The Smart Africa Secretariat, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, has launched a high-impact RFP to recruit a consultancy firm to conduct a Comprehensive Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Regulatory and Policy Environment Assessment across 8 African Smart Africa member nations and develop tailored support pathways. Smart Africa is the African Heads of State commitment to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development through ICTs, with the goal of transforming Africa into a single digital market by harmonising policies and fostering cross-border innovation. The selected firm will play a pivotal role in strengthening the continent regulatory environment for digital entrepreneurship.

Desk review of digital entrepreneurship and innovation policy frameworks in 8 selected African Smart Africa member states. Mapping of regulatory bottlenecks, gaps and good practices in each country. Benchmarking against international best practice. Stakeholder consultations with policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders and investors. Identify cross-cutting themes and harmonisation opportunities. Develop country-specific and continental policy recommendations and tailored support pathways. Validation workshops. Final assessment report and policy brief for the 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). Strong analytical, stakeholder engagement and writing skills. Existing networks across African ICT policy and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Eligible to invoice an African intergovernmental organisation.

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