Consultancy Service: Review of the Pan African PPR Strategy and Development of the Africa PPR Endgame Strategy 2027–2031 (FIRMS ONLY) | AU-IBAR

Introduction and context

AU-IBAR supports and coordinates the sustainable development of animal resources in African Union Member States. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) threatens small-ruminant production, food and nutrition security, trade and the livelihoods of livestock-dependent communities, including women, youth and mobile livestock keepers.
AU-IBAR proposes an evidence-based review of implementation of the 2015 Pan African Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR and development of the Africa PPR Endgame Strategy 2027–2031. The assignment will produce an overarching continental framework that consolidates national priorities and regional plans, aligns them with the FAO–WOAH Global Eradication Programme, and provides the strategic basis for the period following the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme 2023–2027. The review will cover implementation from 2015 through the latest validated evidence available at a cut-off date agreed at inception. It will cover all AU Member States through five regional consultation processes. Action-funded expenditure will follow the sub-Saharan scope and arrangements with ECCAS, ECOWAS, IGAD and SADC; North African participation requires a separately confirmed coordination and financing arrangement.

The assignment is anchored in Output 2.2 of the EU-supported Action: Activity 2.2.2 provides standardised national planning templates and needs-based guidance; Activity 2.2.3 supports stakeholder validation; and Activity 2.2.4 supports updating the continental strategy, programme and implementation plan. Activity 3.2.4 anchors the regional consolidation of national vaccination strategies and plans and their integration into the continental vaccination component. Member States retain authority over national plans and operational decisions, RECs coordinate cross-border action, and AU-IBAR/PAPS consolidates these contributions into one continental framework for prioritisation, financing and accountability.

The Endgame Strategy will frame Africa’s PPR endgame as a differentiated effort to interrupt remaining transmission, demonstrate freedom from infection and protect that freedom. The 2030 eradication objective remains the planning anchor; for planning purposes it is understood as the interruption of virus transmission and the cessation of vaccination in the priority episystems, while the demonstration of freedom and official WOAH recognition follow the time requirements of the Terrestrial Code. Each country pathway will therefore distinguish four milestones: interruption of transmission, vaccination cessation, demonstration of freedom and official recognition. The year 2031 provides for sustaining gains, completing outstanding verification and recognition processes, and implementing explicitly approved corrective action where infection persists; the strategy period does not extend the eradication deadline.

Vaccination will be a central operational component of the endgame, linked to surveillance, diagnostics, veterinary services and community participation. The 2025 Vaccination Strategic Framework will be integrated into the strategy as a substantive vaccination chapter within a single, coordinated review, so that strategy review and vaccination planning form one institutional approval package. The strategy will also retain the continental commitments to control other priority small-ruminant diseases and to strengthen veterinary services.

Objectives

To lead the evidence-based evaluation of the 2015 strategy and develop the theory of change, results, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability arrangements for an evidence-based, country-owned and financeable Africa PPR Endgame Strategy 2027–2031. This evaluation and strategy-development role is distinct from the separately commissioned independent peer review.

1. Assess relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and equity, including vaccination and regional coordination, across the three original results areas (PPR eradication, other priority small-ruminant diseases and strengthened Veterinary Services), separating evidence of contribution from unsupported attribution.
2. Translate validated findings into measurable outcomes, one costed implementation and investment plan, institutional responsibilities and corrective-action arrangements.
3. Support inclusive validation and produce an integrated strategy and endorsement package with the Animal Health Expert.

Main functions

Serve as evaluation and results lead within the firm / expert core team. Lead review design, evidence synthesis, institutional performance assessment and strategy integration; co-develop technical priorities and financing scenarios with the Animal Health Expert and designated institutional specialists. Animal-health economics and costing are secured as a dedicated input, with its funding source identified at inception.

