The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is looking for Consultancy services to provide a mid-term review of the PIDA Programme and the implementation of the Second Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP 2)

Further details of the assignment can be found in the Terms of Reference. Please request all tender documents by email from au_bidderquestions@giz.de by mentioning 10033642_ Consultancy services to provide a mid-term review of the PIDA Programme and the implementation of the Second Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP 2)

Background Information

About the African Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent, officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The AU is guided by its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

To ensure the realisation of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, Agenda 2063 was developed as a strategic framework for Africa’s long term socio-economic and integrative transformation. Agenda 2063 calls for greater collaboration and support for African led initiatives to ensure the achievement of the aspirations of African people.

The African Union Commission (AUC), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the AU’s secretariat and undertakes the day to day activities of the Union.

The Infrastructure and Energy Department (IED) is one of the core departments of the African Union Commission, responsible for leading and coordinating continental efforts in infrastructure development and energy integration in line with Agenda 2063, Africa’s long-term development blueprint.

The IED’s primary mandate is to promote, coordinate, implement, and monitor AU policies, programmes, and strategies related to transport, energy, ICT and water. It works closely with AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU specialised agencies, Pan‑African institutions, and development partners to accelerate Africa’s physical and digital integration. It is a key driver of: Agenda 2063 flagship projects and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which provides a continental framework for developing and integrating transport, energy, ICT, and transboundary water infrastructure across Africa.

The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)

PIDA is an initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States.

The African Heads of State and Governments formally endorsed PIDA through the adoption of the “Declaration on the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the Institutional Architecture for Infrastructure Development in Africa (IAIDA), during the 18th ordinary session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 29-30, 2012 (Assembly / AU / Decl.2 (XVIII)).

The first PIDA study in 2021 developed a continental infrastructure masterplan articulated into Short-Term:PIDA-PAP1(2012-2020), MediumTerm:PIDA-PAP2(2021-2030), and Long-Term:PIDA-PAP3(2031-2040)

About GIZ and Africa InCORE

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.

GIZ Support to PIDA

The “Africa InCORE – Integrated Corridors for Economic Growth in Africa (Support to PIDA)” programme strengthens the AU’s efforts to plan and implement integrated, climate-resilient, and trade-enhancing infrastructure corridors under the continental Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). Implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Africa InCORE supports the African Union Commission (AUC), AUDA-NEPAD, and selected Corridor Management Institutions - such as the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) - to improve early-stage project preparation through the Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM), develop continental frameworks, advance priority cross-border infrastructure projects, and promote regional integration, private-sector participation, gender equality, and inclusive economic growth.

Context for the Mid-Term Review

Infrastructure is the cornerstone of Africa’s development, essential for fostering regional trade and achieving the long-term aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With Africa's population projected to grow from 1.18 billion in 2015 to 2.48 billion by 2050, the continent must accelerate the production of goods and services to achieve sustainable economic growth. However, inadequate infrastructure hinders this progress by driving up production costs, eroding business competitiveness, and deterring foreign direct investment. Currently, the continent confronts an estimated annual investment gap ranging from USD 68 to USD 108 billion, with recent African Development Bank (AfDB) figures projecting infrastructure needs between USD 181 and USD 221 billion annually from 2023 to 2030.

To overcome these challenges, the AU launched the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) in 2012. The first Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP 1) consisted of 51 cross-border infrastructure programmes. Building on this, the Second Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP 2) was approved for the 2021-2030 period, setting priorities across the transport, energy, transboundary water, and ICT sectors. PIDA is deeply rooted in the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063, specifically driving "Moonshot 2," which targets the creation of a more integrated and connected Africa. PIDA's comprehensive approach goes beyond physical infrastructure to include the development of policies, institutional frameworks, and capacity building.

While PIDA has made strides in improving connectivity, regional integration, and electricity access, the inception of PIDA PAP 2 faced severe global and regional shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the Russia-Ukrainian crisis, triggered debt and inflation crises across African countries. Furthermore, security crises in the Sahel, regional instability, and civil wars in Sudan and the DRC have severely hindered the smooth implementation of some PIDA projects.

Consequently, a comprehensive mid-term review is required to evaluate PIDA from its inception in 2012 to date and specifically measure PIDA PAP 2’s impact from 2021 to 2025. To assess progress and recalibrate efforts, a comprehensive Mid-Term Review of PIDA (2012 to date) and specifically PIDA PAP 2 (2021 to 2025) is required. The review will evaluate financial performance, resource mobilization strategies, and developmental impacts such as improvements in regional connectivity and intra-African trade. It will also assess the institutional architecture established for PIDA PAP 2, analyzing the effectiveness of entities like Corridor Management Institution (CMIs) and power pools. Ultimately, the review will provide actionable recommendations, propose mitigation measures for external shocks, and offer a realistically revised PIDA PAP 2 portfolio incorporating the corridor development perspective to optimize implementation through to 2030.

Assignment Details

Number of expert days: 135 days

Period of assignment: 08.08.2026 to 31.07.2027

Required qualifications:

Expert 1: Infrastructure Expert and Team Leader

General qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in infrastructure, engineering, or related field.

Professional experience: 20 years of general experience in infrastructure development, project management, and institutional development, including proven management skills, knowledge of the project cycle, or infrastructure portfolio performance reviews.

Experience in the region/knowledge of the country

10 years of specific experience working in infrastructure development and funding initiatives in Africa.

Language skills:

business fluency in C2 in English and B2 in a working language of the AU (e.g., French)

Expert Pool 1: Sector Specialists (3 Experts)

General qualifications

Education: 1 expert with a university qualification (Master’s) in public finance, banking, economics, or a related field.

1 expert with a university qualification (Master’s) in public policy, public administration, economics, or a related field.

1 expert with a university qualification (Master’s) in project management, economics, statistics, or a related field.

Professional experience: 1 expert with 10 years of experience in public finance, financial modelling, macroeconomic analysis, debt sustainability, PPP structuration, and climate finance.

1 expert with 10 years of experience in public policy, governance, organizational behavior, or economic development.

1 expert with 10 years of experience in the monitoring and evaluation assessment of programmes.

Experience in the region/knowledge of the country

3 experts with 5 years of experience each working within the African context.

Language skills:

3 experts,each with business fluency, C2 in English and B2 in a working language of the AU (e.g., French)