Comprehensive Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy Assessment Across 8 African Nations

The Smart Africa Secretariat, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, has launched a high-impact Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2026 to conduct a Comprehensive Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy Assessment across 8 African nations. Smart Africa is a bold commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), with the goal of transforming Africa into a single digital market by harmonising policies and fostering cross-border innovation. The selected consultancy firm will play a pivotal role in strengthening the continent regulatory environment for digital entrepreneurship, identifying gaps in current frameworks, benchmarking against international best practice and recommending harmonisation pathways. The assignment is fully remote.

Conduct a desk review of digital entrepreneurship and innovation policy frameworks in 8 selected African Smart Africa member states. Map regulatory bottlenecks, gaps and good practices in each country. Benchmark against international best practice from comparable jurisdictions. Conduct stakeholder consultations with policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders and investors. Identify cross-cutting themes and harmonisation opportunities at the Smart Africa level. Develop country-specific and continental policy recommendations. Validation workshops. Final assessment report and policy brief for Smart Africa Steering Committee.

Consultancy firm with demonstrated expertise in digital policy, regulatory frameworks and innovation ecosystems in Africa. Track record of comparable multi-country policy assessments. Multilingual capacity (English and French essential, given Smart Africa francophone member states). Strong analytical, stakeholder engagement and writing skills. Existing networks across African ICT policy and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Eligible to invoice an African intergovernmental organisation. Compliance with Smart Africa procurement procedures.

Smart Africa standard procurement evaluation: mandatory compliance, technical evaluation (firm experience, team CVs, methodology, sample deliverables), financial evaluation. Combined scoring; award to highest combined score within budget.