EXPRESSION OF INTERESTS
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Headquarters
CONSULTANCY SERVICES – TERMS OF REFERENCE
Title of the assignment : Compliance and Learning Review for Sovereign Operations (SOs)
Brief description of the assignment : The assignment will require the services of a consultant that is able to bring together an in-depth expertise on the subject matter in order to conduct core components of a compliance review on the reporting and assessment tools applied to SOs; provide summary findings of the review; design an action plan to address compliance issues in the future and draft sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report. The consultant is expected to deliver on the assignment at high quality standards within a limited timeframe.
Department issuing the request : Operations Committee Secretariat & Quality Assurance Department (SNOQ)
Place of assignment : Home-based
Duration of the assignment : Six (06) months
Tentative Date of commencement : October 1st, 2021
Deadline for applications : August 18th, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Abidjan time)
Applications to be submitted to : k.zadi@AFDB.ORG, and m.bendhaou@afdb.org
Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to: m.bendhaou@afdb.org
Terms of reference (TORs) for : Compliance and Learning Review for Sovereign Operations (SOs)
- Introduction :
The African Development Bank (the AfDB or the Bank) is seeking the support of an individual consultant for the following assignment: “Compliance and Learning Review for Sovereign Operations (SOs)”. The work is commissioned by the Quality Assurance Division (SNOQ.2) located within the complex of the Senior Vice President and which is responsible to continuously enhancing the quality and timely delivery of Bank operations.
The division plans to issue an annual Compliance and Learning Review report which aims to achieve the following objectives: i) improve compliance with existing policies and guidelines over time; ii) enhance staff and management accountability and incentives for quality; iii) identify key lessons and define an action plan accordingly. The report is the result of a comprehensive compliance review exercise, and provides a summary overview of the compliance and quality trends and issues throughout the lifecycle of SOs. The findings will be used for continued learning and improved self-evaluation capacity of operational staff. The report is intended to become a flagship report and enable substantive quality improvements.
These terms of reference (ToRs) focus on where consultancy support is required, or “the assignment” hereafter, within the context of the broader objective of issuing the Compliance and Learning Review. The assignment will require the services of a consultant that is able to bring together an in-depth expertise on the subject matter in order to conduct a compliance review on the reporting and assessment tools applied to SOs; provide summary findings of the review; design an action plan to address compliance issues in the future and draft sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report. The consultant is expected to deliver on the assignment at high quality standards within a limited timeframe.
- Objectives of the assignment :
The goal of this assignment is to contribute to the Bank’s efforts to increase compliance of its operations with the relevant Bank guidelines and procedures via conducting a compliance review on a sample of SO documentation. The findings of the review will be underpinned in the Compliance and Learning Review report. This report will also encompass a targeted action plan to address quality and compliance issues identified as a result of the review. The underlying overarching objectives for the assignment are therefore as follows:
- Review the quality and compliance of a sample of SOs against relevant Bank guidelines and procedures in line with the Compliance and Learning Review methodology ;
- Analyze data and provide summary findings on the compliance and quality of reporting and assessment tools during the review year ;
- Draw key lessons on the quality of (i) the tools and (ii) the operations and propose solutions to address caveats and improve compliance and results in the future ;
- Draft relevant sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report; and
- Prepare the groundwork for dissemination, consultations and implementation of the action plan.
Objective 1: Review the quality and compliance of reporting and assessment tools for a sample of SOs processed in 2021 :
As SNOQ.2 oversees the quality of Bank operations, the periodic compliance review of the Bank’s assessment and reporting tools with existing guidelines and processes falls within its mandate. The Division is in the process of preparing the 2022 edition of the Compliance and Learning Review report and which will cover all 2021 SOs reporting tools where guidelines are available, finalized and formally adopted, namely the Readiness Review at preparation and appraisal, the Implementation Progress Report during implementation and the Project Completion Report at completion. The consultant will be requested to conduct the review of one or more of the above-mentioned reporting and assessment tools as allocated by the division. The Compliance and Learning Review is to be finalized and disseminated to staff and senior management by end of March 2022.
