83460426 Consultancy service to provide technical expertise to develop the African CDC CSO Engagement Framework

Context of Assignment

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was established in 2017 as a specialised technical institution of the African Union (AU) to support public health initiatives of Member States and to strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control, and respond effectively to disease threats. In February 2022, the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union gave the Africa CDC full mandate to operate autonomously allowing the institution more independence and flexibility to respond to public health emergencies on the continent. Progressively, Africa CDC plans to roll out bigger and bolder initiatives under its new strategic plan 2023 – 2027 and intends to continue to advocate for a New Public Health Order for Africa. The New Public Health Order calls for (1) Strengthened public health institutions; (2) Expanded local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; (3) Strengthened public health workforce; (4) Increased domestic resources for health; and (5) Respectful and action-oriented partnerships to build sustainable and results oriented partnerships to address Africa’s priorities.

To achieve all these, the role of civil society cannot be over-emphasized. Historically, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been instrumental in addressing health issues in Africa, operating at the grassroots level, providing services, advocating for policy changes, and mobilizing communities for health interventions. By fostering collaboration with CSOs, Africa CDC can tap into a wealth of resources that can enhance its ability to address health security challenges in a responsive manner. Conversely, by partnering with Africa CDC, CSOs can benefit from capacity-building initiatives, gain access to technical expertise and funding opportunities, allowing them to significantly amplify their visibility and impact.

The absence of a formalized engagement framework between Africa CDC and CSOs at the regional and continental level therefore signifies a critical gap in the continent’s public health landscape. To address this gap, there is an urgent need to establish an engagement framework that enables productive partnerships between Africa CDC and Civil Society Organizations. The framework will not only enhance Africa CDC’s capacity to respond effectively to health crises but also foster a more inclusive, community-centered approach to public health in Africa.

Thus, the goal of this engagement framework is to put in place a sustained and institutionalized engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advance the goals of the Africa CDC and enhance public health security in Africa.

Specific Objectives

• Formulate a framework that outlines the guidelines, roles, and responsibilities for collaboration between Africa CDC and CSOs.
• Cultivate enduring partnerships between Africa CDC and CSOs, promoting sustained collaboration to address public health challenges.
• Integrate CSOs into the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions, fostering an approach that is responsive to community needs.
• providing training programs and resources to empower CSOs, enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to public health objectives.
• Leverage the reach of CSO to achieve the New Public Health Order and Africa CDC’s Strategic of 2023-2027
• Establish mechanism for the exchange of information between Africa CDC and CSOs, fostering a collaborative knowledge-sharing environment.
• Collaborate on advancing Africa’s position in global health discourse.

Expected Outcomes

• Creation of a CSO Engagement Framework
• Establishment of Long-term sustainable partnerships between Africa CDC and CSOs
• Design of capacity-building initiatives for CSOs on Africa CDC’s Health Priorities
• Institutionalisation of the Annual Africa CDC – CSO Engagement Forum

In this regard, Africa CDC is seeking the expertise of a consultant to coordinate and lead Africa CDC efforts to develop Africa CDC’s CSO Engagement Framework, thoughtfully derived from Africa CDC’s vision for CSO engagement, stakeholder engagement and brainstorming sessions. The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a desk review, organize consultations with CSOs to gather insights on the framework, and develop the Africa CDC CSO engagement framework. The development of the framework will take a participatory and consultative approach, together with Africa CDC staff and African CSOs.

1. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is responsible for providing the following services:

• Participate in the kickoff meeting as well as lead brainstorming meetings with key Africa CDC staff and GIZ to ensure a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, wider stakeholders and deliverables, and equip the consultant with the relevant information to deliver the assignment.
• Conduct desk review: a review of relevant CSO engagement strategies and policies at the Africa CDC, the African Union, and other relevant institutions at the National, Regional and Global Levels. The desk review will also include mapping of CSO networks and the CSO ecosystem on the continent.
• Formulate an inception report with a conceptual framework, Operational plan and methodology for the development of the Africa CDC – CSO Engagement Framework, including an overview or outline of the framework. This report will be presented at the first consultation workshop.
• Support the establishment of a collaborative working group composed of representatives from Africa CDC and CSOs to contribute to the development of the CSO engagement framework.
• Conduct a consultation workshop with CSOs to gather insights and feedback on the conceptualization of the CSO Engagement Framework based on the inception report.
• Develop a comprehensive draft framework based on the input gathered during consultations, ensuring alignment with the goals and objectives of both Africa CDC and CSOs. The draft will include a Monitoring & evaluation framework for the engagement in line with Africa CDC’s M&E Framework.
• Organize a Validation workshop with CSOs, Africa CDC and other key stakeholders to present and discuss the draft framework, incorporating further feedback from stakeholders to refine and finalize the document.
• Submission and presentation of the final draft of the Framework for review by Africa CDC leadership
• Revise and submit the final Framework based on the feedback from Africa CDC
• Support the preparation for the launch of the Framework.
• Prepare the required documents for the aforementioned consultations such as concept notes, agenda, report, press releases, outcome statements etc

Project Management Requirements:

• The contractor provides equipment and supplies (consumables) and assumes the associated operating and administrative costs.
• The contractor manages costs and expenditures, accounting processes and invoicing in line with the requirements of GIZ.

