Consultancy services to provide Expert Service Pool (ESP) for Early-Stage Project Preparation in African Island and Archipelagic Economies, with an Optional Call-Off Window for Selected Projects in African Landlocked Countries

AUDA-NEPAD is inviting proposals from firms and consortia to provide an Expert Service Pool (ESP) supporting early-stage preparation of infrastructure and industrialisation projects across seven African island and archipelagic states, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. The assignment falls under the Directorate of Infrastructure, Industrialisation, Trade and Regional Integration and forms part of the PIDA Service Delivery Mechanism's Technical Assistance Project for African Developing Island States. It is financed through PIDA technical assistance resources, with final funding and procurement references to be confirmed before solicitation. What the ESP will do The selected firm will validate a portfolio of projects already screened and approved by AUDA-NEPAD, then take those projects through early-stage preparation. This includes technical, economic, financing and institutional analysis, demand validation and market sounding, government readiness assessments, and alignment with the PIDA Quality Label, Blue Dot Network and relevant development bank standards. AUDA-NEPAD keeps control of screening, prioritisation and all progression decisions. The ESP prepares the evidence and handover packages that feed into those decisions. An optional, ring-fenced call-off window will also allow for early-stage preparation support to up to three projects in landlocked African countries, without affecting the core island portfolio. Duration and structure The core assignment runs for twelve months from commencement, with quarterly deliverable-based payments tied to ten major milestones, from inception and portfolio validation through to a final investment prospectus and handover. Work is home and office based, with missions to AUDA-NEPAD's Centurion headquarters where required. Who can apply Firms or consortia with at least ten years of relevant institutional experience, a track record on at least three comparable multi-country assignments, and the ability to field a team led by a Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, technical leads in finance and economics, institutional and legal matters, and an independent senior quality reviewer. Working proficiency in English, French and Portuguese is required.

Documents: Request for Expression of Interest; Terms of Reference

— From REOI - ESP.pdf — REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

CONSULTANCY SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Consultancy services to provide Expert Service Pool (ESP) for Early -

Stage Project Preparation in African Island and Archipelagic Economies, with an Optional Call- Off Window for Selected Projects in African Landlocked Countries

PROCUREMENT NUMBER: 513/AUDA/DITIR/GEN/QCBS/2026

METHOD: QUALITY AND COST BASED SELECTION (QCBS) – FIRMS ONLY

1. INTRODUCTION

AUDA-NEPAD is the African Union development agency mandated to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental development programmes in support of Agenda 2063. Through the Directorate of Infrastructure, Industrialisation, Trade and Regional Integ ration, AUDA - NEPAD supports Member States in originating, preparing and advancing infrastructure, industrialisation, trade and regional-integration projects. The African Islands Initiative (AII) provides a dedicated framework for Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. It responds to the particular development constraints of island and archipelagic econo mies, including small domestic markets, climate and disaster exposure, high logistics costs, fragmented connectivity, limited institutional capacity and weak access to structured project-preparation support. The Expert Service Pool (ESP) will operationalise the multidisciplinary expert capacity required under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM) Technical Assistance Project for the African Developing Is land States. The ESP will support a screened and approved portfolio of early -stage projects and integrated programmes in infrastructure, industrialisation, special economic zones, trade facilitation, blue economy, climate resilience, energy, water, transport and digital connectivity. The assignment will be delivered as a portfolio -standardised consulting -firm engagement. AUDA-NEPAD will retain responsibility for country ownership, project intake, screening, scoring, prioritisation, portfolio approval, contractual direction and decision s on progression, deferral, replacement or discontinuation. These are not ESP tasks. The firm will take over and validate the approved screened portfolio, undertake early -stage preparation, maintain quality and evidence controls, support the PIDA Quality L abel (PQL) and other formally designated standards-alignment docum

— From ESP Firm TOR Standard Template Final - Copy.pdf — Block F, Eco Origin Office Park, 349 Witch -Hazel Avenue, Eco-Park Estate, Highveld, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa OFFICE - [contact details removed] | FAX: [contact details removed] | WEB - www.nepad.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title of the Consultancy:

Consultancy services to provide Expert Service Pool (ESP) for Early - Stage Project Preparation in African Island and Archipelagic Economies, with an Optional Call -Off Window for Selected Projects in African Landlocked Countries

Consultancy type:

(individual or firm) Firm / Consortium of Firms Directorate & Division Directorate of Infrastructure, Industrialisation, Trade and Regional Integration (IITR) Procurement Number (from procurement plan) 513/AUDA/DITIR/GEN/QCBS/2026

Background

AUDA-NEPAD is the African Union development agency mandated to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental development programmes in support of Agenda 2063. Through the Directorate of Infrastructure, Industrialisation, Trade and Regional Integ ration, AUDA -NEPAD supports Member States in originating, preparing and advancing infrastructure, industrialisation, trade and regional-integration projects. The African Islands Initiative (AII) provides a dedicated framework for Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. It responds to the particular development constraints of island and archipelagic econo mies, including small domestic markets, climate and disaster exposure, high logistics costs, fragmented connectivity, limited institutional capacity and weak access to structured project-preparation support. The Expert Service Pool (ESP) will operationalise the multidisciplinary expert capacity required under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM) Technical Assistance Project for the African Developing Island States. The ESP will support a screened and approved portfolio of early -stage projects and integrated programmes in infrastructure, industrialisation, special economic zones, trade facilitation, blue economy, climate resilience, energy, water, transport and digital connectivity. The assignment will be delivered as a portfolio -standardised consulting-firm engagement. AUDA - NEPAD will retain responsibility for country ownership, project intake, screening, scoring, prioritisation, portfolio approval, contractual direction and decision s on progression, deferral, replacement or discon

Published by AUDA-NEPAD (African Union Development Agency). Submission instructions and deadlines are in the attached documents; the notice is listed at https://www.nepad.org/tenders.