Consulting Services for Revision and Harmonization of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Conduct of Investigations – Office of Internal Oversight (OIO), African Union Commission

**Project:** Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

 

Country: Ethiopia

Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Grant No: P180117

Assignment Title: Consulting Services for Revision and Harmonization of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Conduct of Investigations – Office of Internal Oversight (OIO), African Union Commission

 

Reference No. ET-AUC-524051-CS-QCBS

 

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

 

The consulting services (“the Services”) include developing an updated, harmonized, and enforceable Investigation SOP, aligned with AU legal, HR, ethics, data-protection, and disciplinary frameworks, and consistent with international best practices (e.g., UN Investigation Guidelines, CII Standards).

 

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expressions of Interest.

 

The African Union Commission now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

 

• At least 10 years of proven experience in governance, oversight, investigations, integrity systems, public sector accountability, institutional reform, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in the development, revision, harmonization, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), investigation manuals, policies, and regulatory frameworks for international organizations, public institutions, supreme audit institutions, or oversight bodies.
• Proven track record of conducting assignments for international organizations, multilateral institutions, regional organizations, governments, or oversight entities, preferably within Africa.
• Demonstrated expertise in administrative investigations, misconduct investigations, fraud and corruption investigations, whistleblower protection, ethics and compliance frameworks.
• Experience in organizational diagnostics, process mapping, business process re-engineering, and change management initiatives.
• Proven capacity to facilitate stakeholder consultations, workshops, and validation exercises involving senior management and technical experts.
• Availability of a multidisciplinary team covering investigations, legal and HR policy, change management, and information governance.
• Excellent knowledge of international standards and best practices relating to investigations, including relevant guidance from the United Nations system, multilateral development banks, and professional investigative bodies.
• Demonstrated experience in developing training materials, toolkits, guidance notes, and implementation frameworks to support institutional adoption of new procedures.
• Experience working in multilingual environments, with the capacity to deliver all outputs in both English and French.
• Evidence of successful completion of at least three similar assignments within the last five years.

 

 

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

 

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants’ Quality and Cost-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours.

 

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 05 August 2026.

 

African Union Commission,

Head of Supply Chain Management Division

Building C, 3rd Floor,

P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430

E-mail: Tender@africanunion.org

 

 

 

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

CONSULTING SERVICES FOR REVISION AND HARMONIZATION OF THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) FOR THE CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATIONS – OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT (OIO), AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

 

REF: ET-AUC-524051-CS-QCBS

 

1. Background

This assignment supports the African Union Commission’s governance, ethics, and integrity agenda by strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)’s investigative framework in line with Agenda 2063. It forms part of capacity-building initiatives supported by partners, including the World Bank (Biashara Project), and collaboration with oversight institutions across the AU Organs and Agencies.

 

Revising and harmonizing the Investigation Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) will reduce procedural risks, strengthen due-process safeguards, improve consistency and timeliness in investigations, and enhance the implementation of oversight recommendations. The assignment will also reinforce accountability, transparency, and institutional performance across the African Union system.

 

1. Objective of the Assignment

To develop an updated, harmonized, and enforceable Investigation SOP, aligned with AU legal, HR, ethics, data-protection, and disciplinary frameworks, and consistent with international best practices (e.g., UN Investigation Guidelines, CII Standards).

 

The SOP package shall include:

 

• Revised SOP text ;
• User-friendly toolkits (templates, checklists, process maps);
• An Investigator’s Charter ;
• Guidance integrating human-rights-based and peace-operations-related investigative requirements;
• An implementation and change-management plan.

 

1. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

 

1. Document Review & Benchmarking

Review current AU/OIO policies, SOPs, manuals, and compare them with international standards and comparator organizations.

 

1. Process Diagnostics & Gap Analysis

Identify gaps and bottlenecks across the full investigation cycle: intake, assessment, prioritization, evidence handling, digital evidence, interviews, confidentiality, reporting, referrals, cooperation with HRMD/OLC.

 

1. Stakeholder Consultations

Structured consultations with OIO (Investigations, Audit Divisions), OLC, HRMD, MIS, Finance, and selected AU Organs/Agencies.

 

1. Draft Revised SOP & Toolkits

Prepare the SOP, flowcharts, decision trees, templates (intake, interview plans, evidence logs, chain-of-custody, report templates).

 

1. Compliance Alignment

Integrate due-process guarantees, data protection, whistleblower protection, retaliation prevention, records management, and e-discovery requirements.

1. Implementation & Change-Management Plan

Develop a roadmap for dissemination, training, communication, indicators (KPIs), and risk mitigation measures.

 

1. Finalization & Validation

Facilitate validation (virtual or in-person), consolidate comments, and produce the final SOP package.

