PROCUREMENT NUMBER: EOI APRM/AUP/IS/ 07/2025
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES
- BACKGROUND
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an African Union (AU) organ headquartered in Midrand, South Africa that was established in 2003 by the African Union Heads of State and Government with the primary purpose of fostering practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development, as well as accelerated regional and continental integration. It seeks to rectify underlying deficiencies in governance and socio-economic development processes among member states of the African Union. The APRM covers four thematic areas: (i) Democracy and political governance; (ii) Economic management and governance; (iii) Corporate governance; (iv) Socio-economic development; (v) State Resilience to Shocks and Disasters (SRSD), and (vi) and E-Governance. Participating States go through detailed review processes, including consultations with government, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders, culminating in a peer review exercise at the level of Heads of State and Government.
- OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
For effective execution of APRM’s mission, the Language Services Unit provides interpretation services at all APRM meetings organized at its headquarters and across the African continent.
In light of the foregoing and in an effort to update its database of freelance interpreters, the APRM hereby invites qualified individual consultants to express their interest to provide Interpretation services during various APRM meetings and missions, into and from English and French primarily, and, occasionally, into and from Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish.
The selected candidates will sign a framework contract with the APRM and will be assigned tasks as and when needed during a period of three (3) years, renewable.
- The Language Services Unit will use the services of the selected consultants, as and when needed, to meet the Organisation’s interpretation needs throughout the duration of the framework contract.
- There shall be no lump sum payments, but the consultants shall be paid for the services effectively provided.
- The consultant will be required to perform quality interpretation during meetings.
- For each assignment, the interpreter and the Language Services Unit shall agree on the duration, completion date and fee for the service to be provided; the fee shall be based on defined rates set by the African Union and taking into account international standards; and
- The payment of consultants, as well as the continuation and renewal of their contracts, shall be contingent upon satisfactory performance in periodic and annual evaluations.
- AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND LANGUAGE COMBINATIONS
Applicants are required to specify their language combination(s) based on the AU/APRM official working languages: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili.
- ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING
The consultants shall report to the coordinator of interpretation services, who will be responsible for providing guidance and conducting both periodic and annual performance assessments.
- DURATION OF THE CONTRACT
The aforementioned framework contract with the APRM shall be valid for a period of three (3) years, commencing on 1 January 2026 and concluding on 31 December 2028. It may be renewed satisfactory evaluation of the consultant’s performance during the preceding contract period.
- QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Prospective consultants must be nationals of African Union Member States and meet the following qualifications and experience requirements, in accordance with the African Union’s procurement policies:
- A university degree in any discipline.
- Relevant professional experience with a proven track record in providing interpretation services in at least two of the AU/APRM working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili).
- A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the candidate’s working language(s) or language combination(s), gained through work with government institutions, civil society organizations, or international bodies such as the African Union, United Nations, African Development Bank, or similar entities.
Interested consultants may request further information by contacting tenderinfo@aprm-au.org during office hours (08:00–17:00 SAST). All clarifications will be published on the APRM website: www.aprm-au.org.
Requests for clarification must be submitted no later than seven (7) days before the bid closing date. Any requests received after this deadline will not be considered.
The short-list and the selection procedure shall be in done in accordance with the AU Procurement Manual, version April, 2024.
7)HOW TO APPLY
Interested consultants are invited to submit the following documents electronically:
(i) a letter of expression of interest;
(ii) a detailed curriculum vitae (CV);
(iii) scanned copies of academic qualifications and any other supporting documents demonstrating relevant experience.
Expressions of interest must be submitted via email to tender@aprm-au.org no later than 25 August 2025 at 11:00 (South Africa time). All submissions will be opened on the same day, 25th August 2025 at 11:00 (South Africa time).
All submissions must be titled as follows: PROCUREMENT NUMBER: EOI APRM/AUP/IS/ 07/2025: REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Only bids submitted by the deadline will be considered.
Submissions with an incorrect email subject line or title will be automatically rejected.
