Description
The Independent Development Evaluation function of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB or the “Bank”) hereby invites consulting firms to indicate their interest in the following assignment: Consultancy Services for the Evaluation of the African Development Fund (ADF), hereinafter referred to as “the Assignment?
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13.Economics, Statistics and Data Management |
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The Independent Development Evaluation function of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB or the “Bank”) hereby invites consulting firms to indicate their interest in the following assignment: Consultancy Services for the Evaluation of the African Development Fund (ADF), hereinafter referred to as “the Assignment”.
The evaluation is being undertaken as part of IDEV’s 2025-2027 Work Program, approved by the Board of Directors. It will provide the Bank’s Board of Directors, Management, staff, and ADF Deputies with timely and relevant evidence on the performance and overall effectiveness of the ADF model and its operations. The findings, lessons and recommendations emerging from this work will inform future management decisions and guide the Fund’s strategic direction (formative), including the ADF-17 Mid-Term Review and future ADF replenishments.
The evaluation will cover the period from 2017 to 2026, corresponding to the three most recent completed replenishment cycles: ADF-14, ADF-15, and ADF-16. It will assess the context, evolution, and overall relevance of the ADF concessional model, including its replenishment-based structure and the Performance-Based Allocation (PBA) system, as well as complementary instruments (Transition Support Facility (TSF), Regional Operations (RO) Envelope, Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility (PSF), Project Preparation Facility (PPF), and the Prevention and Response Envelope).
The primary audience for this evaluation includes the Bank’s Board of Directors, through the Committee on Operations and Development Effectiveness (CODE), as well as Senior Management and ADF Deputies. It also targets the Bank’s management and technical staff in the departments responsible for administering the ADF and its four core allocation instruments, namely: the Performance Based Allocation (PBA) and the Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility (PSF), both managed by FIRM; the Transition Support Facility (TSF) managed by Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS); and the Regional Operations (RO) envelope overseen by Regional Integration Coordination Office (RDRI). Other key audiences include the Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Complex (RDVP) including the DRC, Ethiopia, and other country teams, along with other relevant complexes and departments involved in the implementation of the Bank’s ADF operations. |
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The evaluation will be primarily summative, assessing the ADF’s overall performance and results to date, while also integrating a formative dimension to draw lessons and propose improvements for future cycles. It seeks to address the following three overarching evaluation questions:
• Relevance: To what extent were the ADF model and operations strategically aligned with the priorities set under ADF-14, ADF-15, and ADF-16, and how responsive and adaptive is the model to the evolving needs, contexts, and priorities of eligible Regional Member Countries and beneficiaries? What lessons can be learned that can feed into the Fund’s future directions?
• Efficiency: To what extent were ADF resources allocated and managed efficiently (in terms of timeliness and resource utilization) through its core instrument, the PBA, and its complementary instruments (TSF, RO envelope, PSF and Prevention/Emergency Window), and did these instruments enable the cost-effective use of concessional financing in line with their intended objectives?
• Effectiveness: To what extent did ADF-financed operations deliver their expected outputs and outcomes and contribute to achieving development results in eligible Regional Member Countries across diverse contexts during the ADF-14, ADF-15, and ADF-16 cycles? What factors contributed to and/or hampered the achievements?
This evaluation will undertake several country case studies (countries to be selected). Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the case studies will serve as abridged Country Strategy Paper Evaluations (CSPEs) to inform the next Country Strategy Papers (CSPs), should be part of the country case studies. Overall, the case studies will assess the Bank’s strategic positioning in these countries, including the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of ADF interventions, to inform the next country strategy papers for both countries.
In addition to the case studies, the Firm will be expected to also lead or support the development of background reports depending on the detailed division of labour to be elaborated in the RFP, which will form the basis for triangulated evidence for the reports. These background reports may include but are not limited to: Literature and Policy Review, Portfolio Review, Quality at Entry and Project/Country Results Assessments, and the Benchmarking Study, among others. The Firm will also lead the preparation of the Technical Evaluation Report and the revision of the report as it goes through several quality assurance processes, as well as support the preparation of the Summary Evaluation Report to be led by IDEV.