Key responsibilities

Specific responsibilities

Evaluation design and inception

Develop an evaluation matrix linking each question to indicators, sources, analytical methods, limitations, strategic decisions and accountable institutions. Agree sampling, stakeholder coverage, a source register, questionnaire, consultation tools and a quality-assurance plan. Integrate the five progression elements of diagnosis, surveillance, prevention and control, legal framework and stakeholder involvement. With the Animal Health Expert and PAPS, maintain a dependency register recording the approval, contracting and completion status of each related assignment and each input’s output, owner, version, availability date, intended use and contingency for delay (including the FAO and ILRI models), with preliminary and final handovers scheduled separately. Draw on existing Action activities rather than duplicating them, in particular Activity 3.1.2 (AU-ARIS–WAHIS linkages), Output 2.2 and Activities 2.2.5–2.2.6 (resource mobilisation and business-model work), and Activities 2.2.1–2.2.3 (national and regional planning support and stakeholder validation).

Performance and contribution assessment

Review strategy implementation and the contribution of national, regional and continental programmes, including PAPS where relevant. Assess financing, results, coordination, resource use, sustainability and equity across the three original results areas through contribution analysis and triangulation, distinguishing reported achievements from outcomes attributable to the strategy itself. Test alternative explanations; examine expenditure against outputs and outcomes where records permit and disclose comparability limits. Prepare the evidence-to-strategy matrix showing, with reasons and supporting evidence, which provisions of the 2015 strategy and the 2025 vaccination framework should be retained, strengthened, revised, differentiated, replaced or added.

Evidence management and baseline

Lead the common dataset, data dictionary, source traceability, response tracker and evidence-grading system. Invite every Member State through its veterinary authority; with the Animal Health Expert, PAPS and the Regional Coordinators, pre-fill country profiles from material already held, invite validation by Chief Veterinary Officers, follow up non-response and disclose it. Work with the Animal Health Expert on dated country readiness profiles (full profiles for priority episystems, summary profiles for others), distinguish missing information from zero values and set baseline-completion actions. Support the agreement with the RECs of one reference table reconciling national small-ruminant populations, PMAT stages and unit costs before any costing, documenting sources and dates.

Governance and participation

Assess institutional mandates, national PPR committees, regional mechanisms and delivery accountability, including the CAG, the TWGs and the single Technical Reference Group. Analyse participation, reporting incentives and service-access barriers for women, youth, mobile livestock keepers and underserved communities. Document stakeholder priorities, divergent views and their treatment in the strategy, and the explicit consultation mechanism for North African participation, which is funded from sources other than the Action.

Results and adaptive management

Develop the theory of change, results chain and results framework, preserving the three results areas of the 2015 strategy and sharpening their contribution to eradication; the vaccination chapter sits within PPR eradication and connects to veterinary capacity, community ownership, financing and measurable results, and cross-cutting implementation arrangements are not an additional results area. Specify indicator definitions, numerators and denominators, baselines or completion plans, annual targets, sources, reporting frequency, responsible institutions, quality checks and corrective triggers, disaggregating access and participation measures where feasible. Vaccination indicators shall report coverage, geographical reach, measured immunity and PVE quality separately and reuse the Activity 3.2.1 data dictionary and validation rules. Separate implementation outputs, epidemiological outcomes and official status; do not infer success from falling reports alone.

Planning, financing and accountability

Lead consolidation of the costed annual plan and financing framework into one costed implementation and investment plan, using technical quantities and delivery assumptions supplied by the Animal Health Expert and a single reference set of unit costs. Cost annual country, regional and episystem priorities across the complete delivery chain, distinguish minimum essential requirements from accelerated investment options, and disclose quantities, unit costs, assumptions and sensitivity. Distinguish domestic allocations (tracked as amounts disbursed, not only budgeted), signed partner commitments, disbursements, prospective contributions and unfunded requirements, and identify the requirement that PPR2 does not cover. Work with the dedicated animal-health economics and costing input, whose funding source will be identified at inception, on scenario appraisal and sensitivity analysis; document limitations where specialist input is unavailable. Treat the figures in the vaccination cost brief only as scenarios, not as approved requirements or amounts to add to the strategy budget.
Aggregate national priorities, regional cross-border operations and continental public goods without double counting. Distinguish animals vaccinated, doses administered and doses procured; retain model versions, price years, geographic scope and uncertainty; and reconcile unit costs and delivery components with the dedicated economics input. Identify engagement with Ministries of Finance and National Planning, annual domestic budget requests and recurrent service requirements beyond 2031. Reflect the Nairobi Declaration’s call, as cited in the Action, for Member States to finance at least 30% of NSP budgets, distinguishing the policy commitment from verified disbursements. Support bankable national dossiers without presuming approval or financing.

