Country Resilience and Fragility Assessment Profiles & Full Fledged Fragility Assessments
AFDB1JP00000935
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Posted On
2026-03-19
Period
2026-04-15 to 2026-07-14
Job Type
Temporary Full Time
Location
Abidjan 01CIV
Category
Business Professional
Description
The assignment entails the preparation of Country Resilience and Fragility Assessment (CRFA) country and regional profiles and, where applicable, Full Fledged Fragility Assessment (FFFA) reports for selected African countries and regions. The work will combine quantitative CRFA data with qualitative analysis, background research, and stakeholder consultations to assess fragility drivers, institutional capacity, and resilience building opportunities, and to inform AfDB policy dialogue and operations.
Application Close Date
2026-04-05
Engagement Type
Individual Consultant
Job Family
21.Analytics and Program Support
A. Background Objectives
Over the past decade, Africa has experienced significant economic and social transformation, creating new opportunities and improving living standards across the continent. However, these gains remain fragile and uneven, and their sustainability hinges on deliberate and proactive approaches to addressing fragility, preventing conflict, and strengthening resilience. Structural vulnerabilities, exacerbated by the spillover effects of pandemics, geopolitical tensions, climate change, and regional instability continue to heighten fragility risks and undermine institutional capacities. These dynamics underscore the need for robust, evidence based analytical tools that enable early identification of fragility drivers, support conflict prevention efforts, and inform targeted, context specific interventions. Effective development responses must therefore be anchored in strong early warning systems and grounded in a clear understanding of country specific and regional institutional capacities. The Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) leads the implementation of the African Development Bank Group’s fragility agenda. It coordinates the Bank Group’s work—at analytical, strategic, and operational levels—on addressing fragility and building resilience in local, national and regional institutions. To support its analytics, RDTS has put in place since 2018 the Country Resilience and Fragility Assessment (CRFA). The CRFA is a tool that brings new quantitative rigor to measuring pressures faced by countries/regions and the institutional capacity to respond to those pressures. As an innovation within the multilateral development sphere, the CRFA provides a systematic understanding of fragility drivers, and entry points for strengthening national and regional resilience. The CRFA uses over 125 quantitative metrics which feed into seven dimensions: 1) Inclusive Politics; 2) Security; 3) Justice; 4) Economic and Social Inclusiveness; 5) Social Cohesion; 6) Regional Spillover Effects; 7) Climate/Environmental Impacts. Between 2019 and 2025, the Bank successfully rolled out the CRFA for all RMCs and regions. The approved CRFA scores for 2025 and the trends over the past five years will inform the Bank knowledge products, including the 2026 CRFA profiles and the Full Fledged Fragility Assessments. The Full Fledged Fragility Assessment (FFFA) provides a deeper analytical examination of the drivers of fragility and the opportunities for strengthening resilience. It builds upon the foundation established by the CRFA data, incorporating further evidence through stakeholder consultations and the inclusion of secondary data from reputable sources. Based on the structure of the CRFA framework, the FFFA places particular emphasis on those dimensions where capacities are comparatively lowest and pressures are highest. This targeted approach ensures that the assessment addresses the areas of greatest concern and potential vulnerability. Moreover, the FFFA is closely aligned with the priorities outlined in the Country Strategy Paper (CSP), ensuring that its findings and recommendations support the broader country strategic objectives. To support the delivery of its 2026 analytical work program, RDTS is seeking to engage a roster of highly qualified consultants with expertise in fragility analysis, conflict assessment, and resilience building in African contexts. Selected experts will contribute to the preparation of CRFA profiles and FFFA reports for assigned countries or regional contexts.
