REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) FOR CONSULTANCY FIRMS
PROCUREMENT TITLE: Consultancy Services to Develop Assessment of Food Systems and
Climate Action Policies and Plans to Enhance Convergence in Zambia and Uganda
PROCUREMENT NUMBER: 121/AUDA/DAFSES/OOD/CQS/2025
Method: Consultant’s Qualifications Selection (CQS)
1. Introduction
The Directorate of Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability of AUDA-NEPAD is
responsible for leading the institution’s efforts at supporting African Union member states, RECs, and
other important African stakeholders in meeting the domestic development priorities and international
commitments related to resilient Agri-food systems, climate change and sustainable development.
Agriculture and food systems are increasingly vulnerable and impacted by climate change and its
effects, with cascading effects on food security and nutrition, poverty and livelihoods, particularly in
Africa. Food systems represent up to 42% of global emissions, meaning that a sustainable food
systems transformation is fundamental to achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable
Development Goals. Only 1.7% of the global “climate finance” is targeted to smallholder farmers,
reflecting the need to increase the inclusivity of climate finance mechanisms.
Building on the strategic objectives of the of the Kampala CAADP Declaration, Strategy and Action
Plan, 2026-2035, the COP28 UAE Leaders Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food
Systems, and Climate Action as well as the UN Secretary-General's Report of the Food Systems
Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), AUDA-NEPAD is championing support to member states
be better foster policy and investment coherence around the climate-food systems nexus in Africa.
These include National Food Systems Pathways, National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs),
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and National
Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
2. Objectives Of The Assignment
General Objective of the Consultancy
The primary objective of the consultancy is to undertake country- level assessments to align and
enhance convergence of the food systems and climate action policies and plans (National Food
Systems Pathways, NAIPs, NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs with a linkage to infrastructure and trade in
Zambia and Uganda. To achieve the assignment’s objectives, AUDA-NEPAD seeks to engage a firm

which will engage ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Finance and Trade, Private Sector, non-
state actors and farmer/cooperative organizations in the two countries.

Specific Objectives
The firm is expected to address the key issues below, prioritizing as necessary while incorporating
other relevant considerations.
i. Literature Review & Gap Analysis
• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing food systems and climate action policies.
• Assess country-specific needs and priorities for food systems-climate action convergence
liked to infrastructure and trade.

ii. Stakeholder Engagement
• Consult with government agencies, smallholder farmers, private sector, CSOs, academia,
and UN agencies and other stakeholders.
• Gather insights to inform country-level assessment reports.
• Support stakeholder workshops and present draft findings to refine the draft report, ensuring
diverse perspectives are incorporated.
iii. Technical Tools Development
• Review existing tools for enhancing policy coherence in food systems-climate action
alignment.
• Analyse opportunities and challenges in convergence efforts.
iv. Capacity Building
• Present recommendations and pathways to strengthen food systems-climate action
integration.
v. Consultation and Validation
• Support stakeholder workshops and present draft findings to refine the draft report, ensuring
diverse perspectives are incorporated.
• Finalize reports based on inputs and submit to AUDA-NEPAD.
vi. Promote Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems
• Make presentations of final report to identified platforms to facilitate discussions to advance
climate-smart, people-centric, and nature-positive food systems for equitable and
sustainable development.
AUDA-NEPAD now invites eligible consultancy 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.
3. Qualifications, Experience And Competencies
Experience of the Firm
The selected consulting firm must demonstrate consulting firm should demonstrate a strong
combination of technical expertise, regional experience, and stakeholder engagement capabilities in
actionable policy convergence, with expertise in the following areas:
i. At least five years of experience in food systems analysis, including agriculture, nutrition,
supply chains, food security, and rural development.
ii. At least five years of experience in analysis of climate policy and action, including national
climate change policies, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), agroecology, and resilience
strategies as well as carbon emissions reduction in agri-food systems.
iii. A strong background in policy and governance assessment skills with the ability to analyse
policy coherence, institutional frameworks, and regulatory gaps.
iv. Demonstrate understanding of data collection and assessment tools, policy gap analysis,
stakeholder mapping, SWOT/PESTLE frameworks as well quantitative/qualitative research
(e.g., GHG emissions modelling, food system resilience metrics).
Qualification and work experience required for Key Experts
Team Leader/Lead Consultant
i. Minimum of PhD Degree in Environmental Science, Agriculture Economics; Sustainable
Development; Climate Change;
ii. At least 20 years of relevant professional experience on food systems, climate change,
sustainable development, with analytical experience in Africa context being an asset;

iii. Be conversant with the CAADP Framework, UN Food Systems Stocktaking; Convention on
Climate Change, SDGs and Agenda 2063;

iv. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in climate adaptation/mitigation in agri-
food systems (e.g., drought resilience, low-emission farming); and

v. Carried out assignments of similar nature for international organizations and national
governments in the areas of climate policy and governance, agri-food systems and rural
transformation, etc.
Policy and Governance Institutional Expert
i. Minimum of Masters Degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, or Economics;
ii. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in policy coherence analysis (including,
aligning food and climate policies);

