International Consultant to Support the Continental Stocktaking Consultation

Position details

• Vacancy type: Call for Expression of Interest
• Recruiting type: Consultant
• Contract type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)
• Initial contract duration: 3 months
• Office or unit: Special Liaison Office / Other
• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Application deadline: 2026-11-10T20:59:00+00:00

Context

FOR THE CONSULTANCY CONTRACT OF: Consultant to Support the Continental Stocktaking Consultation on the Implementation of the 2012 Global African Diaspora Summit Declaration

1. Duty Station of the Consultancy: Home-Based

2. Duration of Consultancy: The consultant will be engaged over an approximate three-month period, with an estimated level of effort of 6 to 8 weeks.

3. Category: Category B

4. Nature of the Consultancy: Consultant to Support the Continental Stocktaking Consultation on the Implementation of the 2012 Global African Diaspora Summit Declaration. The assignment will include some preparatory engagement ahead of the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, with the majority of the level of effort dedicated to post-Consultation information gathering, analysis, validation and finalization of the stocktaking and Consultation reports.

   5. Project Context and Scope:

   Background : The Global African Diaspora Summit (GADS), held in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Africa Day, 25 May 2012, adopted the GADS Declaration and Programme of Action, which remains a foundational framework for Africa’s engagement with its global diaspora. The Declaration set out commitments across three broad pillars of cooperation—political, economic and social—together with implementation and follow-up mechanisms. It also identified five legacy projects: the Skills Database of African Professionals; the African Diaspora Volunteer Corps; the African Diaspora Finance Corporation (ADFC) formerly the (African Diaspora Investment Fund) ; the Development Marketplace for the Diaspora (ADIMDMADA); and the African Institute for Remittances (AIR). More than a decade after the adoption of the Declaration, Africa’s role in the continental and global landscape has evolved significantly. 

   The African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 is being accelerated through its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is operational, the African Union (AU) has taken its seat in the G20, and has entered a renewed phase of continental dialogue on reparatory justice. At the same time, the Declaration itself called for a rotational review every three or four years, supported by monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and adequate resourcing. 

    

   Accordingly, there is a need to take stock of progress made in implementing the commitments of the 2012 GADS Declaration, identify what has been achieved and what remains outstanding, and consider how the implementation agenda can be taken forward in light of the evolving continental and global geo-political context. The proposed virtual continental stocktaking consultation on the implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration, which is tentatively planned to be conducted on the 23rd to 25^th  November 2026, therefore responds to this need in addition to  reviewing the mechanism envisaged in the Declaration. It will provide an opportunity for AU Member States and other relevant stakeholders to take an honest and evidence-based stock of implementation progress, exchange experiences, identify good practices and lessons learned, and discuss practical and affordable approaches for strengthening diaspora engagement. The Consultation will also help prepare the ground for the 15-year commemoration of the GADS in 2027.

    

   The Consultation builds on the processes that preceded and followed the 2012 Summit, including the three African Diaspora Ministerial Conferences held in Sandton in 2007, New York in 2011 and Pretoria in 2012; Technical Experts meetings; the Conferences of Intellectuals of Africa and the Diaspora; regional consultative conferences; and the biannual meetings of diaspora focal points. It also builds on ongoing programming and partnerships, including the AUC–IOM–AfDB joint diaspora-engagement initiative in eight transition states—The Gambia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Togo and Zimbabwe. The stocktaking will further take into account relevant global and continental initiatives that have contributed to advancing diaspora engagement. These include the International Conference on the Future Agenda of Action for Global Diaspora Engagement: Concrete Steps, Impactful Solutions, which supported the formalization and operationalization of the Global Diaspora Alliance, endorsed by several AU Member States as an outcome of the Dublin Declaration with the support of the African Union. The exercise will also build on the Trans-Continental Comparative Review of African Diaspora and Migrant Communities, undertaken in Djibouti in 2025. 

    

   Against this background, the African Union Commission, through AU-CIDO and the International Organization for Migration, Special Liaison Office (IOM-SLO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is preparing to jointly organize a  Three- Day Continental Stocktaking Consultation. The Consultation will seek to:

• Conduct a comprehensive stocktaking of the implementation status of the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action, including an assessment of progress under each of the three pillars and the status of the identified legacy projects.

• Exchange experiences and review national and regional diaspora-engagement plans and approaches.

