REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Avenue Joseph Anoma, 01 B.P. 1387, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Africa Investment Forum – PAIF

E-mail: [email protected]

REQUESTS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR DIGITAL ECONOMY CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE AFRICA INVESTMENT FORUM.

  1. The African Development Bank (AfDB) hereby invites Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in the following Assignment: Digital Economy Consulting Firm for the Africa Investment Forum.
  1. Established by the AfDB and seven founding partners in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) is Africa’s investment market place – a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary platform dedicated to advancing projects to bankable stages, raising capital, and accelerating the financial closure of deals. The Africa Investment Forum convenes investors interested in Africa, African investors, enterprises with concrete investment needs, and selected government leaders to work out ways to boost private sector investments in Africa. The AIF aims to reduce intermediation costs, improve the quality of project information and documentation, and increase active and productive engagements between African governments and the private sector as well as between investors and project sponsors. The AIF offers investors access to a structured platform offering bankable, de-risked projects within an enabling environment.
  1. The services to be provided under this assignment include, to provide support and manage stakeholder relationships in line with formulating the AIF’s Big Bet Strategy on Africa’s Digital Economy. The stakeholder engagement framework is aimed at providing an understanding of the digital economy, including the cultural and creative industries, while positioning the AIF as an effective collaborator and Africa’s premier investment platform for investors focused on these industries.
  1. 5. The Africa Investment Forum invites Consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Firms shall provide information on their qualifications, experience demonstrating their ability to provide the services, as well as a proposed work program with timeline, their understanding of the assignment and the proposed way to approach the assignment (documentation, references for similar services, experience in comparable assignments, etc.).
  1. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the African Development Bank’s “Rules and Procedure for the Use of Consultants” May 2008 Edition revised October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website. Please, note that interest expressed by a Firm does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include them in the shortlist.
  1. The work assignment, under this term of reference, will involve full-time Consulting services for a period of six (6) months and may be extended based on the performance of the retained Consulting Firm, availability of budgetary resources and as may be determined by the Bank. The successful Firm will be expected to start in August 2021 upon completion of the selection process and upon signature of the contract.
  1. Interested Firms may obtain further information at the email addresses below during the Bank’s working hours: 0800hrs to 1700hrs.
  1. Expressions of interest consisting of : (i) A copy of the official document creating the consulting firm; (ii) A presentation of the firm (general references of the firm including number of permanent staff; an extensive list of similar experiences); (iii) Copy of the curriculum vitae and relevant diploma of the Team Leader for this assignment; (iv) At least three (3) certificates of successful completion of similar services or assignments must be received at the email addresses below no later than 5th July 2021 at 17h00 Abidjan Time and specifically mentioning DIGITAL ECONOMY CONSULTING FIRM for the Africa Investment Forum.

For the attention of:

Mrs. Onike Nicol-Houra

Africa Investment Forum

African Development Bank,  6 Avenue Joseph Anoma

01 BP 1387 Abidjan  – COTE D’IVOIRE

E-mail :

  1. Establishment of the Shortlist: A shortlist of three to six Consulting Firms will be established once the expressions of interest, updated CVs and cover letters are received. The Firm on the shortlist will be invited to submit a proposal and comment on the Terms of Reference (attached as an annex). The proposals shall be evaluated based on the following criteria.
a.  General qualifications and adequacy for the assignment to be undertaken 30%
b.  Similar experience in the area of expertise of the assignment 40%
c.  Skills within the staff of the company during the period planned 20%
for the execution of the contract.  
d.  Knowledge of Africa (environment of the assignment) 5%
e.  Language Proficiency 5%

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DIGITAL ECONOMY CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE AFRICA INVESTMENT FORUM.

  1. BACKGROUND

1.1. African Development Bank Group

Established in 1964, the African Development Bank Group (“the Bank” or “AfDB”) is the premier Pan-African development institution promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 Member States, including 54 from Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In order to sharply focus the objectives of the Ten Year Strategy (2013 – 2022) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas (High 5s), all of which will accelerate the Bank’s delivery for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely; Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The Bank co-operates with a large network of international development partners and has two official languages: English and French.

1.2. Africa Investment Forum

The vision of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) is to become a leveraging platform that will tilt the balance of capital towards Africa’s critical sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Development Bank’s High 5s and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. This goal translates into three reinforcing objectives, which include: (a) Advancing projects to bankable stage, by more effective project preparation as well as advisory support that advances deals in the AIF pipeline; (b) Capital raising by partners, lenders and investors for increased co-financing for bankable projects; and (c) Accelerating financial closure of deals through this coordinated approach.