iii. Strong understanding of the dynamics of stakeholder engagement with governments, non-
state actors, farmers and private sector; and

iv. At least 5 years’ experience with institutional capacity assessments identifying gaps and
recommendations in policy implementation.
The consultant firm should be proficient in one of the African Union working languages. Excellent
communication and writing skills in English are required for this assignment.
4. Shortlisting Criteria
Firms are required to submit their company profile, organizational structure, experience and
qualification of key experts; evidence of relevant experience, references from previous
assignments, and any other supporting documents or information that demonstrate their
qualifications.
For evaluation of the expressions of interest, the following criteria will be applied:
a. Experience of the Firm (35 points);
b. Qualifications and Experience of Key Experts (50 points);
c. Firm and team members knowledge of the relevant AU region and sector (15 points)
The minimum qualifying score is 70 points. Only the firm with the highest score will be invited to submit
a combined technical and financial proposal. Selection will be conducted in accordance with the
“Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS)” method as outlined in the AU Procurement Guidelines.
Please note that this is an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage only; financial proposals should
not be submitted at this time.
5. Submission Requirements
Interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents for AUDA-NEPAD
consideration:
i. Cover letter signed by an authorized official, expressing interest of the firm to participate in the
Consultancy;
ii. Signed declaration of undertaking (downloadable from AUDA-NEPAD website and attached
as Annex 1 below);
iii. Profile of the firm or consortium giving general background information, core business of the
firm, summary of previous experience of similar nature, registration certificates
iv. Profiles of experts indicating suitability of qualifications and experience and availability for the
assignment
v. In the cases of Consortiums/Partnerships/Associations shall be required to submit Joint venture
Agreements/Joint Association letters stating the lead firm.
6. Reporting And Time Schedules:
The consultant will report to the Director of Agriculture, Food Security, and Environmental
Sustainability or a designated officer. AUDA-NEPAD will take no more than 10 working days to review
each report, providing feedback, after submission.
The assignment shall be undertaken over 4 calendar months.

7. Exclusion Criteria
Only Consulting Firms are eligible for this assignment if they fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
a) Have no conflict of interest in relationship to performance of this assignment;
b) Are not subject to, and not controlled by any entity or individual that is subject to, a temporary
suspension or a debarment imposed by the African Union Commission, World Bank or any
other multilateral development bank and being listed on the website
http://www.worldbank.org/debarr or respectively on the relevant list of any other multilateral
development bank. Further, we are not ineligible under pursuant to a decision of the African
Union Commission, United Nations Security Council along with any of the sub-consultants,
subcontractors, suppliers, or service providers for any part of the contract;
c) Have not been convicted by a final judgement or a final administrative decision or subject to
financial sanctions by the United Nations or Country for involvement in a criminal organisation,
money laundering, terrorist-related offences, child labour or trafficking in human beings; this
criterion of exclusion is also applicable to legal Persons, whose majority of shares are held or
factually controlled by natural or legal Persons which themselves are subject to such
convictions or sanctions;
d) Are not a shell company nor has their company been created specifically for this bid and are
legally registered to operate a business under the Laws of their country;
e) Are not being bankrupt, wound up or ceasing our activities, having their activities administered
by courts, having entered receivership, reorganisation or being in any analogous situation;
f) Are not involved in corruption: offering, giving, receiving or soliciting, directly or indirectly,
anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party; and
g) Comply with their national tax and social security laws.
Interested consultants may obtain further information from the address listed below. All Expression of
Interests should be sent electronically to email listed below.
8. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by email on or before July 3rd 2025
14:30 hours (South African Time). All EOI’s must be marked
“121/AUDA/DAFSES/OOD/CQS/2025 Consultancy Services to Develop Assessment of Food
Systems and Climate Action Policies and Plans to Enhance Convergence in Zambia and
Uganda in the subject line of the email.
9. EOIs can also be sent by email, addressed to the address below. Interested Consultants may
also obtain further information at the address below during office hours (09:00 - 17:00 South Africa
time):

The Chairperson, Internal Procurement Committee (IPC)
African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
230, 15th Road, P. O. Box 218 Midrand,
1685 Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: [email protected] ; and copy to [email protected]

Attention of: Procurement Division

10. Bid opening will be held on line via Microsoft teams. For those who wish to attend you may join
using link provided on the July 3rd 2025 @14:30Hrs.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-
join/19%3ameeting_ZThiNGZlOGYtOGM4Yi00YTI0LWJjODItYTk2YmU1YTgxYWFj%40t

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11. Privacy Policy: AUDA-NEPAD Procurement office collects and uses your personal
information for “Procurement Process” when you intend to compete and deliver any service
or goods for the organization either individually or as a firm based on your consent. Your
personal data is our highest security and kept for a period strictly necessary for the purpose
set out. This privacy notice supplements the AUDA-NEPAD standard privacy notice and
should be read in conjunction with the same available on AUDA-NEPAD website.