts that enables the individual to gather information and encourage others to establish a chain of influence and utilize the strengths and abilities of stakeholders Foster accountability culture: Makes decisions, sets priorities or chooses goals based on calculated inputs and outputs, makes explicit considerations of potential return on investment or cost-benefit analysis of outcomes Learning orientation: Promotes and role models ongoing learning and development through establishing mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing in the business area. Communicating with impact: Uses personal rather than positional power to influence and motivate others to achieve results Advanced degree; 8–10+ years experience COP / Knowledge Management Specialist Establishes COP and communication strategy; manages knowledge exchange Community of practice, communications, knowledge management, digital platforms Building relationships: Establishes a broad network of contacts that enables the individual to gather information and encourage others to establish a chain of influence and utilize the strengths and abilities of stakeholders Foster accountability culture: Makes decisions, sets priorities or chooses goals based on calculated inputs and outputs, makes explicit considerations of potential return on investment or cost-benefit analysis of outcomes Learning orientation: Promotes and role models ongoing learning and development through establishing mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing in the business area. Communicating with impact: Uses personal rather than positional power to influence and motivate others to achieve results Degree; 8+ years experience