Consultancy for the development of a Policy Analysis and Research Strategy for the African Union Commission

2. Background

2.1 The African Union, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was established as a unique Pan African continental body charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a New Partnership Worldwide. The African Union’s ability to deliver on its mandate is intrinsically linked to the question of policy analysis and research in the sense that it has to continuously scan the environment both within Africa and externally with a view to identifying emerging issues that may pose as a threat or provide opportunities to the integration and sustainable socio-economic development agenda of the continent.

2.2 The Policy Analysis and Research function is situated within the Strategic Policy Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Resource Mobilization Directorate (SPPME-RM) of the AUC. The function aims at providing high quality policy analysis and research service to support the overall strategic thinking and planning processes of the AU Commission.It is also to provide and maintain research and statistical services that caters for the needs of the entire AUC. The ultimate objective is to propel policy analysis and research into an effective and well coordinated function that will add and create value to the work of the Commission and also act as a think-tank. It is against this background that the AUC wishes to develop a strategy that will provide an agreed framework forthe coordination, facilitation and management of quality research, policy formulation and analysis.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The main objective of the consultancy is to develop a strategy that will constitute an appropriate framework for the coordination, facilitation and management of quality research, policy formulation and analysis. The strategy will also be the basis for determining the approaches to research, policy formulation and analysis in the sense that it will indicate whether research and policy analysis should be undertaken at the strategic think-tank level, or in the area of general socio-economic development issues or at the sectoral level. The strategy will also shed some light on the strategic choice between building “in-house” capacity and using external knowledge (outsourcing).


4. Tasks for the Consultant:

Under the supervision thePolicy Analysis and Research Division, the expert will be required to perform the following duties:

• Formulate a realistic and implementable Policy Analysis and Research Strategy containing prioritized and time bound activities for the next three years (2011-2013) that should include but not limited to the following:

a) Proposals on how the policy analysis and research function of the AUC should be coordinated, facilitated and managed to ensure timely delivery of quality and value adding results;
b) Recommendations on whether the AUC should build in-house capacity or outsource this function and why;
c) Proposals on how the policy analysis and research function of the AUC should be approached in terms of the level and topics to be covered ( whether at the strategic think-tank level, or the in the area of general socio-economic development issues or in the form of forward looking studies or at the sectoral level);
d) An identification of existing or possible duplication within the AUC in this area and propose concrete strategies to enhance coordination, complementarities and synergies;
e) Proposals on the policy analysis and research process as well as the roles and responsibilities of the various key actors/stakeholders within the AUC;
f) Proposals on how the AUC can network and establish effective linkages with these centres of excellence and expertise to enhance internal capacity to undertake the policy formulation, analysis and research function;
g) Proposals on how the AUC can act as a bridge between researchers, policy analysts and policy makers to ensure that the work of the former is put to good use by the latter (including mechanisms for the dissemination of information once research and analysis is concluded i.e. where do we take the information to, who uses it and at what level);
h) Proposals on appropriate institutional mechanisms within the AUC for effectively carrying out this function (e.g. Working Groups, Task Forces etc.);
i) Clear recommendations on how the policy analysis and research function should interface or feed into other processes of the AUC e.g. strategic planning, institutional transformation, training in areas of strategic nature.

5. Scope of Work:

The scope of the assignment is to carry out the aforementioned task that involves desk work,information gathering through interviews, visits to selected, RECs,similar organizations and centres of excellence. The information collected will be analysedwith the ultimate objective of developing a Policy Analysis and Research strategy for the AUC.

6. Approach/ Methodology

The process of preparing the Strategy for Policy Analysis and research should be participatory and involve relevant stakeholders within the AUC, including top management. The consultant should also interview other stakeholders through visits to a selected number of Member States, RECs, similar organizations as well as centres of excellence and experts in this area. The consultant is further required to analyze all relevant information and facilitate the workshop that will validate the Draft Policy Analysis and Research Strategy.

