AUDA-NEPAD

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) FOR CONSULTANCY FIRMS
PROCUREMENT TITLE: Consultancy Services for Capacity Building Program on Coordinated
Border Management, Trade Facilitation and Logistics
PROCUREMENT NUMBER: 158/AUDA/DIIT/TEF/CQS/2025
METHOD: Consultant’s Qualifications Selection (CQS)
1. Introduction
AUDA-NEPAD was established in 2018 with the mandate to coordinate and execute priority
regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated
realisation of Agenda 2063, strengthen capacity of African Union Member States and regional
bodies, advance knowledge-based advisory support, undertake the full range of resource
mobilisation and serve as the continent’s technical interface with all Africa’s development
stakeholders and development partners. The new AUDA-NEPAD mandate gives the organisation
a wider role in terms of providing knowledge-based advisory support to AU Member States in the
pursuit of their national development priorities. The core functions of the Agency are to:
o Provide knowledge-based advisory services and technical assistance to African Union
Member States and Regional Economic Communities to strengthen their capacity
o Act as the continent's technical interface on policy development recommendation and
implementation with partners and stakeholders
o Undertake the full range of resource mobilisation
o Coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects enshrined in Agenda
2063 with the aim of accelerating regional integration so as to achieve "The Africa we
want"
In line with its mandate to build the capacity of member states and promote regional integration
towards the attainment of Agenda 2063 as emphasized in the Second Ten Year Implementation
Plan, is to make Africa more integrated and connected, AUDA-NEPAD desires to develop a
capacity building programme focusing on trade facilitation.
The trade facilitation training programme will complement and build upon the groundwork laid by
the various AUDA-NEPAD’s relevant capacity-enhancing projects in trade facilitation,
digitalization and industrialization. The proposed activities under this programme aim to enhance
regional integration and accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) through addressing non-tariff barriers at borders by providing an integrated framework
for expediting legitimate trade. There have been notable efforts in many African countries to build
necessary physical, institutional and human capacities to implement trade facilitation measures
effectively. Considerable investment has been directed towards the construction of one stop
border posts and attendant technology. However, there is need for structured and continuous
capacity building interventions for border officials as well as stakeholders for efficiency.

2. Objectives Of The Assignment
AUDA-NEPAD has been involved in capacity building for border officials from COMESA,SADC,
and ECOWAS through training and study tours over the years. AUDA-NEPAD has also worked
with EAC to train border officials at the Mfum/Ekok Joint Border Posts between Nigeria and
Cameroon. In-order to enhance capacity building efforts, AUDA-NEPAD seeks to collaborate
with a reputable capacity building institution to further leverage the Trade Facilitation and
Logistics Course offered by the Agency to develop it into an executive certificate course
culminating into an academic programme in the future.
3. Qualifications, Experience And Competencies
Experience of the Firm
i. At least 10 years’ experience in trade and trade related policies;
ii. Must have demonstrated capacity and understanding of regional economic communities,
international trade agreements and conventions / legal frameworks, trade facilitation
measures including implementation of AfCFTA, Tripartite, Authorized Economic Operator
Programmes, One Stop Border Posts;
iii. It must have first-hand exposure to cross border challenges on the African continent that
hinder trade among African countries. In-house capacity on curriculum development and
course deployment is desirable;
iv. Transfer of knowledge;
v. Ability to teach/communicate in English and French is a must.
Qualification and work experience required for Key Experts
Key Expert 1: Team Lead/ Trade Facilitation and International Trade Law Expert.
Qualifications required
Minimum of Master’s Degree in International Trade Policy or Trade Law. A PhD is an added
advantage.
Experience required
a. 5 years supporting staff and not less than 10 years as Lead Consultant working in
Customs and Border Agencies;
b. Experience in Customs modernization and streamlining border procedures;
c. At least 3 years’ experience facilitating trade facilitation and capacity building events;
d. Ability to network with officials from the public and private sectors.
e. Proficiency in English and French

Key Expert 2: International Trade and Economic Law Expert
Qualifications required
Minimum of Master’s degree or other advanced qualifications in Law specializing in International
Trade Law and International Economic Law. A PhD is an added advantage.
Experience required.
a. Excellent understanding of international trade, trade-related policies and multilateral
trade agreements;
b. Good knowledge of trade facilitation measures and of the WTO Trade Facilitation
Agreement;
c. Experience in trade-related technical assistance;
d. Previous experience in trade facilitation training in COMESA region; and
e. Ability to network with officials from the public and private sector

4. This REOI will be organized into two Lots allocated by Regional Economic Communities
as follows:
Lot
No.

Regional Economic Communities

1 East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA), and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

2 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of

Central African States (ECCAS)
Preference will be given to firms whose key experts are based in the Region of
implementation

5. 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.
6. 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) and detailed TORs in Annex 2.

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.
7. 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.
8. 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 consulting firms may obtain further information from the address listed below. All
Expression of Interests should be sent electronically to email listed below and firms can bid for
any number of the 2 lots. Kindly note that no firm shall be awarded more than one lot.

9. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by email on or before
September 12th 2025 14:30 hours (South African Time). All EOI’s must be marked
“158/AUDA/DIIT/TEF/CQS/2025Consultancy Services for Capacity Building Program on
Coordinated Border Management, Trade Facilitation and Logistics. Kindly indicate the lot
you are applying for in the subject line of the email.
10. 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