STRATEGIC ANALYSIS SERVICES

The USAID / AU Operating Unit is largely a representational unit to the African Union Commission and receives and programs minimal funding levels each fiscal year. While the Operating Unit has small amounts of funding each year and provides small grants, these funds are largely used to leverage other development partner assistance and to engage in thought leadership. Additionally, this Operating Unit helps to shape the thinking, approaches, and engagement of other USG agencies (and in some cases, shapes and guides the U.S. private sector in partnership arrangements), as one operating unit among many on the continent. It is under the framework of thought leadership that this project – and its deliverable[1] – is being requested and funded. USAID / AU seeks to play a thought leadership and analytic role contributing to a whole-of-government approach; thus, the deliverable should have broad utility, meaning there may well – indeed should be – proposed interventions and strategic recommendations that are more appropriate for and more geared towards other agencies and departments (and initiatives) of the U.S. Government that have the capacity to realistically operationalize and implement these proposed interventions. The USAID/African Union Operating Unit is therefore seeking a comprehensive report/analytic product that explores, develops, and describes – and makes recommendations – in significant depth and detail on a range of potential USAID interventions (and quite potentially United States Government interventions) in Africa. Full details are provided in the attached solicitation.