In formulating the realistic and implementable Policy Analysis and Research Strategy containing prioritized and time bound activities for the next three years (2011-2013), the current AUC Strategic Plan should be taken into account as well as the Annual Policy Statements. Every attempt should be made to take into account the experiences and best practices of countries. similar organizations and centres of excellence.



7. Timing and required outputs

7.1 The consultancy will be carried out over a period of three (3) months. The consultant’s home country will be the base from where the work will be carried out. However, he/she will be expected to make three (3) visits to the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. First visit is for an initial briefing and consultations with AUC Departments; second visit is for presentation of the first draft Policy Analysis and Research Strategy and Plan of Action to the AU Commission for discussion; third visit is for presentation of the Policy Analysis and Research Strategy and Plan of Action to the validation workshop.

7.2 The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs at the specified time lines:

•An Inception Report, which should be submitted to the AU Commission within fifteen (15) days of the signing of the contract;
•Submission of an Interim report, thirty (30) days after the briefing, highlighting the work that has been done, possible outcomes and difficulties encountered;
•First Draft Policy Analysis and Research Strategy and plan of action to be submitted after forty (40) days. The draft will be presented to the Commission for discussion with the Consultant and comments taken on board immediately;
•The Document will then be presented at a workshop for validation latest thirty (30) days after the submission of the draft strategy;
•The consultant will then take into account the outcome of the validation workshop to finalize the strategy and submit a final document paper fifteen (15) days after the validation workshop.
•The consultant should submit three original copies and the electronic versions.

7.3 Furthermore, the Consultant accompanied by an AUC Team will also be expected to make visits to selected AU Organs, Regional Economic Communities, Member States, similar international organizations, as well as centres of excellence in Africa and outside to learn, share their experiences and exchange views on the Policy Analysis and Research Strategy.

8. Key Outputs:

The main outputs of this project will be:

• Background document(concept note on Policy Analysis and Research Functions in general);
• 3 copies of Policy Analysis and Research Strategy and Implementation Plan: 2 hard copies and 1 soft copy in MS Word using font size of 12pt and single spacing;
• PowerPoint presentation on the Policy Analysis and Research Strategy for use in the validation workshop.







9. Qualifications:

• An advanced University Degree, preferably a PHD in Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Business Administration or any relevant discipline.
• Proven track record in the development of policy frameworks, business support strategies and implementation;
• Extensive hands on experience in the area of policy analysis and research, strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Demonstrated Knowledge of policy analysis and research management at international level;
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity building programs to policy makers.

10. Reporting Lines:

The consultant will report to the Director SPPMERM through the Head of the Policy Analysis and Research Division.

11. Payment

The remuneration will be a lump sum fee of up to US$40,000, inclusive of all allowances. The payments will be made to the Consultant according to the following schedule:

• 10% of contract value - After signing of contract and submission of Inception Report;
• 20% of contract value - On submission of the Interim Report;
• 50% of contract value - On submission of the First Draft Strategy and Plan of Action and after approval by the AUC;
• 20% of contract value - On submission of final Strategy Document and Action Plan and after approval by the AUC.

12. Candidature

• The applications of candidates should be consistent with the African Union format which can be downloaded from the website: www.africa-union.org;
• Candidates should provide a detailed CV and certified true copies of their diplomas and certificates.
• Applications should be accompanied by a concept paper (minimum 4 pages and maximum of ten pages) on policy analysis and research functions, summarizing their understanding of the TOR, the methods they will use, highlighting best practices, challenges, opportunities and areas of focus for Strategy Policy; a draft plan and schedule for the realization of the study.

13. Gender Mainstreaming

• The African Union Commission is an equal opportunity employer; qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications must be received not later than 20 June 2011 and should be addresses to:

AU Commission
Director for Administration and Human Resource Management
P. O .Box 3243
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Fax: 00251-11-5525840/5510430
E-mail: au-recruits@africa-union.org