Job Description
Consultancy
Services for the Provision of Organisational Change Management Support for an African Capacity Building Foundation Partner Institution – The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA)
1. Background About ACBF
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was established in 1991 to build sustainable human and institutional capacity in support of Africa’s development. As the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development, ACBF supports capacity development in Africa through investment in capacity building, knowledge sharing, and technical assistance to countries and regional and sub-regional organizations.
1.2 About the Project
ACBF is implementing the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with key partners, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity within the water and sanitation sector.
Under this initiative, ACBF is supporting the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) through a structured
institutional strengthening program. This support is informed by a Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) and a Customised Institutional Improvement Plan (CIIP), which identified critical gaps in governance, leadership, organizational effectiveness, and operational systems.
AfWASA is currently undergoing significant institutional reforms, including strengthening governance frameworks, improving leadership effectiveness, refining operational systems, and enhancing overall organizational performance.
Given the scale and sensitivity of these reforms, there is a need for a structured and deliberate change management
process to ensure alignment, stakeholder buy-in, and sustainable implementation of reforms. In this regard, ACBF seeks to engage a qualified consultant to provide organizational change management support to AfWASA.
2. Objective
The main objective of this consultancy is to support AfWASA in effectively managing and implementing institutional change
processes by fostering alignment, strengthening leadership engagement, minimizing resistance, and ensuring sustainable adoption of reforms.
Specific objectives include:
i. Undertake a diagnosis of the institutional arrangements, organizational structures human resource management, readiness for change, drivers for change and constraints that could hinder delivery of results.
ii. Define a transitional restructuring process which will work effectively across AfWASA’s departments with appropriate checks and balances to ensure transparency and fairness.
iii. Develop and support implementation of a structured change management framework aligned to the CIIP.
iv. Refine the proposed new organizational structure, including updated roles, job descriptions, and workflows.
v. Review and or establish a robust job grading framework to ensure fair, transparent, and equitable role evaluation
and alignment with compensation structures.
vi. Revise AfWASA’s human resources policy handbook and a forward-looking human capital strategy
vii. Strengthen leadership and stakeholder alignment around reform priorities.
viii. Support the institutionalization of new governance, operational, and management systems.
ix. Build internal capacity to sustain change processes beyond the consultancy period.
3. Scope of Work
Whilst this is not exhaustive, the consultant will be expected to undertake the following:
- Conduct a diagnostic assessment of AfWASA’s institutional environment, including governance structures, leadership
dynamics, organizational culture, and readiness for change. - Develop a comprehensive Organizational Change Management Plan, including a clear change narrative, priorities, sequencing, and measurable milestones.
- Design and implement a stakeholder engagement and communication strategy to ensure transparency, ownership, and buy-in across key stakeholders.
- Support leadership in navigating governance and institutional reforms, including clarifying roles, decision-making
structures, and accountability mechanisms. - Identify risks associated with the change process and propose practical mitigation measures.
- Support the implementation of priority reforms under the CIIP, ensuring alignment between strategy, structure,
and operations. - Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation framework, including KPIs to track progress and effectiveness of the change process.
- Provide advisory and hands-on support to AfWASA leadership throughout the transition period.
- Facilitate targeted sessions, workshops, and engagements to strengthen internal alignment and ownership.
- Provide coaching and knowledge transfer to ensure sustainability of change management practices within AfWASA.
About the Organization
1. Background About ACBF
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was established in 1991 to build sustainable human and institutional capacity in support of Africa’s development. As the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development, ACBF supports capacity development in Africa through investment in capacity building, knowledge sharing, and technical assistance to countries and regional and sub-regional organizations.
1.2 About the Project
ACBF is implementing the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with key partners, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity within the water and sanitation sector.
Under this initiative, ACBF is supporting the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) through a structured
institutional strengthening program. This support is informed by a Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) and a Customised Institutional Improvement Plan (CIIP), which identified critical gaps in governance, leadership, organizational effectiveness, and operational systems.
AfWASA is currently undergoing significant institutional reforms, including strengthening governance frameworks, improving leadership effectiveness, refining operational systems, and enhancing overall organizational performance.
Given the scale and sensitivity of these reforms, there is a need for a structured and deliberate change management
process to ensure alignment, stakeholder buy-in, and sustainable implementation of reforms. In this regard, ACBF seeks to engage a qualified consultant to provide organizational change management support to AfWASA.
Request for Proposal- Tender Ref- ACBF RFP 006 26 AfWASA-Provision of Organisational Change Management -Final--20260428090252.docx