Learning and strategy integration

Design semi-annual technical stocktakes, annual outcome and financing reviews, a midterm evaluation in mid-2028 and a final evaluation in 2031. Produce dashboard specifications, reporting templates, learning arrangements and a responsibility matrix; the dashboard shall track vaccination, certified vaccine supply, surveillance, infection, evidence-backed PMAT progression, cessation readiness, dossier submission and financing released against requirements, using AU-ARIS as the reporting layer rather than a parallel system (subject to confirmation by the ARIS team of feasibility and configuration needs) and in line with the “one programme, one plan, one budget, one report” principle. Integrate agreed chapters, the mandatory operational annexes, risk management, the first-year roadmap and an interim 2027 priority-action brief.

Dashboard specifications shall also cover vaccine wastage and stock-outs, surveillance reach, suspect-event investigation, laboratory performance, infection distribution, official recognition, contingency readiness, prioritised Veterinary Services improvements and agreed outcomes for other small-ruminant diseases. Specify the data and configuration requirements for existing systems; building a separate information system is outside the assignment.

Validation and handover

Co-facilitate five regional consultations and continental validation. Maintain the single consolidated response matrix recording the acceptance, revision or reasoned rejection of each substantive comment, verify consistency among narrative, results, milestones and financing, and incorporate independent peer-review comments. Present the final package and orient AU-IBAR/PAPS and focal points on the monitoring and reporting tools.

Methodology and collaboration

The experts shall jointly maintain a national plan register recording dates, approval status, coverage, costs, financing and implementation progress. Current validated plans will receive a focused alignment review; outdated or incomplete plans will be assigned targeted revision needs; and countries without plans will be prioritised for development assistance through authorised national workstreams. Common templates shall cover baselines, objectives, cross-border dependencies, vaccination, surveillance, Veterinary Services, annual costs, financing, indicators and responsibilities. This consultancy guides and consolidates national planning; the resources and schedules for individual national revisions and validation will be confirmed separately.

RECs will reconcile country-validated priorities around shared episystems, livestock movements, border risks, protection areas and campaign calendars through existing regional animal health networks and PPR coordination structures. The experts will consolidate regional packages, identify cross-regional dependencies and continental public goods, and return agreed regional and continental adjustments to countries for incorporation into implementation plans. Records shall distinguish stakeholder agreement, formal government approval and provisional inputs.

Prepare a national–regional–continental–global alignment and complementarity matrix linking each priority to its national plan, regional commitment, continental result and global objective, with responsible institutions, partner contributions, financing status, gaps and required adjustments. Confirm applicable versions and periods of the FAO–WOAH global framework, PMAT, WOAH standards, AU Agenda 2063, LiDeSA and successor instruments, the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme 2023–2027, the Animal Health Strategy for Africa 2019–2035, the CAADP Kampala Declaration and national development frameworks.

With PAPS monitoring and evaluation staff, map deliverables to the approved Action reporting framework at inception. The package contributes primarily to Outcomes 2 and 3, drawing on Outcome 1 capacities: the integrated strategy and costed action plan under Output 2.2; coordination and accountability under Output 2.1; the identifiable vaccination component, planning annexes and demand forecast under Output 3.2; risk and readiness evidence under Output 3.1; and costed service, laboratory and vaccine-quality requirements informed by Outputs 1.1 and 1.2. Retain traceability to the project commitments for one action plan, one resource mobilisation strategy and one harmonised vaccination strategy with expected demand. The Outcome 3 readiness target for 48 sub-Saharan countries remains a project-level commitment, assessed country by country. Products serving several results shall not be counted as multiple independent strategies, and disease reduction shall not be attributed to strategy preparation itself.

