83473493_Consultant support the Enterprise Africa Network

Expert on Fund Raising to support the implementation of
the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN)

Background

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.

Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. With more than 200 staff, GIZ African Union cooperates with the AU Commission, as well as the AU’s specialised institutions and agencies, such as the Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, at continental, regional and national level in more than 35 member states. Key areas of engagement include Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Governance and Migration, Sustainable Economic Growth and Employment, as well as Health and Social Development.

The GIZ African Union Office headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with further staff based in South Africa, Ghana and Germany provides services and support in the areas of procurement, financial management, events and travel, human resources, internal operations, communication and portfolio management to all GIZ programmes and projects that are implemented in partnership with the African Union.

GIZ, on behalf of the German government, supports the AfCFTA through the GIZ Support project to the AfCFTA (GIZ AfCFTA). GIZ AfCFTA also supports the AU Commission (AUC) Department of Economic development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM).

During their 17th Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification, the African Union Heads of State and Government urged the African Union Commission to operationalize the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN). This initiative recognizes the critical role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the continent’s development and the challenges they face. The EAN aims to foster networking, collaboration, alliances, and partnerships between African and international business communities. To achieve this, it will enlist regional and continental intermediary organizations with proven expertise in coaching, mentoring, and enhancing the capacity of start-ups and MSMEs. The objective is to create a “Continental Business Chain,” comprising a “Pool of Competitive MSMEs” that are well-integrated into regional, continental, and international markets, and a “Pool of Continental Business Development Services Capacity.”

To achieve its mandated goals, the proposed EAN platform should provide and promote access to accurate, comprehensive, and timely data on import/export rules, procedures, market opportunities, and competition. Furthermore, it should facilitate linkages with investment financing for MSMEs and start-ups from selected sectors. EAN will focus on women and youth entrepreneurs who have developed competitive and innovative products/services, demonstrate market growth potential, and have strong employment creation prospects.

EAN will conduct thorough due diligence to identify SMEs and start-up champions based on their strengths, experience, and capacity to become market leaders at regional or continental levels. Following extensive consultations with key continental and regional organizations mandated to support the private sector in Africa, EAN will implement the following three pillars:

1. African Trade Observatory: Aimed at facilitating and boosting intracontinental trade.

2. Trade Routes and Market Intelligence Information System: Establishing trade routes for SME products/services and setting up a market intelligence information system at regional and continental levels. Business Development Services (BDS) coaching and mentoring activities will upgrade the capacity of SMEs, enabling them to penetrate and impact new markets.

3. Investment Financing Network: Forming a new alliance between development banks, venture capital funds, business angels, and foundations to meet the financing needs of start-ups and SMEs.

The core of EAN will be composed of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The EAN is crucial for implementing the AU SME strategy, which was adopted by the Executive Council and endorsed by the Heads of State and Government during the 17th Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification in Niamey, Niger.

In this context, the project “Support Programme to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” is seeking the services of a consultant to contribute to the implementation of the EAN, with a particular focus on resource mobilisation to support collaborative efforts with selected key partners for the implementation of the above mentioned three pillars.

Number of work days: 60

Period of assignment: From 15th November 2024 until 30th April 2025

Required qualifications of the candidate

• Education/training (2.2.1): Master’s degree in economics, business, finance, international relations or a related field.
• Language (2.2.2): English language skills, C2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (5/10 points) and one other African Union working language (French, Arabic or Portuguese), C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (5/10).
• General professional experience (2.2.3): 5 years’ work experience in the field of economic policy and/ or private sector development
• Specific professional experience (2.2.4): 3 years’ work experience regarding fund raising and resource mobilisation
• Leadership/management experience (2.2.5): not applicable
• Regional experience (2.2.6): 3 years’ relevant work experience at the continental level
• Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.2.7): 2 years’ work experience with development institutions, including development banks
• Other (2.2.8): Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Office Suite. (5/10), excellent drafting and reporting skills; (5/10)

Further details of the assignment can be found in the Terms of Reference.