To support the delivery of the Compliance and Learning Review report, SNOQ.2 is therefore seeking the support of an individual consultant to conduct the desk review of the quality and compliance of assessment and reporting tools for a statistically defined sample of SOs processed in 2021.
The compliance review will involve the following steps :
- Reception of documents to be reviewed for a statistically significant sample of SOs processed in 2021 ;
- Familiarization with the applicable guidelines and procedures for tools to be reviewed ;
- Familiarization with the Compliance Review and Learning methodology ;
- Conducting the compliance review on the sampled SOs ;
- Providing the compliance review dataset capturing the criteria of review as per the Compliance Review and Learning methodology.
Objective 2: Analyze data and provide summary findings :
The consultant is expected to consolidate the compliance criteria data and conduct analysis that informs on the status of quality and compliance of assessment and reporting on SOs during the review year. The analysis will provide an overview on the aggregate findings as well as breakdown analysis of the review criteria by region, sector, instrument type, performance, etc. The consultant will also investigate correlations between several quality and compliance criteria throughout the stage of processing of project documents and any other aspects depending on the context applicable in the review year and on data distribution.
The analysis provided by the consultant should allow for clear identification of areas of non-compliance to serve as trigger of discussions and consultations on how to address caveats in exiting capacity, guidelines, tools and processes in Bank operations.
The data analysis and summary findings will involve the following steps :
- Summarize aggregate findings of the compliance review, supported by a template dashboard ;
- Provide a breakdown analysis of the review criteria by region, sector, instrument type, performance, supported by graphs ;
- Investigate possible correlations for the purpose of learning on the source of low quality or compliance, supported by graphs ;
- Clearly highlight non-compliance areas and possible underlying reasons.
Objective 3: Draw key lessons on the quality of tools and operations and propose solutions to address caveats and improve compliance in the future
The consultant is expected to conduct a deep dive analysis of qualitative and quantitative data to draw key lessons on the quality of tools and operations and propose solutions to address shortcomings and improve compliance in the future. The proposed solutions should define the set of activities to be led or initiated by the division, or others, with clear outputs and outcomes that demonstrate how identified quality and compliance issues will be addressed.
The design of a targeted action plan will involve the following steps :
- Identify key lessons on the quality of the reviewed tools and the quality of operations ;
- Consult with SNOQ.2 staff on identified key lessons, quality and compliance areas of improvement ;
- Issue concise recommendations for targets activities (to be led or initiated by the division, or other units) aimed at increased compliance and quality of assessment and reporting tools in the future, and increased quality of operations ;
- For each proposed activity, list the timeline, target audience, expected outputs and outcomes.
Objective 4: Contribute relevant sections of the Compliance and Learning Report :
The consultant will draft relevant sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report to include descriptive statistics on the reviewed tools/sample, analysis and findings, recommendations, and action plan to address compliance issues in the future.
The drafting of the relevant sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report will involve the following steps :
- Provide a first draft to the SNOQ.2 team for review ;
- Gather and address all comments and deliver a final version.
Objective 5: Preparation of the groundwork for dissemination, consultations, and implementation of the compliance enhancement action plan
The consultant is expected to prepare materials and presentations to support dissemination, consultations and implementation of action plan activities associated with the Compliance and Learning Review.
This support will involve the following steps :
- Identification of the different audiences to be targeted during the dissemination, consultations, and action plan implementation ;
- Develop materials and presentations tailored to each audience (e.g., senior Management, regional staff, sector teams).
- Main activities and deliverables :
Table 1 below sets out the expected deliverables, the target date, and the duration of the assignment. The delivery date is set assuming a start date on October 1st, 2021.
Table 1: Main deliverables for the assignment
Deliverables and main activities
Delivery date
Objective 1: Review the quality and compliance of reporting and assessment tools for a sample of SOs processed in 2021
Output A: A compliance review dataset
Activities for achieving this output include :
- Reception of documents to be reviewed for a statistically significant sample of SOs ;
- Familiarization with the applicable guidelines and procedure for tools to be reviewed ;
- Familiarization with the Compliance Review and Learning methodology ;
- Conducting the compliance review on the sampled SOs ;
- Providing the compliance review dataset capturing the criteria of review as ;
- January 2022.
| Deliverables and main activities | Delivery date | |
per the Compliance Review and Learning methodology
Objective 2: Analyze data and provide summary findings
Output B: Summary findings supported by graphs and dashboard
Activities for achieving this output include :
- Summarizing aggregate findings of the compliance review supported by a dashboard ;
- Providing a breakdown analysis of the review criteria by region, sector, instrument type, performance supported by graphs ;
- Investigating possible correlations for the purpose of learning on the source of low quality or compliance supported by graphs ;
- Clearly highlighting non-compliance areas and possible underlying reasons ;
- January 2022.