Use documentary, qualitative, quantitative and stakeholder evidence, with findings graded by evidence strength as substantiated, partially substantiated or insufficiently evidenced. Subject to confirmation and funding at inception, invite all Member States and target substantive responses from at least 80%, measured as pre-filled country profiles validated by the Chief Veterinary Officer, while documenting non-response. Select approximately ten purposive country case studies, normally two per regional cluster, covering endemic, uncertain-status, advanced-control and free settings and contrasting production systems, capacities and fragility. The sample is for learning and is not statistically representative of Africa.

The two experts shall share one evidence system, consultation calendar and strategy outline, shall build on existing consultations and workstreams rather than repeat them, and shall budget shared data collection, consultations and analytical products once. Four Action-linked REC consultation processes, a separately funded North African process and one continental validation are envisaged, attached to scheduled meetings (including the annual Continental Advisory Group (CAG) session and the Technical Working Groups (TWGs)) or held virtually where practical. Subject to funding, up to six field missions may be authorised for the team in total where they fill material evidence gaps that cannot be resolved remotely. AU-IBAR will approve country selection, missions and any additional specialist support at inception.

Engage RECs, national veterinary authorities, AU-PANVAC, FAO, WOAH, laboratories, vaccine producers, researchers, donors, private providers, producers and traders. Provide dedicated consultation opportunities for women, youth, mobile livestock keepers and underserved communities, with an indicative minimum of 40% women across consultations and documented producer and youth participation. Record participation constraints and how stakeholder input changes recommendations.

Deliverables and work schedule

The Firm and its experts are accountable for the outputs in their specialisation and shall contribute to one integrated strategy package. Timings run from confirmed mobilisation. The following allocation totals 60 working days per expert over a proposed 24-week elapsed period.

No	Due	Days	Delverables
1	Weeks 1–2	7	Evaluation inception package, matrix, tools, sampling and consultation plan, source and standards registers, dependency register, budget inputs and quality protocol. Include the national plan register, evidence cut-off, task allocation, financing eligibility and endorsement calendar.
2	Weeks 3–6	15	Evaluation and financing diagnostic; evidence database and response tracker; evidence-to-strategy matrix; institutional and equity findings; contributions to country profiles, the review and baseline report and the interim 2027 brief. Include NSP alignment gaps and prioritised national support needs.
3	Weeks 7–12	12	Five regional synthesis notes; consolidated priorities, accountability gaps and unresolved issues; contribution to country critical paths. Include regional vaccination consolidation, national support needs and outstanding inputs.
4	Weeks 12–15	14	Integrated draft strategy including the vaccination chapter; theory of change, results framework, monitoring and learning plan, responsibility matrix, consolidated costed plan and financing scenarios. Include the national–regional–continental–global alignment matrix and investment workbook.
5	Weeks 15–20	5	Peer-review and continental validation package inputs: validation synthesis and complete response matrix; revised results and accountability instruments; reconciled narrative and annexes.
6	Weeks 21–24	7	Final integrated strategy package and operational annexes; editable monitoring tools and datasets; executive decision brief, PPR2 investment brief, first-year roadmap, presentation and endorsement documentation; handover session. Include the financing brief and final institutional submission.

Acceptance requirements

AU-IBAR shall accept outputs in writing following designated technical review. Evidence must be traceable and dated; limitations and non-response explicit; institutional responsibilities clear; and material review comments resolved or accompanied by reasoned dispositions. Every adopted outcome shall have an indicator, baseline or completion plan, annual targets, owner and verification source. Every cost line shall show quantity, unit cost, timing, source or assumption and responsible level. Technical acceptance requires a clearly identifiable vaccination component and complete operational annexes.

