1. Background

The African Union (AU) has established the Continental Operational Centre (COC) in Sudan as a Specialized Technical Office of the AU for combating Irregular Migration, with a particular focus on trafficking in persons (TiP), and smuggling of migrants (SoM) in Africa. Consistent with its mandate elaborated in its founding Statute, the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA), the relevant continental policies on the Prevention of TiP and SoM in Africa, the COC as part of strengthening migration governance in Africa, wishes to secure the services of an Expert to develop Continental Guidelines for sharing Information and Intelligence to combat irregular migration, in particular, the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

Application Requirements:

The Consultant should be a citizen of a Member State of the African Union and be available to commence services by 1^st October 2024, or as soon as the contract has been awarded. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in the development of migration, transnational organized crime policies, and the sharing of information and intelligence on transnational organized crime, particularly TiP and SoM. The candidate should also have a good understanding of the COC’s legal mandate and should also display a good understanding and appreciation of Africa’s Development agenda.

2. Objective

To develop Continental Guidelines for sharing Information and Intelligence to combat irregular migration in Africa, particularly, the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

Expected Output / Deliverable

Continental Guidelines that provide a framework and mechanisms for sharing information and intelligence to combat trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants among AU Member States

3. Scope of Work and Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Director: COC, or his delegated authority, the Consultant/Expert will develop the Continental Guidelines, and the the assignment will comprise:

• Activity 1 – Desk Review: Conduct a desk review on best practices in sharing information and intelligence on combating TiP and the SoM in Africa and other regions.

• Activity 2 – Scoping Exercise: Against the best practices identified in (1) 1.1, assess the state of play and capacity among Regional Economic Communities, Regional Police Bodies, and Member States to share information and intelligence in combating TiP and the SoM among AU Member States.

• Activity 3 – Drafting Continental Guidelines: Considering the best practices identified in (1) 1.1, and the current state of play and capacity among Regional Economic Communities, Regional Police Chiefs, and Member States to share information and intelligence in combating TiP and the SoM, draft the Continental Guidelines for sharing Information and Intelligence on combating TiP and the SoM in Africa.

4. Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

5. Consultancy Fee

The African Union shall pay the Consultant daily fees commensurate with the number of days worked in accordance with:

• Timeframes agreed between the COC and the Consultant, and
• Specific key deliverables as provided in the payment schedule below.

6. Duration

The assignment will be completed in 49 days, spread over 3 months, from September to December 2024.

7. Duty Station

The assignment will be home-based, with travel limited to the attendance of workshops where required, and the AUC will cover all travel costs.

8. Contract Management and Reporting

Under the overall supervision of the Director, the Consultant will report on his/ her activities to the Director, ICD

9. Language

The Consultant/Expert must have excellent speaking and drafting skills, written and spoken English. Working knowledge in any other AU official working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese) would be an added advantage.

10. QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE OF THE CONSULTANT

Interested Consultant/s must be African citizens and should provide information demonstrating the required qualifications, proven experience, and track record in conducting assignments of a similar magnitude. Bids must provide the qualifications and experience of all individual experts proposed for the assignment. Consultants proposed for the assignment must have the following:

Academic Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in the field of intelligence and security, social sciences, law, international relations, migration, or related fields.

Technical experience/competencies

• Minimum work experience of 5 years working in the area of intelligence, or migration in Africa.
• Demonstrable technical experience in the areas of intelligence research, migration research, training, and capacity building.
• Experience in organizational development.
• Strong oral presentation, interpersonal, and networking skills.
• In-depth knowledge of contemporary migration issues in Africa, especially irregular migration and related transnational organised crime.

Other skills/competencies

• Experience on similar assignments in Africa.
• Experience and ability to interact with senior government officials, AUC and representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies in Africa.
• Ability to navigate political processes in highly sensitive settings.
• Excellent drafting/writing and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and presentation skills.
• Previous experience working with the AUC, the UN and other multi-lateral organizations would be an added advantage.

11. Language: Fluency in English. Mastery of other AU official languages would be an added advantage.

12. Required Documentation:

Interested Consultants are required to submit the following:

1. Technical Proposal
2. The Consultant’s capability statement.

• The Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology.

1. Curriculum Vitae of the Consultant.
2. The technical proposal shall not exceed 10 pages (excluding CVs).
3. CVs shall not exceed 5 pages.
4. Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be applied:

Table: 1

14. Invitation

The African Union Commission now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested candidates must provide information demonstrating that he/she has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Applicants must submit the following documents:

• Cover letter - Understanding of the assignment / TOR.
• Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment.
• Time and activity schedule.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00-13:00hrs and 14:00-17:00 hours Local Time. Proposals must be delivered in written form to the address below not later than 15:00 hours local time, on 26^th September 2024. 

African Union Commission,

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430

E-mail: tender@africa-union.org

And GoungoulouS@africa-union.org

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00-13:00hrs and 14:00-17:00 hours Local Time. Proposals must be delivered in written form to the address below not later than 15:00 hours local time, on 26^th September 2024.