Description
The assignment will verify downstream investments mobilized through AWF-supported interventions, assess the development results generated by financed investments, examine related governance and catalytic contributions, and establish a robust and transparent assessment of AWF’s leverage and investment mobilization performance.
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21.Analytics and Program Support |
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The African Water Facility (AWF), established in 2004 and hosted by the African Development Bank, is... Africa’s leading project preparation facility for mobilizing investments in water security, sanitation, irrigation, climate resilience, and related sectors. Through project preparation, technical assistance, governance reforms, institutional strengthening, and catalytic interventions, AWF supports governments and utilities to develop investment-ready projects capable of attracting implementation financing.
Since becoming operational in 2006, AWF has supported more than 150 interventions across Africa. These interventions have contributed to the preparation of major infrastructure investments financed by governments, multilateral development banks, bilateral development partners, climate funds, and private sector investors. AWF-supported interventions have also generated significant development outcomes, including improved access to water supply and sanitation services, enhanced climate resilience, strengthened institutions, and improved livelihoods.
As AWF enters a new phase of growth and resource mobilization, a comprehensive portfolio-wide assessment is required to verify downstream investments mobilized through AWF-supported interventions, assess the development results generated by those investments, and establish a credible and transparent measure of AWF’s leverage and investment mobilization performance.
The objective of the assignment is therefore to identify, verify, and consolidate downstream investments mobilized through AWF-supported interventions since inception; assess the development results generated by those investments; and establish an evidence-based measure of AWF’s leverage and investment mobilization performance. |
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The consulting firm shall assess at least sixty (60) AWF-supported interventions across Africa to de... termine how AWF support has contributed to downstream investment mobilization and related development outcomes.
The assessment shall cover investment preparation interventions, including feasibility studies, engineering designs, environmental and social studies, transaction advisory services, financial analyses, investment planning, and other activities that support investment-ready projects. It should also include governance, institutional strengthening, planning, and catalytic interventions where a clear pathway to downstream investment can be demonstrated.
The consulting firm shall prepare an inventory of AWF-supported interventions, classified by intervention type, sector, implementation status, and financing characteristics. It shall identify, verify, and document associated downstream investments and develop a consolidated database covering financing amounts, sources, instruments, financing and implementation status, AWF’s contribution, development results, and supporting evidence.
The assessment shall apply AWF's approved methodology for measuring downstream investment mobilization and leverage. Only investments with confirmed financing—such as approved loans, signed financing or investment agreements, financial close, or other formal financing commitments—shall be included in leverage and investment mobilization calculations. Investments at concept or pipeline stage shall be recorded separately and excluded from these calculations.
The consulting firm shall assess the extent to which AWF interventions facilitated or accelerated downstream investments, using documentary evidence and stakeholder validation where appropriate. It shall consolidate available evidence on development results from financed investments, including infrastructure delivered, beneficiaries reached, improved water and sanitation services, irrigation, water resources management, hydropower, climate resilience, institutional strengthening, environmental benefits, employment creation, gender equality, social inclusion, and other relevant sector outcomes. This work shall synthesize existing evidence only and shall not constitute a formal impact evaluation.
Based on verified portfolio evidence, the consulting firm should analyze financing pathways, identify factors influencing investment mobilization, document lessons and good practices, and recommend measures to strengthen AWF’s project preparation, investment mobilization, and resource mobilization approaches. The analysis shall also examine how governance, institutional, and enabling environment interventions have influenced investment decisions and sector development.
Using verified portfolio data, the consulting firm shall calculate AWF's Core Leverage Factor, Portfolio Leverage Factor, Project Financing Success Rate, and Investment Mobilization Rate. The methodology, assumptions, inclusion criteria, data sources, limitations, and calculation approach shall be fully documented.
The consulting firm shall establish an organized electronic evidence repository linking each verified downstream investment to the relevant AWF-supported intervention. Supporting documentation may include financing agreements, Board approvals, loan and financial close documents, appraisal reports, government approvals, investment plans, donor and completion reports, official correspondence, and stakeholder consultation records. The repository shall support verification, reporting, audits, knowledge management, and periodic updates of AWF's investment mobilization metrics.
The consulting firm shall also document investments that have not reached financial close, including those cancelled, suspended, or significantly delayed, analyze reasons for non-materialization and lessons for future project preparation and investment mobilization, and exclude them from mobilized investment calculations. |
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The consulting firm shall produce the following deliverables:
i. Inception Report
An Incepti... on Report detailing the proposed methodology, work plan, stakeholder engagement strategy, data collection and validation approach, investment verification procedures, quality assurance arrangements, reporting templates, and implementation schedule. The report shall also present the proposed approach for assessing AWF's contribution to downstream investments and documenting associated development results.
ii. Consolidated Continental Database
A consolidated database of AWF-supported interventions and associated downstream investments. The database shall include, at a minimum, information on project characteristics, financing amounts, financing sources, financing instruments, financing status, implementation status of financed investments, infrastructure developed, beneficiaries reached, development results achieved, AWF's contribution to the investment, and the supporting evidence used to verify the investment and its linkage to the AWF-supported intervention.
iii. Regional Assessment Reports
Three Regional Assessment Reports covering: East and Southern Africa; North and Central Africa; and West Africa.