Established by the AfDB and seven founding partners in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) is Africa’s investment marketplace, through which the AfDB, along with its partners originate deals, structure and enhance projects, attract co-investors, and facilitate investments to close Africa’s investment gaps. The AIF’s modus operandi spans four (5) pillars which include:

  • The Platform: activities involving deal origination and structuring, as well as the management of a digital portal.
  • The Market Place: activities involving sponsorships, partnership onboarding, regional investment roundtables, investor facilitation and matchmaking, as well as serving a vibrant community of active AIF members.
  • The Market-Days: an annual 3-Day event convening investors and lenders, project sponsors, key government stakeholders, transaction facilitators and entrepreneurs around specific private (Boardrooms, Bilateral meetings) and public sessions (initiatives, pitching sessions, plenary sessions).
  • The Deal Tracker: post-Boardroom activities involving the monitoring of AIF Boardroom deals and facilitating their progress towards deal closure.
  • Knowledge Environment: seeks to foster investment friendly regulation, a pro-investment climate to remove bottlenecks to deal closure, as well as disseminate knowledge products.

  1. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide support to manage stakeholder relationships in line with the AIF’s Big Bet Strategy on Africa’s Digital Economy. The stakeholder engagement framework is aimed at providing an understanding of the digital economy, including the cultural and creative industries, while positioning the AIF as an effective collaborator and Africa’s premier investment platform for investors focused on these industries.

  1. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The specific duties of the Consulting firm will be as follows:

  • Create a stakeholder map detailing key global, regional and local players, opinion leaders, regulators, policy influencers, among others that are focused on Africa’s digital economy, including the cultural and creative industries;
  • Project areas of stakeholder influence;
  • Develop an engagement strategy and identify effective stakeholder engagement channels and tools recommended for communications sequencing;
  • Identifying key stakeholder groups and proposing key stakeholder champions to include in AIF’s decision-making process;
  • Provide strategic partnership recommendations;
  • Align with influential private and public sector partners;
  • Identify appropriate financing instruments to encourage the development of the digital and creative economy and Identify trends and investment opportunities, based on past research and findings during the course of this assignment;
  • Selectively identify core priorities and comparative advantage in identifying strategic activities that the AIF should prioritise to be an effective collaborator for digital-led development on the continent;
  • Provide guidance on how to leverage digital technologies to improve service delivery and efficiency in the AIF projects to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship and investment by the private sector;
  • Describe the current state of the digital and creative economy in Africa and the continent’s competitiveness relative to the rest of the world;
  • Make recommendations on the organizational arrangements within the AIF to foster optimally its work on the digital and creative economy;
  • Describe the activities of other donors, institutions, interested parties and African Governments in the area of the digital and creative economy;
  • Propose clear targets for the next 3 to 5 years for the AIF;
  • Prepare progress report to the AIF management. This will be expected throughout the contract period at an agreed time and date between the AIF and contact person of the consulting firm.

  1. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The assignment will be undertaken by a Consulting Firm based on the following criteria:

  • Multidisciplinary team with competencies (through education and experience) in any of the following disciplines: ICT, Engineering, Management, Business, Law, Economics, International Relations and other related areas.
  • The lead consultant/team leader must possess an advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) in any of the fields mentioned above and 10 years’ relevant work experience; and the rest of the team should possess an academic qualification/experience that complements the qualifications of the lead consultant/ team leader, such that the team comprises a mix of technical expertise required to deliver on the scope of the work.
  • Have an understanding of the current state of the digital and creative economy in Africa and the continent’s competitiveness relative to the rest of the world;
  • Proven experience in stakeholder mapping and engagement, program design; and conducting development research;
  • Strong experience in the use of IT database, and innovative tools and techniques;
  • Ability to produce clear and concise reports;
  • Rigorous, result-oriented team with strong analytical skills, sound business judgement and the ability to identify needs and constraints, to set priorities and translate them into actions;
  • Excellent organizational, administrative, and time management skills;
  • Proven ability to work with limited supervision, deliver under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
  • Excellent presentation skills;
  • Ability to communicate effectively in English or French, with a good working knowledge of another language;
  • Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

  1. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The work assignment, under this term of reference, will involve full-time Consulting services for a period of six (6) months and may be extended based on the performance of the retained Consulting Firm, availability of budgetary resources and as may be determined by the Bank. The successful Firm will be expected to start in August 2021 upon completion of the selection process and signature of the contract.

  1. RENUMERATION

Remuneration will be commensurate with experience, in line with the AfDB compensation guidelines. The Consulting fees will be paid by deliverables.

  1. INSURANCE

The Consulting Firm will be responsible for obtaining personal health insurance at its own cost. The coverage should include all medical expenses, including those resulting from illness or injury incurred during the duration of the assignment.

  1. REPORTING LANGUAGE

The Consulting Firm will work in English and submit reports in English, but must have the ability to read, write and communicate in French as well.

  1. APPLICATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS

Expressions of interest consisting of : (i) A copy of the official document creating the consulting firm; A presentation of the firm (general references of the firm including number of permanent staff; an extensive list of similar experiences); (iii) Copy of the curriculum vitae and relevant diploma of the Team Leader for this assignment; (iv) At least three (3) certificates of successful completion of similar services or assignments must be received at the email addresses below no later than 5th July 2021 at 17h00 Abidjan Time and specifically mentioning DIGITAL ECONOMY CONSULTING FIRM for the Africa Investment Forum. Only short-listed firms will be contacted for further steps.

Note:  Consultants  must  register  at  https://econsultant.afdb.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/zdac_wd_login_page?SAP –language=EN# before submitting their references to be considered for the shortlist.