The contractor reports regularly to GIZ in accordance with the current AVB of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Milestones/process steps/partial services

Deadline or expected date of delivery /place/person responsible

• Project Kick off Meeting.

May 21, 2024

• Conduct desk review and submit.
• presentation of report to Africa CDC, GIZ and CSO representatives

June 03, 2024

• Draft Inception report
• Submit Inception report

June 15, 2024

• Presentation and feedback meeting with Africa CDC, GIZ and CSO representatives on inception Report

June 17, 2024

• Consultation workshop with CSOs to gather insights and feedback on the conceptualization of the CSO Engagement Framework based on the inception report. (Support the organisation of and facilitate the workshop)- June 26 – 28, 2024

Deliverables: concept note, Agenda, press release, report and outcome statement for the workshop

June 20, 2024 (Submission of Concept note and Agenda)

• Draft the CSO Engagement Framework
• The consultant will organize one check- in call while drafting the draft version.
• Submit the draft framework to Africa CDC, GIZ and CSO representatives

July 20, 2024

• Presentation and feedback meeting on the draft framework with Africa CDC, GIZ and CSO representatives

July 25, 2024

• Validation workshop with CSOs, Africa CDC and other key stakeholders to present and discuss the draft framework, incorporating further feedback from stakeholders to refine and finalize the document. August 08 – 10, 2024
• Deliverables: concept note, Agenda, press release, report and outcome statement for the workshop

July 30, 2024 (Submission of Concept note and Agenda)

• Draft Final version
• The consultant will organise one check- in call while drafting the final version
• Submit Final version for approval by Africa CDC leadership, the consultant will address any issues or feedback given from Africa CDC after submission

September 16

• Launch of the CSO Engagement Framework

October 2024

Period of assignment: from May 21 until October 30, 2024.

1. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The tenderer is required to present and explain its approach to steering (1.3) the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and its contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes (1.4) for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

The tenderer is required to describe its contribution to and promotion of scaling-up effects (1.5.2) under learning and innovation (1.5).

Project management of the contractor (1.6)

The tenderer is required to draw up a personnel assignment plan with explanatory notes that lists all the experts proposed in the tender; the plan includes information on assignment dates (duration and expert months) and locations of the individual members of the team complete with the allocation of work steps as set out in the schedule.

1. Personnel concept

Key Expert

Tasks of the Key Expert

• Overall responsibility for the advisory packages of the contractor (quality and deadlines)
• Responsible for the implementation of the tasks listed in (2) above
• Coordinating and ensuring communication with GIZ, partners and others involved in the project
• Regular reporting in accordance with deadlines

Qualifications of the key expert

• Education/training (2.1.1): Advanced University degree (Master or equivalent) in social science, political science, MPH, MBA, public policy or related fields
• Language (2.1.2): C1 -level language proficiency in English. French language proficiency is an advantage.
• General professional experience (2.1.3): 15 years of professional experience in framework development and management in an NGO, African institution or intergovernmental setting. Strategic planning across the spectrum of governance, public policy at national, regional, continental, and international level is an added advantage, particularly with AU or UN agencies.
• Specific professional experience (2.1.4): 10 years’ experience working with or for civil society organisations or NGOs in the areas of strategic planning, capacity building leadership and networking.
• Leadership/management experience (2.1.5): 02 years of management/leadership experience as project team leader in civil society organisations or NGOs
• Regional experience (2.1.6): 5 years’ experience in working with Africa-focused/based institutions and understanding the political and social climates on the continent is required. Familiarity with issues related to public health and CSOs involved in the public health space in Africa.
• Development cooperation (DC) experience (2.1.7): 02 years’ experience working in the public health needs and priorities of Africa and CSO engagement in public health on the African continent. Understanding and appreciation of global health issues and landscape is an advantage.
• Other (2.1.8): Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate scientific and technical information clearly and concisely, particularly in writing.
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to develop evidence-based framework for CSO engagement.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with stakeholders at various levels.