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Ref.
2026/TOPE/16362

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Service contract

Deadline date
2026/10/30 23:55

Duration of the assignment
Beaded expertise

Duration
à confirmer selon mission

Mission description

General objective 

The mission's objective is to strengthen Pillar 1's capacity to proactively identify and generate quality technical assistance requests by combining: (i) immediately actionable prospecting in ten priority countries, based on the identification of relevant investments and actors (quick win); and (ii) a broader, reusable methodology to structure and develop prospecting beyond this first wave. 

Mission Architecture 

The mission is structured into two complementary components. These can be implemented through successive purchase orders with an indicative duration of one month, depending on the priorities of Pillar 1. 

Component 1 – Operational prospecting in 10 priority countries 

This first component constitutes the operational priority of the mission. It aims to quickly provide the team with a directly usable prospecting matrix, enabling them to initiate contacts and identify opportunities likely to lead to requests. 

Priority countries: 

  • Kenya 

  • Tanzania 

  • South Africa 

  • DRC 

  • Angola 

  • Nigeria 

  • Ivory Coast 

  • Senegal 

  • Zambia 

  • Ethiopia 

For each country, the expert will notably have to: 

  • identify the main relevant investments and projects 1supported or carried out by the European Union, Member States and/or Team Europe instruments, with particular attention to investments likely to create or support jobs; 

  • identify, where available, the sector, nature of the investment, its location, its timeline, its approximative volume, and the main partners; 

  • identify companies, consortia, operators, implementing agencies, development finance institutions, professional organizations or other actors directly linked to these investments and likely to constitute entry points for prospecting; 

  • identify relevant points of contact and their available contact details (name, function, organization, email, phone, website or another useful channel); 

  • to assess factually, as far as possible, the potential of each opportunity with regard to the OP-VET approach: link with a job-creating investment, potential need for skills, actor likely to support or facilitate a request, and capacity to mobilize the resources necessary for the implementation of the recommendations; 

  • to populate a nominative matrix integrated into the tracking format already used by Pillar 1, facilitating the consistency of the tools. 

The mapping will prioritize investments as the entry point. Government agencies, international organizations, expert networks, and other actors considered ineligible as main requesters will not be targeted as priority prospects; however, they may be mentioned when they are directly useful in identifying, linking, or contextualizing an opportunity. 

Main deliverable of Component 1 

A nominative and usable prospecting matrix, ideally integrated into the "lead request " tab / existing pipeline document, including at least: country; investment/project; sector; source/initiative Team Europe; company or organization concerned; key partners; link with job creation; potential requester; point(s) of contact; contact details; source of information; maturity level of the opportunity; next recommended action. 

Component 2 – Expanded prospecting methodology 

Based on the lessons learned from the first component and existing practices from Pillar 1, the expert will propose a simple, replicable methodology tailored to the team's needs. This methodology should not presuppose any modification to the 2current SOP or an expanded role for the TAF in drafting requests; on the contrary, it should clearly define the transition points and connections with existing procedures and include: 

  • method for identifying and prioritizing investments/opportunities; 

  • criteria to turn a signal into a prospecting opportunity; 

  • approaches to initial contact and awareness-raising according to the profiles of actors; 

  • methods of identifying the potential need for technical assistance and transmitting it to the existing request process; 

  • mobilization of the Expertise France/AFD Group networks and consortium partners, including the relevant networks of Team Europe agencies; 

  • tracking tools allowing the team to maintain a common view of prospects, opportunities, contacts and next actions; 

  • proposal of a medium-term deployment plan, including gradual extension to other countries/sectors if relevant. 

  • A mapping of potential Technical Assistance requesters 

 

Main Activities 

Activity 

Content 

1. Scoping 

Kick-off meeting; targeted review of available documents; clarification of targeting criteria, countries, sectors and matrix format; articulation with existing pipeline and tools. 

2. Research and identification of opportunities 

Review of MIPs 3, EU Global Gateway strategies, relevant Team Europe funding/investment pipelines, information on investments and contracts involving European actors, and other sources. 

3. Identification of actors and contacts 

For each opportunity selected, identify relevant companies/organizations and partners, then search for available points of contact. 

4. Analysis and prioritization 

Application of a limited number of common criteria: potential for job creation, skills needs, link with Team Europe/European investment, presence of an identifiable actor and possibility of follow-up. 

5. Matrix consolidation 

Feeding and cleaning the tracking tool agreed with the team; traceability of sources; removal of duplicates; identification of next actions. 

6. Methodology and implementation plan 

Formalization of the lessons learned from prospecting and proposal of a reusable methodology, simple tools and a deployment plan. 

