1.     Introduction

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has played a leading role in capacity development on the continent, focusing on strengthening institutions, empowering women, and youth, supporting economic growth, enhancing skills, and generating and sharing knowledge. ACBF has supported evidence-based policy formulation and implementation at country and regional levels. It has also created platforms for the participation of non-state actors in identifying and addressing national and regional development priorities. To achieve these results, the Foundation has formed strategic partnerships with governments and parliaments and has empowered civil society, the private sector, higher education institutions, and think tanks across Africa.

ACBF is implementing its Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which places knowledge services at the center of its delivery. The Capacity Knowledge Hub will be used for our knowledge generation and sharing services. The Knowledge Hub will encourage individuals to innovate and promote the cultural changes required for their organizations to meet growing institutional needs. The services consist of generating and collecting good practices on a global scale and sharing them with people and institutions in Africa. Our knowledge services will ensure we connect people to people, institutions to institutions, and people and institutions to knowledge. The Knowledge Hub will also serve as a source of expertise and trusted knowledge source on practical approaches to capacity development in various thematic areas relevant to Africa.

ACBF seeks to establish a knowledge Hub to serve as a central knowledge repository and collaboration platform for exchanging knowledge, good practices, and ideas. This initiative aligns with ACBF's mission to enhance capacity-building efforts and improve stakeholder decision-making and collaboration.

2.     Objectives

The primary objective is to recruit a qualified firm to design, develop, and implement the ACBF Capacity Knowledge Hub, ensuring it meets the outlined key features and components. The specific objectives are:

• Create a comprehensive digital repository that consolidates research papers, policy briefs, and case studies, allowing stakeholders to easily access and navigate resources related to Africa's development challenges
• To establish a comprehensive and accessible repository of experts and institutions specializing in Africa's development challenges, facilitating easy identification and engagement of knowledgeable professionals and organizations that can provide insights, support, and collaboration opportunities for policymakers and stakeholders
• Facilitate Collaborative Engagement
• Implement interactive communication tools, such as discussion forums and virtual meeting spaces, to foster collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, enhancing the sharing of insights and experiences
• Integrate e-learning modules and knowledge-sharing sessions linked to the Ubora Academy, offering ongoing training and professional development opportunities for stakeholders in public policy and governance

3.     Scope of Work

The selected Consultant will be responsible for the following:

3.1 Development of a Centralized Knowledge Repository

• Design and Implementation: Create a user-friendly interface for the repository.
• Content Management: Develop a system for categorizing and tagging various types of content (research papers, policy briefs, etc.).
• Search Functionality: Integrate robust search features for easy navigation.

3.2 Collaboration and Communication Tools

• Discussion Forums: Set up platforms for stakeholders to interact and share insights.
• Virtual Meeting Spaces: Develop tools for online conferences, webinars, and workshops.
• Document Collaboration: Implement cloud-based tools for real-time collaboration among users.
• Community of Practice Spaces: Create dedicated areas for specific interest groups.

3.3 Decision-Making Support Tools

• Data Analytics and Visualization: Develop interactive dashboards for data analysis.
• Knowledge-Sharing Alerts: Set up notification systems for new resource uploads.
• Policy Simulators: Create tools to simulate policy impacts.

3.4 Learning and Development Resources

• Integration with Ubora Academy: Collaborate to link e-learning modules and training programs.
• Knowledge-Sharing Sessions: Facilitate the organization of webinars and forums.

3.5 Repository of Experts and Institutions

• Database Development: Create a comprehensive database that catalogs experts and institutions specializing in areas relevant to Africa’s development.
• Profile Creation: Develop detailed profiles for each expert and institution, including areas of expertise, publications, and contact information.
• Search and Filter Features: Implement intuitive search options to allow users to find experts and institutions based on keywords, expertise, and geographic location.

4.     Deliverables and timelines

For 40 working days, the consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• Inception Report and Project Plan: Detailed timeline and milestones for the Knowledge Hub's development and implementation (24 June 2025)
• Prototype of the Knowledge Hub: Initial version with core functionalities (repository, search functionality, discussion forums, and expert database) for stakeholder testing & feedback (24 July 2025)
• Final Knowledge Hub: Fully functional and tested platform (24 September 2025)
• User Training Manual: Comprehensive guide for stakeholders on how to use the hub (24 October 2025)
• Post-Implementation Support: Ongoing maintenance and support for an agreed period (November 2025 to December 2026).

5.     Qualifications

The firm should possess the following qualifications:

• Proven experience in developing online knowledge management systems for for-profit organizations.
• The firm must have successfully delivered at least three fully operational and active platforms with a comparable scope, scale, and complexity, preferably for multilateral organizations
• Expertise in web development using scalable architectures, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, data analytics and visualization, and integration of AI-driven search, as well as external knowledge sources.
• Strong understanding of knowledge management and capacity development in the context of development and policymaking.
• Capacity to provide ongoing support and maintenance.

6.     Evaluation of the proposals

The proposals will be evaluated based on a least-cost selection criteria. The technical evaluation committee shall evaluate the technical Proposals based on their responsiveness to the Terms of Reference, applying the evaluation criteria, and point system specified below. The Client will select the Consultant that submitted the highest-ranked Technical Proposal with the most economical cost. The minimum technical score required to pass is 70.

 Table 1. Criteria, and point system for the evaluation of the technical proposals 

7.      Submission & Selection Process

The consultant will be selected based on an assessment of both the technical proposal and the financial offer. The Consultant should be ready to undergo a one-on-one video conferencing assessment should need be. The EOI should include as a minimum:

• A proposal responding to the points in this ToR, with reference list of at least 3 previous similar assignments. A time plan in accordance with the deliverables above should be included.
• A copy of Curriculum Vitae (CV) for the individual conducting the consultancy.
• A financial offer with a detailed breakdown of costs, disclosing all relevant budget items for completing this assignment. The financial proposal should be as per guide in Table 1 and must be encrypted with a password.

8.      Language

All reports should be written in English, single spacing font size 12, Times New Roman and submitted as both word and pdf versions.

Consultancy firms are being requested to submit their technical & Financial proposals with the subject clearly marked, RFP Process No.: ACBF/ REOI/002/2025/KM/ Hewlett - “Consultancy Services for Establishing the ACBF Capacity Knowledge Hub” to email address: submission@theacbf.org on or before 17.00 hours (local Harare time), on 26th May 2025