The reports shall present verified downstream investments, financing trends, investment status, development results achieved, key success factors, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for strengthening project preparation and investment mobilization within each region.
iv. Continental Synthesis Report
A Continental Synthesis Report presenting portfolio-wide findings on downstream investments mobilized, financing trends, the types and status of investments developed, development results achieved, governance and institutional impacts, lessons learned, good practices, and strategic recommendations for strengthening AWF's future project preparation, investment mobilization, and resource mobilization efforts.
v. Leverage, Investment Mobilization and Results Presentation Package
A Leverage and Investment Mobilization Report presenting verified downstream investment totals, leverage calculations, project financing success rates, investment mobilization rates, financing pathways, methodological assumptions, data sources, limitations, and key findings. The report shall clearly document the evidence used to verify downstream investments, assess AWF’s contribution to investment mobilization, and summarize the key development results associated with the investments mobilized.
The consulting firm shall also prepare a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the methodology, key findings, downstream investment mobilization, leverage calculations, development results, lessons learned, and recommendations for AWF Management, the African Development Bank, donors, and development partners.
vi. Digital Evidence Repository
A structured digital evidence repository containing all supporting documentation used in the analysis, including financing agreements, loan approval documents, Board approval records, project appraisal reports, investment plans, official correspondence, stakeholder consultation records, project completion reports, and other relevant evidence. The repository shall be organized by project and investment to facilitate future verification, reporting, audits, knowledge management, and periodic updates of AWF's leverage and investment mobilization metrics. |
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| D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment | |
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The assignment is expected to be completed within a period of five (5) months from contract signatur... e.
The indicative timetable shall be as follows:
Month 1: Inception phase, methodology development, portfolio mapping, and stakeholder consultations.
Months 2–3: Data collection, verification, investment tracking, and regional analysis.
Month 4: Preparation of regional reports, leverage analysis, and development results assessment.
Month 5: Finalization of the continental synthesis report, leverage and investment mobilization analysis, digital evidence repository, and presentation of findings. |
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| E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement | |
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The consulting firm shall work under the overall supervision of the African Water Facility Secretari... at.
Technical oversight shall be provided by the Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Measurement Function, in close collaboration with AWF technical, portfolio management, and resource mobilization teams.
The Bank shall facilitate access to relevant project documentation, internal databases, and key stakeholders as required for the assignment.
The consulting firm shall be responsible for organizing consultations, undertaking data collection and verification activities, maintaining quality assurance procedures, and ensuring consistency of methodologies and outputs across all regions. |
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The assignment shall be undertaken primarily through desk reviews, virtual consultations, and remote... data collection. However, the consulting firm shall demonstrate a strong regional footprint and the capacity to deploy qualified personnel across East and Southern Africa, North and Central Africa, and West Africa to undertake targeted stakeholder consultations and investment verification activities where necessary.
The firm shall clearly describe its approach to regional coverage, stakeholder engagement, and any proposed in-country missions in its technical proposal. All costs associated with field visits, stakeholder consultations, and verification missions shall be fully included and justified in the financial proposal. The African Water Facility shall not cover any additional mission costs not included in the approved proposal. |
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| G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies | |
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The consulting firm shall have at least ten (10) years of experience in infrastructure investment pl... anning, project preparation, development finance, investment mobilization, monitoring and evaluation, results measurement, portfolio assessments, and related analytical work. Experience in the water, sanitation, irrigation, climate resilience, and broader infrastructure sectors in Africa will be highly desirable.
The firm shall have completed at least three (3) assignments of similar scope and complexity within the last ten (10) years, preferably for multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, climate funds, bilateral agencies, project preparation facilities, or comparable international organizations.
The firm shall have a strong operational footprint across Africa and the capacity to deploy qualified personnel in North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. It must be able to conduct country-level data collection, field verification, and stakeholder engagement with governments, utilities, implementing agencies, financiers, development partners, and other relevant actors to verify investments, assess results, and collect supporting evidence.
The proposed Team Leader shall hold at least a master’s degree in economics, finance, development finance, infrastructure finance, public policy, engineering, development studies, business administration, water resources management, or a related discipline, and shall have at least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in development finance, infrastructure investment, project preparation, investment mobilization, portfolio evaluation, results measurement, or related fields.
The Team Leader shall have led complex multi-country assignments involving infrastructure investment, development effectiveness, investment tracking, leverage assessments, resource mobilization, blended finance, private capital mobilization, or portfolio performance reviews. Similar experience with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, climate funds, or project preparation facilities will be a strong advantage.
The Team Leader shall demonstrate a sound understanding of leverage and investment mobilization methodologies used by international financial institutions, including the African Development Bank, World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, and comparable institutions. Experience in private capital mobilization reporting, leverage assessments, investment mobilization analysis, or development finance effectiveness assessments will be highly desirable.
The consulting firm shall provide a team with the technical, financial, analytical, evaluation, sector, and regional expertise required for the assignment, including expertise in infrastructure finance, investment analysis, results measurement, development effectiveness, water and sanitation infrastructure, data management and analytics, stakeholder engagement, and African infrastructure and development programmes.
The consulting firm shall demonstrate strong analytical, quantitative, stakeholder engagement, and report-writing capabilities. All deliverables, including reports, databases, and presentations, shall be submitted in English. Given the geographical scope of the assignment, the team must be able to engage stakeholders and collect information across English-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking countries. Proficiency in English and French is mandatory; Portuguese will be an added advantage. |
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The assignment will be supervised by the Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Measurement Function of ... the African Water Facility. The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer shall serve as the Task Manager and primary point of contact for the assignment and shall be responsible for day-to-day technical supervision, coordination, review of deliverables, and contract management. Strategic guidance shall be provided in collaboration with the PPP Expert and the African Water Facility Coordinator. |
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Consultancy Input Days
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