 

1. Schedule for Completion of Tasks

• Week 1: Inception Report (methodology, detailed workplan, stakeholder mapping)
• Week 3 : Diagnostic & Gap Analysis Report
• Week 6 : Draft SOP + toolkits
• Week 8: Validation workshop and revised draft
• Week 10: Final SOP package + implementation plan

 

1. Duration of the Assignment

• Estimated duration: 10 weeks
• Expected commencement date: Upon contract signature.
• The assignment shall be completed within ten (10) weeks from the date of commencement.

 

1. Deliverables for the Assignment

Deliverable	Description	Expected Timeline
D1 – Inception Report	Methodology, workplan, stakeholder mapping	Week 1
D2 – Diagnostic & Gap Analysis Report	Findings and benchmarking	Week 3
D3 – Draft Investigation SOP + Toolkits	SOP text + annexes (templates, checklists, flowcharts)	Week 6
D4 – Validation Workshop Materials	Slide deck, workshop notes	Week 8
D5 – Final SOP Package + Implementation Plan	Reinforced SOP, change-management plan, KPIs	Week 10

 

1. Consultant’s Qualifications and Team Composition

Firm Qualification

 

The consulting firm shall demonstrate:

 

• At least 10 years of proven experience in governance, oversight, investigations, integrity systems, public sector accountability, institutional reform, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in the development, revision, harmonization, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), investigation manuals, policies, and regulatory frameworks for international organizations, public institutions, supreme audit institutions, or oversight bodies.
• Proven track record of conducting assignments for international organizations, multilateral institutions, regional organizations, governments, or oversight entities, preferably within Africa.
• Demonstrated expertise in administrative investigations, misconduct investigations, fraud and corruption investigations, whistleblower protection, ethics and compliance frameworks.
• Experience in organizational diagnostics, process mapping, business process re-engineering, and change management initiatives.
• Proven capacity to facilitate stakeholder consultations, workshops, and validation exercises involving senior management and technical experts.
• Availability of a multidisciplinary team covering investigations, legal and HR policy, change management, and information governance.
• Excellent knowledge of international standards and best practices relating to investigations, including relevant guidance from the United Nations system, multilateral development banks, and professional investigative bodies.
• Demonstrated experience in developing training materials, toolkits, guidance notes, and implementation frameworks to support institutional adoption of new procedures.
• Experience working in multilingual environments, with the capacity to deliver all outputs in both English and French.
• Evidence of successful completion of at least three similar assignments within the last five years.

 

Team Lead – Investigations Policy

 

• Advanced degree in Law, Public Administration, Criminology, Investigations, or related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience in administrative or forensic investigations within AU/UN/EU or similar institutions
• Demonstrated experience drafting SOPs, policies, or governance frameworks
• Strong knowledge of due process, data-protection, whistleblower protection, and disciplinary frameworks
• Experience designing and delivering training for investigators
• Bilingual (English/French)

 

Legal / HR Policy Expert

 

• Advanced degree in Law, HR, Public Administration, or equivalent
• Minimum 7 years of experience with disciplinary frameworks and HR/legal policies in AU/UN/EU or similar institutions
• Expertise in due-process safeguards, misconduct procedures, administrative law
• Experience with policy harmonization and regulatory reforms
• Bilingual proficiency desirable

 

Change-Management & Training Specialist

 

• Advanced degree in organizational development, HR, public administration, or similar
• Minimum 7 years of experience in change management, institutional capacity building, and training programme design
• Experience developing training toolkits, communication plans, and rollout strategies
• Experience supporting adoption of new procedures in international organisations

 

IT / Governance (Records & e-Discovery) Expert

 

• Degree in Information Systems, Digital Governance, Cybersecurity, or related field
• 5–7 years of experience in e-discovery, digital evidence management, records governance
• Experience with chain-of-custody, data protection, and case-management systems
• Knowledge of oversight, audit, or legal digital workflows

Estimated Level of Effort

 

• Team Lead: 30–40 days
• Legal/HR Policy Expert: 15–20 days
• Change Management Specialist: 10–15 days
• IT/Governance Expert: 8–12 days

 

1. Data, Services, and Facilities to be Provided by the Client

The African Union Commission will provide:

 

• Access to relevant AU legal instruments, Staff Regulations and Rules, Financial Rules and Regulations, Code of Ethics and Conduct, Whistleblower Protection Policy, Information and Records Management policies, and other applicable governance frameworks.
• Access to existing investigation templates, forms, guidance notes, and related operational documents.
• Coordination of meetings with AU Organs, Specialized Agencies, and relevant stakeholders as required.
• Timely review of deliverables and provision of consolidated comments.
• Access to IT systems required for document review
• Venue or virtual platform for validation workshop.