• Identify good practices, lessons learned and innovative, affordable approaches that can inform future diaspora engagement efforts.

• Contribute to harmonizing the continental approach to diaspora engagement, while respecting nationally owned strategies, policies and priorities in line with the principle of subsidiarity; and

• Agree on preliminary outcomes and a forward-looking roadmap to sustain dialogue, follow-up and future consultations on the implementation of the GADS Declaration.

   

  To support this process, AU-CIDO and IOM SLO intend to engage a consultant for approximately 6–8 weeks , over an approximate three-month period, to undertake the stocktaking exercise and a report outlining the achievements, bottlenecks and proposed way forward.  Beyond documenting progress in implementing the 2012 Global African Diaspora Summit Declaration and Programme of Action, the assignment will identify strategic priorities, actionable recommendations, and opportunities for translating the stocktaking findings into future programming and policy interventions. This will include identifying gaps that require further attention, areas for strengthened collaboration among the African Union, Member States, and relevant stakeholders, and potential entry points for advancing the Declaration’s objectives. 

  In this regard, the consultant will be responsible for gathering and analyzing information from Member States and relevant stakeholders, documenting implementation progress and experiences, identifying good practices and lessons learned, and outstanding challenges; formulating practical, forward-looking recommendations to inform future initiatives and programming; preparing and presenting the stocktaking report, supporting the facilitation of the virtual Consultation, and incorporating feedback from the Consultation into the final stocktaking report. The Consultant will submit both the final revised stocktaking and workshop reports.

  The Consultation is also expected to facilitate the Three-Day Stocktaking Consultations by leading the discussions, using agreed probing questions to guide the sessions in accordance with the identified themes and keeping the interventions focused on the subject matter. 

Responsibilities

Purpose of the Consultancy: The overall purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical and analytical support to AU-CIDO and IOM SLO in conducting a comprehensive continental stocktaking of the implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action, and to support the preparation and documentation of the Continental Stocktaking Consultation. The consultancy will generate an evidence-based assessment of progress, gaps, experiences, good practices and lessons learned and contribute to the development of preliminary outcomes and a forward-looking roadmap for sustained continental dialogue and action on diaspora engagement.

Objectives: 

The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:

• Take stock of implementation progress of the 2012 GADS Declaration across AU Member States. 

• Identify key achievements, experiences, good practices and innovative approaches in implementing the Declaration. 

• Document challenges, gaps and lessons learned from Member States' experiences. 

• Gather and analyze relevant information through desk review and consultations with Member States and other relevant stakeholders. 

• Prepare a continental stocktaking report presenting the findings and key messages for discussion during the consultation. 

• With guidance from AU-CIDO Facilitate the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation. 

• Incorporate feedback and inputs received during the consultation and finalize the stocktaking and workshop reports. 

Expected Outcome of the Consultancy: The consultancy is expected to result in a concise, evidence-based continental stocktaking of the implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration, highlighting progress, good practices, challenges and lessons learned across Member States. The findings will provide a basis for dialogue among AU Member States and other stakeholders during the Continental Stocktaking Consultation and contribute to identifying practical recommendations and priorities for strengthening the implementation of the GADS Declaration and future continental diaspora engagement efforts.

6. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing: International Organization for Migration, Special Liaison Office, Addis Ababa, under the project of “The Streamlining Diaspora Engagement to Catalyze Private Investments and Entrepreneurship for Enhanced Resilience (SDE4R).” Budget code TK0049. The consultant will work under the overall guidance of AU-CIDO and IOM SLO and will maintain regular communication with the designated focal points from both organizations. The consultant will:

• Submit deliverables to the designated AU-CIDO/IOM focal points for review and feedback. 

• Participate in regular coordination meetings, as required. 

• Ensure that all outputs are developed in close consultation with AU-CIDO and IOM. 

• Take into account comments and feedback provided by both organizations and incorporate them into the relevant deliverables. 

   

7. Category B Consultants: Tasks to be performed under this contract

Scope of Work and Key Tasks

Under the overall guidance of AU-CIDO and IOM SLO, the consultant will undertake the following tasks. The assignment will be implemented primarily following the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, with limited preparatory engagement prior to the event. The pre-consultation phase will focus on introducing the exercise to Member State focal points, while the substantive stocktaking, analysis, report preparation and follow-up activities will be undertaken after the Consultation.

