The African Development Bank hereby invites Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in the following Assignment: Governance and Fragility

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

TRANSITION STATES COORDINATION OFFICE

Immeuble du Centre de commerce International d’Abidjan (CCIA)

Avenue Jean-Paul II

01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire

 

1. The African Development Bank hereby invites Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in the following Assignment: Governance and Fragility
2. The services to be provided under the Assignment include: Fragility and crises lag development processes in many African countries. The statistics related to fragile situations are staggering. Worldwide two billion people live in countries where development outcomes are affected by fragility, conflict and violence; a great proportion of them are in African communities. Nearly fifty percent of the global poor is predicted to be living in fragile and conflict affected situations by 2030. At the same time, worldwide trends show that crises are becoming more complex, with contexts expanding from the traditional interstate conflicts to sociopolitical and economic triggers including volatile transitions in polarized political systems, state-periphery clashes, intrastate fragmentation, internationalized internal armed conflict, and extra systemic causes.

Strengthening core government institutions can catalyze resilience to shocks and crises. Strengthening core government functions is indispensable to build peace, restore confidence in state and bring sense of progress to citizens. Legitimate public-sector institutions and responsive government functions are critical to provide citizen security, justice and jobs is crucial to breaking the cycle of violence. Yet, in the aftermath of conflict, recreating a functioning state able to restore legitimacy, provide basic services, and ensure security to its citizens is a challenge. In particular, strengthening core government functions including local service delivery to better manage and deliver public resources is a key strategy to keep people out of poverty. At the end, it is the poorest and most vulnerable who needs most a responsive and inclusive public sector.

At the development, conflict and fragility global community, the importance for governance-informed development with a specific goal on just, peaceful and inclusive societies is recognized and clearly stated in the UN 2030 Agenda. Sustainable Development Goal 16 recognizes that sustainable development is not possible without peace and justice. However, appreciation of Core Government functions and it critical role has waned from international development practice and little has been published on public administration in fragile environments.

Analytical sections of the study

Africa specific study on the role and importance of Core Government Function to address fragility and build resilience

A review of peace agreements in Africa and survey extent of incorporation of restoration of core government functions, including subsequent implementation and financial prioritization.

Analysis of trends and priority amongst transition Government to strengthen Core Government Functions to address fragility and build resilience (stronger or weaker priority over a ten year period, trends in which Core Government Functions to prioritize, trends in how to strengthen Core Government Functions etc.)

A review of core government functions expenditures during transitions in African countries. Understanding why and how early investments in strengthening the basic functionality and management of core government institutions in fragile and crisis settings in African countries outweighs the costs of inaction and catalyzes sustainable peace and progress to implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Analysis of trends and priority amongst International Development Partners to strengthen Core Government Functions to address fragility and build resilience (stronger or weaker priority over a ten year period, trends in which Core Government Functions to prioritize, trends in how to strengthen Core Government Functions etc.)

A review of experiences (case studies) on importance of rebuilding civil services’ capacities in post-conflict situations.

Recommendations on how African Governments in transition countries and the international community can strengthen the efforts to enhance the Core Government Functions to address fragility and build resilience

Case study: analysis of the African Development Bank’s approach to strengthen Core Government Functions in transition countries, including specific policy recommendations (annex of the study)

Training material: develop a training material for a one day workshop on how Governments and the international community can strengthen Core Government Functions to address fragility and build resilience (annex of the study)

The duration of the mission will be 16 weeks. The team should consist of a Senior Researcher and two Research Assistants.

3. The TRANSITION STATES COORDINATION OFFICE (RDTS) invites Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested eligible Consulting Firms or associations of Consulting Firms shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to provide the services (documentation, references for similar services, experience in comparable Assignments, availability of qualified staff, etc.) ;
4. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Procurement Policy Framework for projects financed by the Bank Group, October 2015 Edition, available on the Bank Website at http://www.afdb.org. Please, note that interest expressed by a Consulting Firm does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include it in the shortlist ;
5. The estimated duration of services is 16 weeks and the estimated starting date is End of November 2018 ;
6. Interested Consulting Firms may obtain further information at the address below during the Bank’s working hours : from 08 :00 to 17 :00 hours ;
7. Expressions of interest must be received at the address below no later than November 12, 2018 at 15:00 local time and specifically mentioning The role of Core Government Functions to address fragility Thematic: Governance and Fragility – Joint AfDB/UNDP study

For the attention of : Mr. SANOGO ALI

African Development Bank

Transition States Coordination Office

Immeuble du Centre de commerce International d’Abidjan (CCIA)

Avenue Jean-Paul II

Abidjan

01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01

COTE D’IVOIRE

E-mail : a.l.sanogo@afdb.org or t.sorensen@afdb.org