EU-EAC Liaison Officer Request for service 2014 / 337057 1

SPECIFIC TERMS OF REFERENCE
FWC BENEFICIARIES 2013 - LOT 10:
EU-EAC Liaison Officer
Request for service 2014 / 337057
1. BACKGROUND
The East African Community (EAC) was established in 1999 by Kenya, Tanzania and
Uganda. Burundi and Rwanda joined in 2009. The EAC Customs Union (CU) was launched
in 2005, after the entry into effect of the Customs Union Protocol. To lead to the
implementation of the CU a series of instruments have been developed, including the
Customs Management Act (2004) and various legal instruments relating to trade in goods e.g.
the SQMT Act (2008). In 2010, the Community signed a Common Market Protocol which is
now being implemented. The Community has ambitions for a Monetary Union and foresees a
Political Federation in some years to come.
The EAC Development Strategy is the overarching document defining development priorities
in the EAC. The 4th EAC Development Strategy was elaborated in 2011 and covers a five
year period (2011/12-2015/16). The priorities of the Strategy are: Consolidation of the
benefits of a fully fledged Customs Union; Full Implementation of the Common Market;
Establishment of the East African Monetary Union; Laying the Foundation for a Political
Federation; Development of Regional Infrastructure; Development and strengthening of the
Regional Productive Sectors; Development of the social sector; and Strengthening of EAC
Organs and Institutions. The EAC organs and institutions include: the EAC Secretariat, East
African Legislative Assembly (EALA), East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Lake Victoria
Basin Commission (LVBC), Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), Inter University
Council of East Africa (IUCEA), Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency
(CASSOA), East African Development Bank (EADB).
In order to implement the EAC strategy, sector specific documents include, amongst others,
the EAC Transport Strategy and Regional Road Sector Development Program 2011, the EAC
Regional Power System Master Plan 2011, the East African Railways Master Plan 2009, EAC
industrialisation policy and strategy, and the EAC Food Security Action Plan (2011 – 2015).
A Protocol on good governance is currently being prepared.
Implementation of the development vision is being supported by various development
partners. The EAC Budget for 2012/13 amounts to 130 million USD, of which more than
65% is funded by development partners.
The EU has been supporting regional integration in the EAC region, mainly through the
National Indicative Programmes in the five member states and through the Regional
Indicative Programme (RIP) of the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO)
region. The initial budget of the 10th EDF ESA-IO RIP amounted to € 645 million, covering
four regional organizations (ROs): EAC, COMESA, IGAD and IOC. After the 10th EDF Mid
Term Review, the budget was reduced to € 619 million. Its two focal areas are regional
economic integration and regional political integration/cooperation. Support goes to the EAC
Secretariat and other EAC organs to implement their trade agenda, support to the EAC's
programme on developing frameworks for good and democratic governance as well as
migration, trade facilitation along the Central Corridor, and a power transmission line
between Burundi and Rwanda.
The EAC is part of the wider ESA-IO region which has a complex ‘architecture’, in which
several countries are members of at least 2 Regional Organisations. This 'multiple
membership' is a challenge for regional integration. The 'Tripartite Free Trade Area'
agreement between COMESA-SADC-EAC states is an attempt to address the issue. It was
launched in 2008 with the objective to establish a single Free Trade Area covering the 26
countries of the three regional organisations but the modalities are still being negotiated. At
the recent SADC-EU Ministerial Political Dialogue (Maputo, 20 March 2013), both parties
agreed on the need for the speedy implementation of the process.
In this context, the IRCC (Inter-Regional Coordinating Committee) was created in 2001 by
COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC and EU in order to improve the delivery of aid by the EU to the
ESA-IO region under the 9th and 10th EDF. It is a platform where the four organisations and
EU coordinate programmes and strategies to be implemented under the COMESA-EACIGAD-IOC RIP, in the presence of SADC, the African Union Commission and the ACP
Secretariat. The EAC Secretariat is the current Chair of IRCC.
The only on-going (interim) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) in the region have
been signed with Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. There are on-going EPA
negotiations with 3 groupings of countries: EAC, SADC and a full EPA with the whole ESA
(COMESA) region.
The EAC region faces a long list of challenges in many areas. Its trade agenda needs to be
carried forward and its Customs Union and Common Market fully implemented. Challenges
include issues such as a multiplicity of agencies and legal regimes regulating trade, different
interpretations of regional laws, insufficient skills mix of implementing agencies and lack of
legal mandate on part of the Secretariat to enforce trade facilitation instruments. The region
faces infrastructure challenges, having the lowest energy access ratio in the world, old railway
infrastructure, limited road networks, and inefficient ports. It also faces challenges in
promoting good governance, democracy, gender equality, cross-border management of
natural resources and ensuring peace and security for its citizens.
In order to support the region in meeting these challenges, RIP for the 11th EDF covering the
regional organizations in the EA-SA-IO region (COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC and – to be
confirmed in 2014 -SADC) is in preparation. This programme will build on the 9th and 10th
EDF interventions and on the results of the Mid-Term Review of the 10th EDF. Within 11th
EDF RIP, a separate allocation for the EAC region will be created, to support specific
interventions and actors in the region. The EDF support will be geared to three main pillars of
the regional cooperation agenda: peace and security, economic regional integration and
management of natural resources.
The EAC has decided to move very strongly to meet international standards in terms of
accounting, audit, internal control and procurement procedures. This would allow the EAC to
be eligible for contribution agreements with the EU for the implementation of certain projects
under the 11 EDF.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Global objective
The global objective of this assignment is to facilitate the relationship between the EAC and
the EU, notably for the implementation of EU development cooperation programmes with the
EAC region within the wider context of the EA-SA-IO coordinated approach and the EU
support to the African continental integration agenda.