A. Preliminary Engagement and Inception

• Conduct preliminary virtual introductory meetings with the designated focal points of AU Member States to brief them on the objectives, scope and intended approach of the stocktaking exercise, as well as the purpose and expected outcomes of the upcoming virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation.

• Explain the anticipated role of Member State focal points in facilitating the subsequent information-gathering process and contributing to the stocktaking exercise.

• Review relevant documentation relating to the 2012 Global African Diaspora Summit (GADS) Declaration and Programme of Action, including relevant AU frameworks, policies, reports and other available documentation, as necessary to prepare for the subsequent phases of the assignment.

• Document the preliminary engagement with Member State focal points by submitting a brief summary of the introductory meetings conducted, including the Member States and focal points engaged, dates of meetings, key information communicated, and any initial feedback or considerations raised.

   

  B. Support to the Virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation

• With guidance from AU-CIDO, facilitate the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, including the development of introductory presentations, discussion questions and other relevant materials, in coordination with AU-CIDO and IOM SLO.

  • Support the presentation of the objectives, scope and proposed approach of the stocktaking exercise during the Consultation, as appropriate.

  • Facilitate discussions to capture Member States’ and stakeholders’ perspectives on the implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action, including key achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and priorities for future action, to be further substantiated through comprehensive information gathering and validation phase, following the consultation.

  • Document the key discussions, recommendations and proposed follow-up actions emerging from the Consultation to inform the subsequent information-gathering, analysis and preparation of the stocktaking report.

     

    C. Information Gathering and Consultations

Following the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, the consultant will:

• Conduct a thorough desk review of available information on the implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action.

  • Gather and validate information from AU Member States through questionnaires, virtual interviews, targeted consultations and other appropriate means, building on the preliminary engagement with Member State focal points and inputs received during the Consultation.

  • Consult relevant AU institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), diaspora-related institutions and other stakeholders, as appropriate.

  • Identify and document achievements, institutional and policy developments, good practices, innovative approaches, implementation challenges, gaps and lessons learned.

  • Consolidate and analyse the information collected to assess implementation progress across the Declaration’s political, economic and social dimensions, as well as areas requiring further attention and action.

D. Preparation of the Continental Stocktaking Report and Forward-Looking Recommendations

• Prepare a draft Continental Stocktaking Report outlining progress in implementing the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action, key achievements, institutional and policy developments, good practices, challenges and gaps, and lessons learned.

• Develop practical, forward-looking recommendations identifying strategic priorities, opportunities for strengthened continental and national collaboration, and potential entry points for translating the stocktaking findings into future policies, initiatives and programming.

• Identify outstanding commitments and areas requiring follow-up, including possible actions by AU-CIDO, AU Member States, RECs and other relevant stakeholders.

• Present the draft findings and recommendations to AU-CIDO and IOM SLO for review and validation, and revise the report based on feedback received.

   

E. Finalization and Reporting

• Incorporate the feedback and inputs received during the Consultation, as well as findings from the subsequent information-gathering and analysis, into the Continental Stocktaking Report.

• Finalize the Continental Stocktaking Report, ensuring that it provides both a consolidated account of implementation progress and actionable recommendations to inform future policy development, programming and follow-up initiatives.

• Prepare a concise Workshop/Consultation Report capturing the objectives, proceedings, key discussions, stakeholder perspectives, recommendations and proposed follow-up actions.

• Submit the final revised Continental Stocktaking Report and the final Workshop/Consultation Report to AU-CIDO and IOM SLO for review and approval.

• Undertake any other closely related tasks necessary to complete the assignment, as agreed with AU-CIDO and IOM SLO.

   

F. Key Deliverables: The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

The exact timing of deliverables may be adjusted, depending on the timing of the Continental Stocktaking Consultation.

8. Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment 

The all-inclusive consultancy fee due to the Consultant under this contract shall be within the range of USD 15,000 (Fifteen thousand USD.), [RT1] [IOM SLO 2] depending on the candidate’s qualifications, experience and proposed level of effort, and subject to the availability of funds and applicable IOM procurement procedures.  The agreed fee shall cover all costs. The fee shall be paid upon completion of all the tasks under this contract to the bank account indicated by the consultant.  The payment will be made no later than 10 working days after the submission and approval of deliverables as indicated in the TOR. The modality of payment will be in two instalments:

1. First Deliverable: 1st instalment (40%) Upon satisfactory completion of the preliminary engagement with Member State focal points and facilitation of the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, including the submission of the draft Consultation/Workshop Report and the draft Continental Stocktaking Report, in accordance with the agreed deliverable schedule.

