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Tenders are invited for Terms of Reference (Tor) for the Review of the IGAD Regional Strategy 2021-2025 and Development of the New IGAD Regional Strategy 2026-2030 The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a Regional Economic Community (REC) encompassing eight Member States in the Horn of Africa (HoA) region: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Established in 1986 as the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), its initial mandate was to address the challenges of drought, desertification, and famine in the HoA region. In 1996, IGADD was restructured into IGAD, with a broader mandate to include peace, security, economic cooperation, and integration. With a vision for a resilient, peaceful, prosperous, and integrated region, IGAD strives to enhance regional cooperation and integration to promote sustainable development, human security, and socioeconomic transformation. Its mission focuses on adding value to the collective efforts of the Member States to achieve peace, security, and prosperity. Over the years, IGAD has made significant strides in its strategic priorities, including: Advancing Peace and Security: IGAD has facilitated peace processes in South Sudan and Somalia and contributed to resolving the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict, showcasing its pivotal role in regional stability. Economic and Social Development: Through regional integration, IGAD supports infrastructure development, trade facilitation, and social programs targeting education, health, and gender equality. Agricultural Development and Environmental Resilience: Recognizing the centrality of agriculture to the livelihoods and economies of Member States, IGAD has prioritized sustainable agricultural practices, food security initiatives, and market integration. Simultaneously, IGAD addresses critical environmental challenges through drought disaster resilience programs, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation strategies As the current IGAD Regional Strategy (20212025) approaches its conclusion, the need for a comprehensive successor strategy for 20262030 has become evident. This new strategy will build on the successes and lessons of the past while addressing emerging challenges and aligning with global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063. 5. Justification The development of the IGAD Regional Strategy 20262030 is a crucial step in advancing the organizations long-term vision and objectives. IGAD Vision 2050 envisions a resilient, peaceful, prosperous, and integrated region where citizens enjoy a high quality of life. IGAD operates through a series of medium-term strategies to realize this vision, each addressing evolving regional and global dynamics while building on previous achievements. The current IGAD Regional Strategy (20212025) has made significant progress in promoting regional integration, environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and socioeconomic development. However, challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, economic disparities, and transnational security, digital divide, funding resources threats persist, necessitating a recalibrated approach for the next strategic cycle. The development of the 20262030 strategy provides a framework to operationalize and alignment with the IGAD Vision 2050. The 20262030 strategy marks the first phase in the realization of IGAD Vision 2050, building on the gains so far and ensuring continuity in achieving long-term goals in the coming decade. It bridges the gap between immediate priorities and the broader ambitions of regional peace, prosperity, and integration. 6. Objective The primary objective of this consultancy is to review the current IGAD Strategy 2021-2025 and develop a comprehensive, inclusive, and actionable new IGAD Regional Strategy 20262030 that aligns with IGAD Vision 2050, regional and global development frameworks, and addresses emerging challenges and opportunities in the region. Specific Objectives: Review of the Current IGAD Strategy (20212025): Conduct a comprehensive final evaluation of the current IGAD Strategy 2021-2025. Formulation of new IGAD Strategy 2026-2030: Develop a comprehensive, inclusive, and actionable new IGAD Regional Strategy 20262030 that aligns with IGAD Vision 2050, regional and global development frameworks 10. Methodology 1. Introduction The methodology for reviewing the IGAD Regional Strategy 20212025 and formulating the IGAD Regional Strategy 20262030 will be inclusive, participatory, evidence-based, and aligned with global and regional frameworks such as IGAD Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The approach will integrate: Comprehensive Review: Building on the lessons and successes of the 20212025 strategy to identify achievements, challenges, and areas for recalibration. Evidence-Based Analysis: Incorporating facts, figures, and robust data from critical economic and social sectors to illustrate the current status and inform future priorities. Alignment and Continuity: Ensuring alignment between the IGAD Vision 2050 and the next strategic cycle, with a focus on fostering coherence with National Programming Plans or Country Programming Papers (CPPs) to enhance synergy and implementation at the national level. Scope of Work The consultant will undertake the following tasks: 4.2.1 Review of the Current IGAD Strategy (20212025) Inception Phase 1. Desk Review: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current IGAD 20212025 Regional Strategy, including evaluations of sectoral strategies, key achievements, challenges, and gaps. 2. Stakeholder Mapping: Identify key stakeholders at the regional, national, and cross-border levels to ensure comprehensive consultation and inclusion. 3. Scoping and Thematic Prioritization: Identify thematic areas for review, considering regional and global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, political instability and economic disparities. 4. Development of Evaluation Framework: Create a robust evaluation framework, including criteria and performance indicators that align with IGADs strategic goals. 5. Inception Report: Submit a report detailing the methodology, work plan, and framework for stakeholder engagement strategy. Data-Driven Analysis 1. Utilization of Existing Reports: Utilize the mid-term review report of the 20212025 strategy, specific project evaluation reports, and sector-specific monitoring data to extract lessons learned and recommendations. 2. Evidence Gathering: Leverage IGADs monitoring and evaluation data to identify strategic gaps and areas for improvement. 3. Primary Data Collection: Conduct structured interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions with stakeholders, including Member States, IGAD institutions, and development partners. 4. Sector-Specific Evaluations: Analyse performance in key sectors including agriculture, climate resilience, peace and security, social development and regional integration. 5. Evidence-Based Gap Analysis: Use quantitative and qualitative data to identify gaps and underperforming areas within the 20212025 strategy. Stakeholder Engagement 1. National Consultations: Facilitate workshops and consultations with Member States to evaluate the alignment of the current strategy with national and regional priorities. 2. Regional Workshops: Engage IGAD Divisions and specialized institutions, development partners, civil society, and private sector representatives to gather comprehensive feedback. 3. Feedback Integration: Ensure feedback from consultations and workshops is systematically integrated into the evaluation process. 18. Synthesis and Reporting Performance Assessment Report: Develop a comprehensive report on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the current strategy, with recommendations for recalibration in the next cycle. Sectoral Case Studies: Include detailed case studies that highlight successes and bottlenecks in key thematic areas. Stakeholder Validation: Present findings in validation workshops to ensure broad ownership and consensus on the evaluation results. 22. Methodology for Final Evaluation Comparative Analysis: Compare the outcomes of the current strategy against baseline conditions and intended objectives. SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to evaluate internal and external factors influencing strategy performance. Thematic Scoring: Use a scoring system to rank progress across thematic areas based on predefined indicators. Alignment Check: Assess the strategys coherence with global and regional frameworks to ensure synergy and relevance. 4.2.2 Formulation of the IGAD Strategy 20262030 Strategy Formulation 1. Strategic Alignment: Ensure alignment with IGAD Vision 2050, AU Agenda 2063, NDPs and UN SDGs, while building on the outcomes of the 20212025 strategy. 2. Thematic Pillars: Develop strategic pillars focusing on peace and security, sustainable development, regional integration, and resilience. 3. Integration of CPPs: Incorporate Country Programming Papers (CPPs) to bridge regional priorities with national development plans. 4. Draft Strategy: Prepare an inclusive draft of the IGAD Strategy 20262030 with robust stakeholder input. Stakeholder Engagement 1. Participatory Co-Deve Tender Link : https://igad.int/consultancies/
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