7. Restitution 

Presentation of results, validation of priorities and transfer of tools to the Pillar 1 team. 

Deliverables 

The deliverables will be defined by purchase order. For example, initial deliverable will consist of: 

Deliverable 1 – Operational prospecting matrix (priority) 

A nominative database covering the 10 priority countries and identified opportunities, allowing the team to start making contacts. 

Mobilization methods and workload 

The mission will be carried out under a purchase order contract. Each purchase order will have, as a guideline, a duration of approximately one month and will specify the expected activities, deliverables, and workload. This approach will allow for gradual adjustments to the scope based on the results of the prospecting and the priorities of Pillar 1. 

As a guideline, the first order could be primarily dedicated to Module 1 and the production of the matrix for the ten countries. Subsequent orders could focus on Module 2, in-depth analysis of certain countries/sectors, expansion to other geographical areas, or support for the implementation of the methodology. 

The total number of days will be determined by Expertise France in the purchase orders, based on the selected scope. The calculation will consider the expected level of detail to be provided and the number of countries/sectors actually covered. The number of working days for the first purchase order (component 1) is estimated at 20 FTE (full-time equivalent). 

Methodological principles 

  • Results-oriented approach: priority is given to the production of directly actionable information rather than to theoretical study. 

  • "Investment first" approach: the investment or project constitutes the main entry point, followed by the actors and contacts linked to it. 

  • Documentary sources and triangulation: use of relevant public and institutional sources, with traceability of sources and indication of limitations when information is not available. 

  • Complementarity with existing systems: pipeline, tools and TA request process from Pillar 1 etc. 

  • Proportionality: limiting criteria and indicators to those that provide real value in identifying and converting opportunities. 

  • Working with partners: targeted involvement of consortium partners and relevant networks to avoid duplication and to enhance existing contacts. 

Governance and collaboration 

The expert will work under the supervision of the Technical Assistance Facility/Pillar 1 Coordinator, in close collaboration with the Project Officers and relevant team members. Consortium partners and their networks may be consulted to support in identifying or validating opportunities. 

Regular progress follow-ups will allow us to validate (selection criteria, priorities etc.) and adapt along the way.  

Project or context description

The Team Europe Initiative – Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training (TEI OP-VET) aims to strengthen the alignment between vocational training systems and employment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly through better collaboration with the private sector. 

With a budget of €75 million and implemented over the period 2024-2029 by a consortium composed of Enabel, Expertise France, the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the initiative is structured around three pillars. Pillar 1, led by Expertise France, includes a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) designed to meet the needs expressed by eligible stakeholders by providing experts responsible for: organizing targeted studies to determine the profiles and skills needed for investments, developing training programs adapted to jobs, supporting public-private dialogue on employment and skills development issues, and developing methodological tools and recommendations, among other things. 

In line with the Facility's " opportunity-driven " approach, prospecting should begin, as much as possible, with concrete investment opportunities likely to generate jobs and skills needs, rather than a general mapping of stakeholders. This involves identifying public and private investments, particularly those supported by the European Union, its Member States, and Team Europe instruments, and then identifying the associated companies, organizations, and partners likely to generate a technical assistance request.

Required profile

  • University degree at Master's level or equivalent in international development, economics, management, international relations, private sector development, employment, TVET or relevant field. 

  • At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in international cooperation, technical assistance, private sector development, employment, skills or related fields. 

  • Demonstrated experience in prospecting, developing partnerships, mobilizing stakeholders and/or identifying opportunities. 

  • Good knowledge of sub-Saharan Africa; experience in several of the targeted countries is an asset. 

  • Experience working with donors, development finance institutions, cooperation agencies, companies or private sector actors. 

  • Experience in labour market, value chain analysis and/or mapping would be an asset.  

  • Strong skills in researching, analyzing, synthesizing and structuring databases/prospects. 

  • Excellent command of Microsoft 365 tools. 

  • Excellent command of French and English.

Additional information

Application procedures 

Candidates must submit a detailed CV, relevant references, and a short methodological note (maximum 2 pages) outlining their understanding of the mission, their approach to completing the ten-country matrix, and their proposal for the second methodological component.  

The financial proposal must allow for a purchase order contract.  

Expected result 

Following the initial outreach, the Pillar 1 team will need a sufficiently detailed prospecting database to quickly initiate discussions with stakeholders involved in job-creating investments in the ten priority countries. Following subsequent outreach efforts, the team will also need a simple and replicable methodology to continue this prospecting, monitor its progress, and gradually expand it to other countries and opportunities. 

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :

  • Candidate’s training/skills/experience

Deadline for application : 2026/10/30 23:55

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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