2. Second Deliverable: 2^nd/final instalment (60%) Upon satisfactory submission of the final revised Continental Stocktaking Report, incorporating feedback from AU-CIDO and IOM SLO, as well as the final Consultation/Workshop Report, incorporating any comments received, in accordance with the agreed deliverable schedule.

    

3. Deliverable	Timeline	Installment Amount
   First Deliverable (40%)	Indicative date by January 30, 2027.	USD 6000
   Second Deliverable (60%)	Indicative date by February 28, 2027.	USD 9000

9. Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results

The performance of the consultant will be assessed based on the quality, timeliness and relevance of the deliverables and the extent to which the consultancy objectives are achieved. The following indicators will be used to evaluate the results:

1. Timely submission of deliverables: All agreed deliverables are submitted within the specified timelines and in accordance with the agreed workplan.

2. Quality of the stocktaking methodology: The proposed methodology and data collection tools are clear, practical and appropriate for assessing implementation of the 2012 GADS Declaration and Programme of Action.

3. Coverage and quality of information gathered: Relevant and sufficient information is collected from AU Member States and other key stakeholders to support a meaningful continental stocktaking.

4. Quality of analysis: Information collected is appropriately analyzed and synthesized to provide a clear assessment of implementation progress, gaps, challenges, good practices and lessons learned.

5. Quality of the stocktaking report: The report is evidence-based, well-structured, concise and provides clear findings and practical recommendations relevant to the objectives of the Consultation.

6. Effective presentation and facilitation: The consultant effectively presents the stocktaking findings and supports the facilitation of the virtual Continental Stocktaking Consultation, encouraging meaningful participation and capturing key inputs.

7. Responsiveness to feedback: Feedback and inputs from AU-CIDO, IOM, Member States and other relevant stakeholders are appropriately reflected in the revised and final deliverables.

8. Quality of the final outputs: The final stocktaking and consultation/workshop reports accurately capture the key findings, good practices, lessons learned, recommendations and preliminary roadmap/action points emerging from the Consultation.

9. Collaboration and communication: The consultant maintains effective and timely communication with AU-CIDO and IOM throughout the assignment and demonstrates flexibility in responding to emerging requirements.

Qualifications

10. Education, Experience and/or skills required

The consultant should have:

• Master’s in social sciences, development studies, international relations, migration studies, public policy, African studies, or a related field, from an accredited academic institution with at least five years of relevant professional experience; or

• Bachelor's degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting stocktaking exercises, assessments, reviews, research or similar analytical assignments. 

• Experience in conducting consultations and gathering information from government institutions and other stakeholders, preferably across multiple African countries. 

• Strong analytical and report-writing skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize information from diverse sources into clear and concise reports. 

• Experience in facilitating workshops, consultations or multi-stakeholder meetings. 

• Knowledge and understanding of African Union structures, policies and frameworks, particularly those relating to diaspora engagement, migration and development, would be an advantage. 

• Familiarity with the 2012 Global African Diaspora Summit and/or the GADS Declaration and the Migration Policy Framework and Action Plan would be an advantage. 

• Experience working with the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Member States, UN agencies or other regional/international organizations would be desirable. 

• Expertise and/or professional experience in the African context, preferably with experience engaging African governments and diaspora institutions, is strongly desirable. 

   

11. Travel required

The assignment will primarily be conducted remotely, and the consultation will take place virtually. However, subject to the availability of resources and the relevance and added value of in-person engagement, the possibility of bringing the consultant in person either before or after the Consultation may be explored, in consultation with AU-CIDO and IOM SLO.

12. Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent, and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

• Courage: demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

• Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected, and fairly treated.

Core Competencies-behavioral indicators

• Strong research and analytical skills; 

• Excellent report-writing and communication skills; 

• Strong stakeholder consultation and facilitation skills; 

• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources; 

• Ability to work independently and deliver within tight timelines; 

• Good interpersonal and diplomatic skills; 

• Ability to work effectively with AU, IOM and Member State counterparts; and 

• Good understanding of the African institutional and policy context, particularly in relation to diaspora engagement and the roles of the AU, Member States and regional institutions.