Specific objective(s)
The specific objective of this assignment is to serve as a focal point for the EAC – EU
partnership, to coordinate and ensure a swift planning, implementation and follow-up of EU
supported policies and programmes within the EAC.
Requested services
The liaison officer will be required:
1. To be the liaison point in the EAC for all EU-EAC cooperation and European
Commission funded programs, including for the programming of the 11th EDF.
2. To respond to queries from the Secretary General of the EAC, the EU Head of
Delegation to the EAC on issues related to the policies, programs and initiatives of the
strategic partnership.
3. To help the strategic partnership move forward by incorporating European Commission
funded programsinto the EAC strategies as elaborated by its secretariat and member
states. In particular, the liaison officer shall contribute to the alignment of RISPs 3 to
the EAC Partnership Fund.
4. To work in direct support of the policies and technical programs jointly entered into by
the EU and the EAC and to ensure that European Commission funded programs in the
EAC yield the desired results for both the EU and EAC.
5. To be a direct support to the division directors for the successful planning,
implementation, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of European Commission funded
programs, including on procurement and contractual aspects.
6. To support EAC technical personnel to deliver quarterly briefing reports on EU-EAC
activities and accomplishments, as well as an annual summary report, inclusive of
indicators and valid data.
7. To work with the EAC resources mobilization unit and the planning section to report
on the European Commission Funded program in all quarterly and annual reports (to be
possible aligned with EAC reporting).
8. To participate in EAC quality control teams, especially for the work sponsored by EU.
9. To work in any and all areas that may enhance the visibility and program achievements
of the EU-EAC strategic partnership and to report results on the same.
10. Possibly to facilitate the organisation of meetings related to EU-EAC cooperation.
Required outputs
The inception report will define the proposed work plan within the scope of the assignment
and will detail the specific tasks to be carried out in order to fulfil the requested services.
The quarterly reports on EU-EAC activities will include all relevant information to followup on EU funded cooperation programmes with the EAC. Each report will state the results
achieved and proposals to mitigate the risks that may hamper a swift implementation of EU
funded programmes.
The final report will report on the results achieved for each service requested and propose
ways to improve the daily cooperation between the EAC and the EU.
3. EXPERTS PROFILE or EXPERTISE REQUIRED
One senior expert will required to complete the assignment for an estimated of 240 working
days delivered over 12 months period.
Qualifications and skills:
• Masters degree in Economics, Political Science, International Trade, Law or any
development-related field;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Cotonou Agreement, EU development cooperation
policies, EU-Africa Strategy and EDF implementation rules and procedure;
• Demonstrated knowledge of EAC policies, programmes and proceduresDemonstrated
knowledge and skills in strategy formulation and facilitation;
• Demonstrated knowledge on project cycle management and innovative financial
instruments (blending);
• Demonstrated knowledge on institutional assessments and standards on , audit, internal
control and procurement procedures
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Excellent analytical, conceptual and reporting skills;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Computer literacy;
• Knowledge of French and / or Swahili would be an asset.
Experience:
• Minimum 10 years of experience in development cooperation with at least 5 years in
project management on projects of regional nature;
• Demonstrated experience in the East Africa region and integration process;
• Experience in aid delivery;
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Extensive experience in EU support to regional integration: at least 2 assignments
covering TA on EU-funded regional programmes must be demonstrated, including one
relating to support in capacity development;
Extensive experience in strategic planning;
Experience in EC procurement/contracting would be an asset
Experience in gender empowerment and equality would be an asset.
4. LOCATION AND DURATION
The indicative starting date for this assignment is 1st of March 2014.
The total duration of the assignment is 240 working days over 12 months.
The main location of the assignment is Arusha (EAC premises), Tanzania. Missions are to be
foreseen in the EAC capitals (Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura), IRCC
Secretariat and COMESA (Lusaka) and SADC (Gaborone) and possibly to Brussels.
Indicative starting date
Indicative ending date
1st of March 2014
31 of February 2015
5. REPORTING
The working language is English. All the reports have to be produced in English. Format of
reports will be agreed upon during inception phase.
The Inception Report shall be submitted within the first two weeks of assignment (electronic
version only).
The quarterly briefing report on EAC activities shall be submitted in the course of the
assignments (electronic version only).
The draft final report shall be submitted within two weeks after the end of the assignment.
The Final Report, including an executive summary, shall be submitted within 10 calendar
days after reception of the comments on the draft final report (electronic version only).
6. INCIDENTAL EXPENDITURE
In addition to international flights, regional flights and the meetings organisation will be
considered as reimbursable costs.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
This is a fee-based price contract. Offers should be submitted with a comprehensive
methodology (max. 5 pages) describing the understanding of the present terms of reference,
the strategy to achieve the expected results and outputs, and a description of the activities to
be performed.
The EAC will provide office space and office equipment.
The liaison officer will report to the EU Head of Delegation in Tanzania and to the EAC
Secretary General or their designees. The EU Delegations, the EAC Secretariat and the
various NAO Offices will endeavour to provide designated counterparts to work together with
the liaison officer for the duration of the engagement.
The working days mentioned must be performed by the liaison officer. Therefore, any
working day that must be charged for travel (if necessary and depending on the place of origin
of the Expert) must be added to the working days requested.
8. EVALUATION OF OFFERS
The contracting authority reserves the right to conduct interviews to select the expert.
EVALUATION GRID
Methodology:
Understanding of ToR
Strategy / Methodology
5
20
Total score for methodology
25
Expert 1 – Senior expert
Qualification and skills
Professional experience
25
50
Total score for expert
75
Overall total score
100

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