Objective 3: Draw key lessons on the quality of tools and operations and propose solutions to address caveats and improve compliance in the future :
Output C: Clearly articulate key lessons on the quality of tools and operations and propose solutions to address caveats and improve compliance in the future.
Activities for achieving this output include :
- Identify key lessons on the quality of the reviewed tools and quality of operations ;
- Consult with SNOQ.2 staff on identified key lessons, quality and compliance areas of improvement ;
- Issue concise recommendations for targets activities to be led or initiated by the division aimed at increased compliance and quality of assessment and reporting tools in the future ;
- For each proposed activity, list the timeline, target audience, expected outputs and outcomes ;
- February 2022.
Objective 4: Contribute relevant sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report :
Output D: Drafted finalized sections of the Compliance and Learning Review report
Activities for achieving this output include :
- provide a first draft to the SNOQ.2 team for review ;
- gather and address all comments and deliver a final version.
4 March 2022
Objective 5: Preparation of the groundwork for dissemination, consultations, and implementation of compliance enhancement action plan
Output E: Preparation of materials and presentations to support dissemination, consultations, and implementation of action plan
Activities for achieving this output include :
- Identification of the different audiences to be targeted during the dissemination, consultations, and action plan implementation ;
- Develop materials and presentations tailored to each audience (e.g., senior ;
- March 2022.
| Deliverables and main activities | Delivery date | |
Management, regional staff, sector teams)
The consultant will also be required to undertake any other related tasks as assigned by SNOQ.2 Manager. The assignment consists of a desk review and will not require any travel.
- Reporting :
The consultant will work directly with the SNOQ.2 Officer in charge of coordinating the Compliance and Learning Review exercise and under the general guidance of SNOQ.2 Manager. As necessary, the Consultant’s team shall engage in discussion with SNOQ.2 staff to validate and/or secure needed or additional information. Comments and suggestions received by SNOQ.2 staff and Manager should also be addressed prior to finalization of any deliverable or report.
- Duration of the assignment :
The duration of the assignment is six (06) months with an indicative start date of October 1st, 2021.
- Qualifications and experience required :
- Hold at least a Master’s degree in business administration, economics, or any related disciplines ;
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in the following areas: monitoring and evaluation of IFIs’ SOs; and/or conducting compliance and quality reviews of development operations; monitoring the implementation and IFI’s results generated by SOs ;
- Ability to handle and analyze large quantitative datasets, while also analyzing large amounts of qualitative data ;
- Experience in conducting compliance reviews, synthetizing findings, and lessons learned ;
- Experience in translating lessons learned into targeted recommendations and actions meant to improve the quality of future interventions ;
- Knowledge of the African Development Bank’s SOs assessment and reporting tools and processes is considered an asset ;
- Previous experience, designing and/or reviewing guidelines and templates informing of the performance of IFIs’ operations during implementation, is an asset ;
- Expertise in the sectors in which the Bank works as well as the different types of instruments it deploys – specifically investment and policy based SOs – is considered an asset ;
- Knowledge of evaluation practices and professional standards including OECD-DAC quality standards and ECG good practice standards ;
- Experience in digital communication is an added advantage ;
- Excellent written and spoken English is required. French is an added advantage ;
- Demonstrated capacity and flexibility to ensure high quality and timely delivery.
- Remuneration :
The Consultant will be paid a monthly lump sum, which will be determined on the basis of his/her years of relevant experience, for the duration of the contract and in line with Bank guidelines.
Consultants who meet the required profile and are interested in this assignment are encouraged to submit an updated Curriculum Vitae on the basis of the template below.