IDEV uses both the OECD DAC evaluation criteria, principles, and quality standards as well as the Evaluation Cooperation Group’s Big Book. Thus, the evaluation is expected to adhere to evaluation norms, principles, and standards, including the guidance provided in the IDEV Evaluation Manual. |
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The key deliverables for the evaluation will be several background reports in line with the agreed division of labour with IDEV at contracting stage. As indicated above, the key background reports may include but are not limited to Literature and Policy Review, Portfolio Review, Quality at Entry and Project/Country Results Assessments, and the Benchmarking Study, among others. The Firm is also expected to produce a draft technical report and revised versions in response to quality assurance feedback at various levels to culminate in a final technical evaluation report. The Firm will also support the IDEV Team during the preparation of the summary evaluation report through review and provision of comments and suggestions for improvement. |
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| D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment | |
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The duration of the assignment will be about 10 months, and the exact number of days will be provided in the RFP. All deliverables are expected to be fully delivered by July 2027.
Following the shortlisting of firms that would have responded to the REOI by 11th September 2026, the RFP will be shared with shortlisted firms in the third or fourth week of September 2026 and the recruitment process is expected to be finalised in October 2026.
Thereafter, data collection and preparation of background reports are expected to be completed by mid-February 2027 while the technical evaluation report is expected to be finalised by May 2027 and the summary report to be finalised by July 2027. |
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| E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement | |
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The IDEV Evaluation Team headed by two Task Managers will work closely with the Firm throughout the assignment. The Task Managers will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the tasks to be undertaken by the firm and deliverables, under the overall guidance of the Division Manager – IDEV 1 and the Evaluator General.
The IDEV Team will support the Firm through provision of necessary documents at various levels of the assignment, leading the preparation of some background reports to be reviewed by the Firm depending on the agreed division of labour, leading data collection missions, quality assurance of background reports and the Technical Evaluation Report, and leading the preparation of the summary report.
Except for the field missions, when the Firm will be supported to participate in data collection missions to various regions and countries, the rest of the tasks will be undertaken virtually. Further, the costs for the participation of the representatives of the Firm in the fieldwork or data collection missions will also be met by the Firm out of the agreed contract costs for the assignment. If deemed necessary, the representatives of the Firm may also participate in visits to the Headquarters (HQ) Offices of organizations selected for the benchmarking study. The firm is also expected to provide the office space and equipment, as well as meet all other costs associated with the tasks related to this assignment. |
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The Duty Station for the assignment is Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in terms of administration of the contract and management of the tasks and deliverables for the assignment. However, the assignment will be undertaken virtually with the representatives of the Firm only expected to participate physically in data collection missions to several countries in Africa, and where necessary, to headquarters of organizations selected for the benchmarking study.
The IDEV Evaluation Team may hold fortnightly or weekly coordination meetings with the Firm with periodic meetings bi-monthly and as necessary that may also involve IDEV Management. The Firm is also expected to participate in at least three Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meetings with various stakeholders within the Bank to discuss the Approach Paper or Inception Report, the Technical Evaluation Report, and the Summary Evaluation Report |
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| G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies | |
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Interested eligible Consulting Firms or associations of Consulting Firms shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to provide the services (documentation, references for similar services, experience in comparable Assignments, availability of qualified staff including CVs of proposed team members, etc.). The firm should be able to bring together a range of expertise relevant to the Assignment – including robust evaluation and subject matter specialists – and provide an experienced evaluation Team Leader. The Firm may also be responsible for recruiting and managing the Regional/National case study consultants; however, IDEV will vet and validate the recruitment and contracts with individual consultants. Details on the profile of the Firm, the team leader, and other evaluation team members should be outlined in the Firm’s responses to the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) and subsequently in the RFP. Firms should also note that this evaluation covers all RMCs across Africa; therefore, providing a multilingual team that is able to operate in English, French and Portuguese may be an added advantage. More details on the assignment have been provided in the Evaluation’s Concept Note available on IDEV’s website. Additional details will be provided in the RFP for shortlisted firms.
A shortlist of six (6) applications by consulting firms will be established at the end of the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) and the final selection will be made after the shortlisted firms have responded to the RFP. The shortlisting and evaluation criteria will be based on the following:
• Consultancy Firm’s profile as an evaluation and/or research entity, eligibility, capacity, and ability to engage local consultants, relevant for the assignment
• Similar experience in evaluating AfDB and other Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) funds and associated instruments and financing windows including experience of undertaking AfDB’s and other MDB’s Country Strategy Paper/Programme evaluations.
• Availability of skills within the proposed personnel of the Firm during the planned period for the execution of the Assignment
• Experience with the Bank and/or other Multilateral Development Banks
• Proficiency and ability of proposed personnel to work in English, French, and Portuguese |
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IDEV Department invites Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.). |
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Consultancy Input Days
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