Every operational priority shall specify its epidemiological unit, location, intervention, quantities, timing, responsible authority, budget, financing status, indicator, decision point and corrective trigger. Annexes shall distinguish country-validated records from provisional entries; each unresolved gap shall identify its owner, completion date and effect on investment or intervention choices.

The mandatory editable annexes comprise country and REC readiness profiles; episystem maps and priorities; vaccination typology and decision rules; delivery and PVE specifications; vaccine demand and supply assumptions; annual country and cross-border implementation matrices; a consolidated costing and financing workbook; a results framework and indicator definitions; a cessation and freedom-verification framework; and a risk register. The alignment and complementarity matrix shall demonstrate traceability to national and regional plans and global objectives.

Submit the integrated draft by week 15 and circulate it for a full 30-day consultation before continental validation. Complete peer-review and validation inputs by week 20, allowing weeks 21–24 for agreed revisions, technical and management acceptance, translation checks, handover and institutional submission support. Record technical validation, management acceptance and formal endorsement separately; formal AU adoption may occur later and is outside the consultants’ control. Independent peer review will be commissioned separately and its report is not authored by either consultant.

Provide English Word reports and strategy text, editable Excel datasets and costing files, and PowerPoint briefing slides. French versions are required for validation and final outputs, and consultation materials shall be bilingual, through AU-IBAR-arranged translation; the expert shall check technical fidelity with language support. All datasets, source files and models shall be handed over with appropriate confidentiality controls. Other languages and geospatial source formats shall be agreed at inception.

Duration and location

The proposed assignment comprises 60 working days over 24 calendar weeks from contracting, confirmed funding and focal-point mobilisation. The Firm shall submit a phased availability and work plan aligned with the other expert. Any change in effort, duration or scope requires prior written agreement and applicable contractual approval.

The assignment is proposed as home-based, with coordination through AU-IBAR/PAPS in Nairobi, Kenya, and approved missions within Africa. Attendance at inception, consultations and validation may be remote or in person as approved. Travel days, mission responsibilities and their treatment within the 60-day allocation shall be agreed in the contract.

Remuneration

The approved professional fee budget is USD 36,000 inclusive of all relevant taxes and levies.  Official mission travel and subsistence shall require prior approval and be covered separately in accordance with applicable AU arrangements. The consultant shall maintain private medical and travel insurance for the assignment. Translation, interpretation, consultation logistics, independent peer review and the dedicated animal-health economics and costing input shall be arranged separately by AU-IBAR unless expressly included in the signed contract.

Supervision and coordination

AU-IBAR/PAPS will lead the process under the institutional authority of the Director of AU-IBAR. Technical supervision will be led by the Programme Expert, Disease Management and Control, with inputs from the PAPS expert from implementing partner organisations. The Animal Health Unit will provide technical oversight, while the PPR Programme Coordinator and PAPS provide delivery coordination, strategic direction and managerial supervision. AU-IBAR shall confirm the named contract manager, technical reviewer and acceptance authority for each handover at inception.

The CAG will advise on scope, findings and strategic choices, and its TWGs will provide specialist inputs in line with their terms of reference. A single Technical Reference Group, convened through existing PAPS/CAG arrangements, will bring together the Programme Expert, Disease Management and Control, epidemiology, M&E and economics expertise, AU-PANVAC, ARIS, FAO, WOAH and the Regional Coordinators. National veterinary authorities (Chief Veterinary Officers and National PPR Coordinators) will validate country records; RECs will coordinate regional inputs and cross-border priorities. AU-PANVAC will advise on vaccine quality, production and monitoring capacity, FAO on the framework, modelling and global alignment, and WOAH on standards, progression and freedom pathways. ILRI and other research institutions may contribute evidence, modelling or pilot findings through a separately agreed arrangement. National record validation does not replace independent assessment or official recognition.