B. Scope of work
The objective of this assignment is to support the African Development Bank’s Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) in preparing high‑quality Country Resilience and Fragility Assessment (CRFA) profiles and selected Full‑Fledged Fragility Assessments (FFFAs). The assignment aims to generate rigorous, evidence‑based analysis of fragility drivers, institutional capacity, and resilience opportunities across African countries and regions, combining CRFA data with qualitative research and consultations, to inform policy dialogue, Country Strategy Papers, and the design of targeted, operationally relevant interventions. Under the direct supervision of the CRFA Coordinator and in close collaboration with fragility experts and country teams across the Bank, the consultant’s assignments may include the following tasks: Preparation of CRFA Profiles
The CRFA profiles provide concise analytical reports that track trends in pressures and institutional capacity across the seven CRFA dimensions. These profiles combine quantitative analysis with qualitative interpretation to identify entry points for resilience building and inform the Bank’s strategic and operational engagement. While contextualizing drivers of fragility throughout the seven dimensions, the Country Profile aims at building an evidence based narrative that helps identify entry points for resilience and facilitate their mainstreaming in the Bank strategic and operational engagements. The consultants will be responsible for delivering the first and the revised drafts of all CRFA profiles. The preparation of a profile entails complementing CRFA data with background research and data analysis to draft standardized profiles of around 200 250 words for each of six CRFA dimensions, and about 300 words on the 7th dimension (security dimension). Consultants may be requested to: • Build on existing data and profiles (2019 2025) and incorporate updated CRFA data to draft the 2026 profiles. • Provide an interpretation of the pressures and capacity trends in each of the seven dimensions of the CRFA. • Develop the CRFA assessment narrative following the recommendations from country specific contexts that explain such trends provided by the Fragility experts. • Outline measures needed/being considered to address the observed sources of pressure and capacity deficiencies or to strengthen resilience. • Ensure consistent language and terminology to describe the levels of capacity and pressure across all profiles, based on the template and guidance from the CRFA methodology. • Produce in English the first drafts of assigned CRFA profiles (see Annex I A). • Revise drafts based on comments from fragility experts, country economists, and peer reviewers. Preparation of Full Fledged Fragility Assessments (FFFAs)
Where required, consultants may also prepare a FFFA for an assigned country (see Annex I B). The FFFA builds on the CRFA data and Country Profile, complementing them with deeper analysis of fragility drivers and resilience opportunities using additional sources of information. Structured around the CRFA framework, the assessment will focus particularly on dimensions showing the lowest capacity and highest pressure, and align with the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) priorities. The report should be approximately 20 pages, including data and illustrations. Key tasks may include: • Using the CRFA data as entry point for additional data collection and dialogue with national authorities and partners on drivers of fragility and opportunities for building resilience. • Compiling additional data from secondary sources, including from national and external sources to complement the CRFA data and provide basis for context specific discussions including sub national level evidence. • Undertaking consultation and dialogue to gather and validate qualitative information to substantiate and complement CRFA findings. • Drafting the FFFA Report, triangulating the CRFA findings, compl
C. Deliverables Expected
Deliverables will depend on the specific assignment as outlined in Section 2. Key duties include preparing both the initial and revised drafts of assigned CRFA profiles and FFFA Reports. All drafts must meet high standards of quality and be submitted within the designated timeline. Upon completion of his/her assignment, each consultant is also required to submit an activity report. This report should provide a comprehensive overview of the tasks performed, reflect on lessons learned throughout the engagement, and offer suggestions for future improvements.
D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment
Assignments will be short term and task based, typically requiring up to 60 working days (non consecutive) between April and July 2026.
E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement
Accountabilities The consultant will work under the general oversight of RDTS Director and the direct supervision of the CRFA coordinator. Fragility Experts covering the respective FFFA country or region will lead the in country dialogue and provide supervision to ensure final report meets the Bank’s quality standards. Remuneration Remuneration will be commensurable with experience, in line with the Bank Group’s compensation guidelines. In addition, if the consultant needs to travel to take up this assignment or participate dialogue mission as part of the assignment, round trip economy class air tickets—with the shortest route—will be provided. The consultant will be responsible for their personal health insurance at their own cost. The coverage shall include all medical expenses, including those resulting from illnesses or injuries that may happen during the assignment.
F. Duty Station
Duration and Location The consultancy will be home based, with regular coordination with the Bank’s Headquarters. Where required, consultations with country stakeholders may take place virtually or through short in country missions.
G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies
Required qualifications
Consultants are expected to possess extensive experience in several core areas critical to the assignment. These core competencies include (i) Development approaches to addressing fragility and conflicts; (ii) fragility assessment and conflict analysis; (iii) design and delivery of development interventions; and (v) experience working in conflict/crisis context in Africa.
Furthermore, consultants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record in conducting and delivering high quality fragility and conflict analyses, particularly within the geographical scope of the assignment. It is essential that consultants highlight their familiarity with the Bank Group's Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa (2022 2026), as well as their practical experience utilizing the Bank's fragility analytical toolkits.
The selection criteria will include consideration for the following: • At least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in economics, politics, sociology, finance, public policy, international affairs, law, or related fields. • Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience with proven skills in professional and analytical writing. • Strong ability to interpret quantitative data and communicate and write creatively and concisely in English or French. • Knowledge of the Bank Group’s approach to addressing fragility and building resilience, its various financial instruments, strategies and policies, as well as of its resource mobilization and on lending activities is an added advantage. • Familiarity with the ongoing discussions within the international development community, especially as it relates to fragility, resilience, conflict, peacebuilding, climate and socioeconomic development in Africa. • Demonstrated experience conducting high level analytical work in assignments involving multilateral development institutions in accordance with good practice standards and principles. • Excellent understanding of policies, programs, and operations either within the Bank or with a similar development institution. • Capacity to deliver high quality and timely outputs and ability to use computer packages.
H. Supervisor
The consultant will work under the general oversight of RDTS Director and the direct supervision of the CRFA coordinator.
