83461047_ Consultancy to support Strengthening of Cooperation between Africa CDC and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) 116 views0 applications

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is an autonomous health institution of the AU established in 2017 to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions, to detect, prevent, control as part of its public health emergency response to disease threats.

Africa CDC functions ensure that its work provide a safer, healthier, coordinated, and prosperous Africa, in which Member States can efficiently prevent diseases and promote health, implement surveillance and detection, and be prepared to respond effectively to health threats and outbreaks. Africa CDC’s priorities for 2022 – 2026 and beyond centre on promoting a healthy population in AU Member States. The goals and priorities of Agenda 2063 – the Africa We Want, together with the AU’s Africa Health Strategy 2016 – 2030 are among the key frameworks that guide the future direction of Africa CDC.

The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with the project Strengthening Crisis and Pandemic Response in Africa (SCPRA). The project aims to enhance the resilience of the Africa CDC by strengthening organisational development and project management capacity as well as partnership management.

Article 27 of Africa CDC’s Statute foresees working ties between Africa CDC and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and one core priority of Africa CDC’s Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs) is to foster coordination, collaboration, and integration among AU Member States and RECs. Additionally, Article 23 (1) of Africa CDC’s Statute outlines the ambition to bring an ‘Africa CDC without walls’ through the establishment of its five RCCs into reality. They are mandated to support the implementation of Africa CDC’s strategic plans at regional level.

However, the RCCs are not the only stakeholders at regional to respond to public health issues in the respective regions. RECs and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) are central actors to ensuring regional integration in the health area inter alia through regional health policies and programmes. Cooperation and collaboration between Africa CDC/RCCs and RECs/RMs are essential for a reinforced approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as well as to avoid duplication and ensure efficient use of resources.

Within the context of the current cooperation between Africa CDC and SCPRA, the service of consultancy is sought to support Africa CDC in conducting an analysis of the current status and areas of cooperation between Africa CDC as well as designing formats of cooperation between continental and regional levels.

Tasks to be performed by the contractor The contractor is responsible for the following services:

Work package 1: Study on the current status and areas of cooperation between Africa CDC and RECs/RMs

• Conduct a desk review of (1) AU/Africa CDC and RECs/RMs documents to outline the envisaged cooperation between AU/Africa CDC and RECs/RMs on public health emergencies prevention, response, and recovery, and (2) available literature on the current status of cooperation (situational analysis).
• Conduct interviews with representatives at Africa CDC, its RCCs and RECs to map areas of cooperation (incl. best practices), gaps, and opportunities (incl. possible areas of comparative advantages of the continental health structure vs regional approaches).
• Present preliminary mapping during an expert workshop in Q2 2024.
• Develop recommendations for a coordinated and instutionalised approach for health initiatives between continental and regional level.

Work package 2: Development of a framework of cooperation including formats of cooperation and coordination

• Conduct a desk review of existing frameworks of cooperation between the continental and regional level, including cooperation and coordination formats on health and other areas on the African continent and in other regions.
• Based on the collected data (incl. the data under work package 1), conduct an analysis whether and how a framework of cooperation would be beneficial for a strengthened cooperation.
• Draft and finalise a framework of cooperation between Africa CDC and RECs/RMs. This framework of cooperation should also include possible formats of cooperation and coordination between Africa CDC and RECs/RMs at different levels (technical and strategic/political)
• Draft and finalise a Policy Brief on improving cooperation between Africa CDC and RECs/RMs for Africa’s Health Security to be co-authored with the project.
• Support the roll-out and implementation of selected formats of cooperation and coordination. Work package 3: Support on the AU/Africa CDC-RECs-meetings and events
• Support the roll-out and implementation of selected formats developed under work package 2. Review the added value of the formats and, if necessary, revise the formats.
• Prepare, facilitate, and document additional meetings and events on AU/Africa CDC[1]RECs-cooperation, including develop meeting report.

Work package 3: Support on the AU/Africa CDC-RECs-meetings and events

• Support the roll-out and implementation of selected formats developed under work package 2. Review the added value of the formats and, if necessary, revise the formats.
• Prepare, facilitate, and document additional meetings and events on AU/Africa CDC[1]RECs-cooperation, including develop meeting reports.

Period of assignment 15 May 2024 Until 30 June 2025

Qualifications of the team leader

• Education/training (2.1.1): university degree (diploma/master’s degree) in political science, international relations, development studies, or law.
• Language (2.1.2): C2-level language proficiency in English. Knowledge of any other AU working language is an advantage.
• General professional experience (2.1.3): 15 years’ proven work in policy development, research, and/or stakeholder engagement, particularly in the African context.
• Specific professional experience (2.1.4): 13 years’ experience in development of strategies and frameworks for international organisations such as AU and/or UN. Working experience with RECs and/or RM is also compulsory.
• Leadership/management experience (2.1.5): 10 years’ management/leadership experience as project team leader or manager in a company.
• Regional experience (2.1.6): 10 years’ working experience in Africa.
• Development cooperation (DC) experience (2.1.7): 8 years’ experience working in DC projects, preferably with AU, UN and/or GIZ.
• Other (2.1.8): 5 years’ experience in developing, organising, and facilitating events, meetings, and workshops.

Qualifications of the short-term regional expert pool (two members)

• Education/training (2.6.1): university degree (diploma/master’s degree) in social sciences, international relations, development studies, or law.
• Language (2.6.2): C1-level language proficiency in English.
• General professional experience (2.6.3): 6 years’ experience in strategy development and strategy advisory services, with a focus on the African context and RECs/RMs.
• Specific professional experience (2.6.4): 4 years’ working experience in communication and publication, especially formulation of policy brief, is expected. Familiarity with research including conducting desk reviews and interviews is required.
• Regional experience (2.6.5): 5 years’ experience in working with Africa-focused/based institutions and understanding the political and social climates on the continent is required.
• Development cooperation (DC) experience (2.6.6): 5 years’ experience working on DC projects.
• Other (2.6.7): Working experience in developing and documenting (rapporteur services) exchange platforms and workshops is expected.