The African Union (AU), established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with

spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa, African States and diaspora as well as developing a new partnership worldwide.

The AU recognizes that its most important resource is its human capital. In order to achieve its strategic and operational goals towards Agenda 2063. AU must attract and retain African talents of the highest caliber with broad and specific range of skills and competencies. To this effect the candidate experience is a must the promotion of the AU Excellence and as part of the Employee value proposition. Indeed, the AU has six (6) official working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili) and candidates during recruitment and selection processes are allowed to express themselves in one of the abovementioned languages.

Therefore, to ensure the realization of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, AU needs to recruit and hire competent candidates from its citizens and the African Diaspora for its day today activities and programs through its Recruitment Unit (RU) within Human Resources Management Directorate (HRMD).

For the realization of these objectives, HRM would like to ensure great candidate experience by interpretation services in all AU official working languages, in accordance with the AU Procurement Guidelines. Most of these activities take place virtually because of the linguistic diversity of candidates and panel members, the service of interpreters and translators is required. HRM is seeking the services of a competent firm to provide the required interpretation support services to the Commission for its recruitment and selection processes,

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of these TORs is to solicit competent firms on a framework arrangement (Long term Agreement – LTA) for a period of three (3) years. The successful firm shall be contracted for an initial period of two years and extended thereafter, upon satisfactory performance and at the sole discretion of the AU.

3. OBJECTIVES
The objective of the interpretation services agreement is: Interpretation services

– To virtually provide simultaneous interpretation services in all AU working languages, in the recruitment processes of various vacant positions.

4. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The framework contract will be for a period of three (3) years with an initial period of two years. The framework may be extended thereafter for an additional one year, upon satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

5. EVALUATIONANDSELECTIONCRITERIA

The successful service provider will be chosen based on the following three main criteria: a) Interpretation of Terms of Reference. (20 marks)

b) Demonstration of the capacity to deliver the Services through previous experience. (30 marks)

c) Qualifications and track record of potential team (CVs should be submitted). (30 marks)

d) At least 3 references for interpretations done for other organizations. (20 marks)

6. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCES OF THE FIRM:

The firm shall be required to provide the following general information:

a) Name, address, telephone and fax number, and email address of the Service Provider, if the

Service Provider is a company: furnish the name of the registered company name, place of incorporation and Name, address, telephone, and fax number, and email address of any third party involved in the bid.

b) Name and contact details of the person within third party business dealing with the matter;

c)Companies Registration Office number; VAT and TIN certificate

The profile of the Service Provider(s) must include a description of the following:

• The number of years in business overall and the number of years providing interpretations and
• A description of previous experience in the provision of interpretation services including information relating to the provision of a volume of service
• A list of the relevant reference sites where the Service provider has provided services similar to those required, including contact details, must be provided. Confirmation that it is in order to contact nominated referees must be provided;

7. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCES OF KEY EXPERT STAFF:

a) Academic Qualifications (Interpretation Services):

The consultants must have a minimum of a master’s degree in communication, interpretation Services or other related disciplines.

Experience:

a) Minimum five (5) years in providing interpretation services from English to French and vice versa with the government and/or international organizations such as the UN, NGOs & CSO or RECs/REMs;
b) Relevant experience with a proven record of providing interpretation services;
from all AU official working languages and vice versa (letter of recommendations from relevant clients);

c) Clearly demonstrate their capability to provide high-quality interpretations on request from time to time;

d) Clearly demonstrate their capacity to meet the interpretation requirements;
e) Possession of adequate and quality interpretation equipment;

Competencies:
a) Familiarity with technical terms and terminology related to the field of subject to be reviewed b) Experience providing similar services at official government/UN meetings
c) Ability to work under pressure and to assist with 24h if need be;
d) Ability to produce a high-quality service;
f) Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team in a multi-cultural environment;
g) Excellent command of all AU official working languages;
h) Good communication skills;
d) Qualifications and experience in interpretation of international events;

The prospective firms must provide information verifying it’s qualified to perform the services and meet the minimum required experience criteria above and detailed in the
attached TORs. The information to be submitted include:

(i) An updated capability statement (for firms) with details of referees for both services; (ii) an expression of interest (EOI) letter and
(iii) a Financial Proposal that indicates the price per Language in US$.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below not later than September 26th, 2023, at 15:00 p.m. Addis Ababa time at the address below or electronically on email: Tender@africa-union.org Cc Assanoy@africa-union.org
Selection will be based on the “Least Cost Selection (LCS)” procurement method by AU.

The firm’s representative consultant may obtain detailed information on the services at the address below from 08:00 – 17:00

African Union Commission,
Attn: Head of Supply Chain Division

Building C, Room 327
P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305
Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430 

DEADLINE: September 26, 2023