FAO and WOAH will support global coherence and technical review through the linkage with the PPR Global Secretariat envisaged under Activity 2.1.2. Research contributions shall have agreed tasks, deliverables, budgets, data rights and deadlines. RECs will convene consultations and cross-border planning through Regional Animal Health Networks, Regional Advisory Groups and Episystem Working Groups, while national authorities retain ownership of national plans and decisions.

The Animal Health Expert leads epidemiological analysis, the vaccination component, technical pathways and intervention quantities, and confirms the technical accuracy of the integrated package. The M&E Expert leads evaluation methods, evidence management, results architecture, the alignment matrix and consolidated drafting and costing, drawing on the dedicated animal-health economics input. Both experts contribute to one inception report, consultation process and final strategy package. AU-IBAR retains authority over scope, acceptance, institutional commitments and submission.

Reporting, confidentiality and counterpart support

Provide brief fortnightly progress updates, a live issues and decisions log, and prompt notification of material delays or evidence gaps. AU-IBAR shall facilitate access to documents, focal points, partner contacts, consultations, translation and independent review. Delayed counterpart inputs shall be recorded and managed through an agreed revised work plan.
Declare actual or potential conflicts of interest, including prior involvement in programmes being assessed. Protect respondent confidentiality, obtain appropriate consultation consent and comply with applicable data-protection requirements. Assignment products and data shall be handed over to AU-IBAR; ownership, authorised reuse and confidentiality terms shall be specified in the contract.

Academic and Experience Requirements

Qualifications

Team Leader

•    A Master’s degree in monitoring and evaluation, development evaluation, statistics, public policy, economics, development studies, project planning and management, or a relevant animal-health discipline with demonstrated advanced evaluation training
•    A PhD in a relevant field is an advantage. Certification in evaluation, results-based management or project management is desirable.

Experience

1. At least seven years of relevant evaluation, results-based management and strategy-development experience, including at least three years leading complex assignments or multidisciplinary teams.
2. Evidence of at least two comparable evaluations or strategy assignments for national, regional or continental programmes in Africa; at least one in animal health, livestock or a closely related sector.Demonstrated mixed-method evaluation, contribution analysis, results fra
3. meworks, data-quality assessment, participatory facilitation and costed planning experience.
4. Knowledge of AU and REC processes, donor-funded programmes and institutional accountability; EU programme experience and animal-health financing analysis are advantages.

Other essential skills

Strong analytical writing, stakeholder facilitation, diplomacy, independent judgement and teamwork; ability to work with senior officials and diverse communities. Competence in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and relevant analytical tools is required. English report-writing proficiency is required for the assignment; working French is an advantage, and other AU languages are assets.

Selection criteria

Criterion	Maximum score
Qualifications and relevant specialist training	30
Relevant experience and evidence of comparable assignments	50
Analytical methods, communication, facilitation and language skills	20
Total	100

AU-IBAR shall confirm eligibility, subcriteria, any minimum technical score, interview arrangements and treatment of financial proposals before advertisement. Candidates meeting the requirements may be invited to interview; comparable outputs and references may be verified.

Gender mainstreaming

The African Union Commission is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. The consultant shall integrate gender, youth and equitable service access throughout the review and strategy design.

HOW TO APPLY

Submission of applications

Applications should be submitted through email to: procurement@au-ibar.org with a copy to: albert.obiero@au-ibar.org and should include the title “Review of the Pan African PPR Strategy & Development of the Africa PPR Endgame Strategy” in the subject of the email.

Applications should include the following:

i.    Copies of valid business licenses and/certificate of incorporation showing legal status, date of registration and principal place of business.
ii.    Detailed curriculum vitae (CV) and brief cover letters for all the team members
iii.    Copies of academic and professional certification documents for all the team members
iv.    Declaration on exclusion criteria (see format attached) from all the team members
v.    Identification documents from all the team members

A Personal Data Protection and Privacy Statement is attached as information for the applicants.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications should be submitted to the address given above by 03rd December 2026 at 23:45hrs Nairobi Local Time.