Expression of interest: Independent verification services for REACT 2.0 Kenya and Ethiopia _at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Location: Kenya and Ethiopia

Organization: Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Deadline: 20 March 2026

Job Description

About us

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development institution that finances early and growth-stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, and leverage investments and markets to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

Since 2008, we have invested over US$ 300 million in over 510 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, and Climate-smart Technologies. We have impacted more than 33 million lives, created over 35,000 jobs, and leveraged over US$ 838 million in matching funds to our portfolio companies.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

1.0. About the assignment

We are seeking a firm to conduct an independent verification of REACT programs in Kenya & Ethiopia.

2.0. Proposal submission

Interested firms are requested to submit their application. The proposal should clearly demonstrate the capability, experience, and capacity to deliver.

3.0. Evaluation criteria

Mandatory Requirements for firms

• Company profile.
• Trading license, Certificate of incorporation, Certificate of Registration, and other statutory documents.
• Valid Tax Compliance certificate & PIN (Applicable to firms).
• Passport/National Identification & curriculum vitae (CVs) of the lead consultant and key personnel

Eligibility criteria

• Registration as a legal entity- certificate of registration
• Proven expertise in the relevant field
• Availability of qualified personnel with experience in relevant areas
• Valid tax compliance certificate.
• Must have an operational presence in Kenya and Ethiopia
• Must have at least 5 years of experience in delivering similar assignments with reference letters/completion certificates, preferably from donor organisations.
• Demonstrated financial capacity- Bank statements, 3 years audited accounts (2022,2023 & 2024)
• Minimum number of 5 full-time employees.
• Please refrain from sharing documents with links and Zip files. All documents to be shared in PDF with a clear table of contents.

N/B: Failure to attach and adhere to the above requirements will result in automatic disqualification.

The AECF will form an evaluation committee and may include employees of the businesses to be supported. The same standards of confidentiality will bind all members. The consultant should ensure they fully address all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such an event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating proposals.

In selecting the final qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be weighted at 80% based on the evaluation criteria.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

The following criteria will be used for the evaluation:

Key Areas for Evaluation/ Assessment	Weighted Award – 80%
(A) Expression of Interest
i) An understanding of the consultancy requirements;
ii) Relevant services are undertaken by the bidder in past engagements with evidence of LPO/LSO, contracts, letter of engagement, and completion certificate
iii) Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments and at least 3 signed letters of reference from past customers or associates to the consultant
iv) Qualification and experience of the consultant/team and evidence of relevant certification
v)All the required registration and certification documents and any other statutory documents
vi) Demonstrated financial capacity- Bank statements, 3 years audited accounts (2022, 2023, and 2024)

4.0. Application

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

How to Apply

• Interested consultancies are requested to submit their EOI guided by the provided template: aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 20^th March 2026
• All questions should be directed to the procurement email by 13^th March 2026, 5 pm (EAT).
• The subject of the email should be ‘INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION SERVICES FOR REACT 2.0, KENYA AND ETHIOPIA.’ The AECF shall not be liable for failing to open proposals submitted under a different subject or for failing to respond to questions that did not meet the indicated deadline.
• Click here to download the Expression of Interest template

5.0. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice, and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.