Request for Proposals: Clean Air Fund South Africa Portfolio Review

We are seeking specialist expertise to conduct a strategic review of Clean Air Fund’s South Africa Portfolio. The consultant or firm will have demonstrated experience in reviewing complex policy and systems-change portfolios, ideally for foundations or international NGOs, and translating insights into practical, forward-looking strategy recommendations. Find out more and apply by October 6, 2026. Clean Air Fund South Africa Portfolio Review Request for Proposals September 2026 We are seeking specialist expertise to conduct a strategic review of Clean Air Fund’s South Africa Portfolio. The consultant or firm will have demonstrated experience in reviewing complex policy and systems-change portfolios, ideally for foundations or international NGOs, and translating insights into practical, forward- looking strategy recommendations. Experience with learning approaches such as contribution analysis, outcome mapping, and structured reflection processes is desirable. A strong working knowledge of South Africa's air quality, environmental and intergovernmental policy context is essential, and familiarity with the wider Southern Africa region is highly valuable. Background to Clean Air Fund Launched in 2019, the Clean Air Fund (CAF) is a philanthropic initiative with a mission to tackle air pollution around the world. Our aim is to help build and support a powerful global movement for clean air. We achieve this by bringing together funders, researchers, policy makers and campaigners working on a wide range of issues to find and scale solutions that will provide clean air for all. We work where the need and potential for impact are greatest: in the EU, Poland, Ghana, South Africa, India, Indonesia and the UK and global cities across Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. We also have global thematic programmes, raising air pollution up the international climate and health agendas. Our global themes span data, health, advocacy, super-pollutants and private sector engagement. More information about the Clean Air Fund can be found on our website: https://www.cleanairfund.org/ Background to the Assignment South Africa became a CAF country programme in December 2023, and the first strategy, covering 2024 to 2026, was approved in May 2024. It works primarily in the three National Air Quality Priority Areas, around a vision of enhancing the capacity of all stakeholders to deliver coordinated and effective implementation of air quality strategies, policies and plans, in order to achieve a 40 percent reduction in particulate emissions in the Priority Areas by 2030. The strategy set five aims to 2026, covering emission reduction targets in the Priority Areas, improved air quality and health data for government decision making, enforcement of industrial emissions reporting, empowerment of community-based organisations, and scoping of work beyond 2026. Delivery has taken place in a complex operating context, shaped by fiscal constraints on government, active industry and civil society stakeholders, and an evolving regulatory and legal landscape. We are preparing for a South Africa strategy refresh and anticipate this review to be a core component of that process. Given our work in South Africa is still recent, we do not anticipate an in-depth, retrospective review. Rather, this assignment is designed to be forward-looking: building on insights and lessons so far and identifying areas of strategic priority for the Clean Air Fund's work in South Africa over the next five years, either by building on existing activities or as new areas. All recommendations should be aligned to the Clean Air Fund's 2027-2031 strategy. With details to be confirmed during the inception phase, areas of focus will include national and subnational policy development and implementation, with specific recommendations to be developed around sector involvement and links to finance, health and equity. Bidders are requested to design an approach that is rigorous but tightly scoped, a priori. Review purpose This is a learning-focused, formative portfolio review intended to shape the next phase of the South Africa strategy. The purpose of the review is threefold: 1. Assess progress and strategic relevance of the portfolio since 2024. 2. Surface key outcomes, lessons and insights, including unintended effects. 3. Generate options and recommendations for the next strategy. Relationship to the strategy refresh process This review runs alongside, and is intended to feed directly into, the development of the next South Africa strategy. It is not a standalone accountability exercise. Findings will be used as they emerge rather than only at the final report stage, and the review team should expect an iterative, closely engaged relationship with the portfolio and strategy teams. Areas already covered by the strategy refresh, such as internal stakeholder mapping, are out of scope for this review. There is a particular overlap on stakeholder engagement. The strategy refre