Project Evaluation of the African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) Strategic Medium Term Plan Ii (SMTPII)
Request for Expression of Interest to Undertake an End of Project Evaluation of the African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) Strategic Medium Term Plan II (SMTPII)
Country: Zimbabwe, Issue Date: 10th June 2011
Name of Project: ACBF Regional Capacity Building Project, Africa
Consulting Services
Project ID No.: P122478, Grant No.: 6470-3A
Expression of Interest: ACBF/EOI/009/11/RIDA
1.0 Introduction
This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in UN Development Business online on 1 June 2011
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was established on 9 February 1991 as an outcome of a partnership between African governments and the international donor community. The major donors to the Foundation include African countries, non-African countries, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. The last three of these institutions constitute the Foundation’s sponsoring agencies. The establishment of ACBF was in response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs, and the challenge of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. ACBF was also designed to serve as a coordinating mechanism for donor support to capacity building on the Continent, through the pooling of resources and establishments of common governance and reporting systems. Since its establishment, the Foundation has evolved through five distinct phases: an initial phase (1992 – 1995); an institutionalization phase (1996 – 1999); the phase involving the integration and implementation of the Partnership for Capacity Building in Africa (PACT) (2000 – 2001); the first Strategic Medium Term Plan (SMTP I), 2002-2006; and the current SMTP II, 2007-2011.
Before January 2000, ACBF interventions focused on building and strengthening capacity for macroeconomic policy analysis and development management – the Foundation’s initial niche. In 2000, this focus was expanded as a result of the integration of the Partnership for Capacity Building in Africa (PACT) Initiative into the Foundation’s fold. PACT aims to mobilize greater support for capacity building in Africa. As a result, the Foundation’s role was broadened to cover the following areas:
- Support to projects and programs designed to strengthen the core public sector and its interface with the private sector and civil society in order to enhance their contributions to good governance, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
- Support to regional initiatives in the areas of training, policy analysis, applied policy research, trade policy development and negotiations as well as policy advocacy.
- Support for the emergence of institutional frameworks for country ownership and coordination of capacity-building activities as well as for participatory development.
- Knowledge generation and sharing aimed at transforming the Foundation into a knowledge-based institution and at supporting the emergence of knowledge-based economies in Africa.
The expansion of the mandate of ACBF culminated in the development of its first Strategic Medium Plan (SMTP I), 2002-2006, which provided ACBF with the framework for expansion of its operations from an initial focus on economic policy analysis and management into six core competency areas; namely, economic policy analysis and management, financial management and accountability, public administration and management, national statistics and statistical systems, policy analysis capacity of national parliaments, and professionalization of the voices of the private sector and civil society. The African Capacity Building Foundation is planning to undertake an End of Project Evaluation in order to have a succinct and clear appreciation of the status of implementation of the SMTP II including a robust assessment of the achievement of targets. The Foundation is requesting the services of a firm with a
The African Capacity Building Foundation has received a grant from the World Bank towards the cost of the ACBF Regional Capacity Building Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this funding towards Consultancy Services to undertake an End of Project Evaluation of SMTPII using a firm with a team of experienced consultants in relevant disciplines to undertake independent assessment of the progress of implementation of the SMTP II, extent of achievement of intended results and review of the effects of the interruptions (2008-2010) in the implementation of the Strategy including appraisal of the effectiveness of the financing model and the achievement of the knowledge management interventions. ACBF now invites eligible Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (description of similar assignments, evidence of familiarity with End of Project Evaluations on a large scale, experience in similar conditions, evidence and familiarity with international organisations, Managerial and Technical capability, etc).
2.0 Objectives and Scope of the Assignment
The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the progress of implementation and extent of achievement of the objectives of SMTP II. Focusing on systematic review of programs and projects implemented under the strategy, it is also intended to identify unique successes and innovations, challenges encountered, tease out lessons and recommend ways of improvement. Assessment of the reforms undertaken and their implication for the future would be important in order to leverage the capacity created inside the Foundation for future use.
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:
- Establish the extent to which the level of effectiveness in the design and management of public policies and programs has been raised in supported countries by assessing the work and impact of ACBF-supported policy units and national parliaments
- Assess if there has been enhancement of the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks as well as improved delivery of public services in supported countries. This will entail reviewing ACBF-supported projects in the following core competency areas: financial management and accountability, public administration and management, national statistics and statistical systems.
- Determine the contribution of the Foundation in promoting accountability and transparency in economic, financial and administrative governance in supported countries through the work of the projects implemented under the mentioned core competency areas.
- Assess if interface among development stakeholders (the public sector, private sector, civil society and local communities) has been strengthened and if yes, whether it has contributed to improved responsiveness and accountability of public institutions in supported countries. This will entail a review of ACBF-supported projects under professionalization of the voices of the private sector and civil society core competency area.
- Assess if such interface (among development stakeholders) may have enhanced and or contributed to the effectiveness of development policies and programs in achieving sustainable growth, poverty reduction and the attainment of the MDGs in supported countries.
- Determine if the capacity of Africa’s regional economic communities and regional networks has been enhanced in the implementation of regional cooperation and integration programs and in the management of regional public goods as a result of the ACBF-support in regional cooperation programs.
- Assess the reforms that were undertaken under the Management Action Plan and the impact they have had on the visibility, performance, and impact of the Foundation and the programs it supports.
Duration:The consultancy is expected to be undertaken within a period of three(3) calendar months which may be spread over 4 months
3.0 Qualifications of Consultants
Consulting Companies must have a proven record of experience in conducting Project Evaluations and must be experienced in human and institutional capacity building issues, as well as Africa’s development challenges and development cooperation practices. The firm must have at least 5 years experience in conducting complex and large program evaluations. The consultant team shall comprise a Team Leader and the other three (3) team members with necessary skills.
A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers(May 2004, revised October 2006 and May 2010). Expression of Interest clearly marked “Expression of Interest to undertake an end of project evaluation of The African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) Strategic Medium Term Plan II (SMTP II)” can be submitted as hard copies at the address below on or before 17:00 hours local time on 24th of June, 2011.
The Executive Secretary
The African Capacity Building Foundation
7th & 15th Floors, Intermarket Life Towers
Cnr. Jason Moyo Ave/Sam Nujoma Street
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: (263-4) 700208/10, 790398/9, 702931/2
Fax: (263-4) 702915, 792894
Email: root@acbf-pact.org
No comments: