Consulting Services to conduct a Continental Study on the State of Performance of Public Service delivery in Africa

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

Country: Ethiopia

Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Grant No: P180117

Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Conduct a Continental Study on the State of Performance of Public Service Delivery in Africa

Reference No . ET-AUC-555560-CS-QCBS

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include undertaking a continental diagnostic study on the state of public service delivery in Africa to generate evidence-based knowledge that supports public administration reforms and strengthens governance systems across AU Member States.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expressions of Interest.

The African Union Commission now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

At least 10-15 years of experience in governance research, institutional diagnostics, or public administration reform. Proven experience conducting large-scale multi-country research studies or governance assessments. Demonstrated experience working with multilateral organizations, regional institutions, or government agencies, preferably within Africa. Strong expertise in public sector reform, governance indicators, institutional performance analysis, or civil service reform. Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality analytical reports and policy publications. Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex research assignments across multiple countries.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants’ Quality and Cost-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours .

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 13 August 2026 .

African Union Commission, Head of Supply Chain Management Division Building C, 3rd Floor, P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: [contact details removed] – Ext 4305

Fax: [contact details removed]

E-mail: [contact details removed]

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTING SERVICES TO CONDUCT A CONTINENTAL STUDY ON THE STATE OF PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN AFRICA

REF: ET-AUC-555560-CS-QCBS

Background

Strong public administration systems are fundamental to state capacity, democratic governance, and the effective delivery of development outcomes. Public service institutions constitute the operational backbone of government and play a central role in translating public policies into tangible services that affect the daily lives of citizens. Across the African continent, the ability of governments to deliver inclusive development, maintain public trust, and respond to emerging crises depends significantly on the professionalism, efficiency, accountability, and performance of public service institutions. The African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, recognizes the central role of capable public institutions in advancing sustainable development. Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063 calls for an Africa characterized by good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. This also aligns with Moonshot 3 of the Decade of acceleration of Agenda 2063 which states ‘public institutions should be strengthened’. Achieving this aspiration requires professional public administrations capable of implementing policies effectively, managing public resources responsibly, and delivering quality services to citizens. To strengthen public administration systems across the continent, African Union Member States adopted the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration (2011). The Charter provides a continental normative framework aimed at ensuring an efficient public sector in Africa. The Charter further commits Member States to modernizing public administration systems, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing service delivery to citizens. Despite these commitments, numerous governance assessments conducted on the continent have highlighted persistent challenges affecting the effectiveness of public service institutions in Africa. These include limited institutional capacity, fragmented administrative systems, weak performance management frameworks, insufficient monitoring mechanisms, and varying levels of transparency and accountability. Several major continental and international studies have sought to measure governance performance across Africa. These include: The Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) , which provides comparative data on governance and public service delivery[1]. The African D