OPPORTUNITY: Request for Proposals (RFP) – Recruitment Consulting AfCFTA Secretariat

By SA Trade Desk

At SA Trade Desk, we continuously monitor strategic commercial and service opportunities across the continent for our community. A significant consultancy opportunity has arisen to support the institutional scaling of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

The AfCFTA Secretariat is seeking qualified service providers for a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and execute a comprehensive recruitment, assessment, and verification framework for upcoming staff placements.

A. Background

Since trading under the AfCFTA officially commenced in January 2021, the initiative has laid the groundwork to eliminate poverty, drive job creation, and fundamentally improve livelihoods across Africa. By accelerating economic integration, the AfCFTA aims to expand economically viable markets and establish a single continental market with global bargaining power.

To deliver on these broad operational objectives, the AfCFTA Secretariat requires a robust, highly structured recruitment process. Filling identified roles with experts who possess the right skill sets, formal qualifications, experience, and continental exposure is paramount to driving the Secretariat’s mission forward.

B. Strategic Context & Workforce Roadmap

The AfCFTA represents the largest free trade area in the world by both geographic footprint and participating nations:

• 54 of the 55 African Union member states have signed the agreement.
• 47 countries have formally ratified it.

To operationalise the Secretariat, member states approved an institutional structure comprising 296 positions to be filled over a four-year horizon.

Phased Recruitment Rollout:

The Secretariat has targeted 74 key positions within a two-year operational push including:

• 2026 Phase: 13 key specialist and leadership positions.
• 2027 Phase: 35 technical and administrative positions.

C. Key Objectives and Scope of Assignment

The primary objective of this consulting assignment is to support and manage the recruitment pipeline for the AfCFTA Secretariat through well-adapted, scientific candidate evaluations and thorough due diligence.

Core Execution Areas:

1. Psychometric Assessment Framework: Design and administer scientific assessments to measure cognitive ability, personality traits, behavioural fit, and mental health status. These tools evaluate overall suitability and performance potential for complex intergovernmental roles.
2. Technical Test Banks: Develop and deliver specialized technical testing mechanisms tailored to specific job families to verify candidates’ direct knowledge, domain expertise, and practical problem-solving capability.
3. Background Checks & Credential Verification: Conduct rigorous, comprehensive background checks. This includes verifying academic qualifications, authenticating professional certifications, and validating employment history.Note on Sequence: Background checks will be conducted post-interview and post-testing, but before any final offer of employment is issued by the AfCFTA Secretariat.

D. Expected Deliverables

Selected consulting firms or service providers will be expected to deliver a structured evaluation framework, including:

• Psychometric Test Framework: Tailored tools and methodology for continental candidate evaluations.
• Technical Test Bank: Job-family-specific testing suites.
• Candidate Assessment Reports: Comprehensive individual profile reports alongside comparative evaluation matrices for panel decision-making.

How to Participate

If your organisation specializes in human capital advisory, executive search, background screening, or psychometric assessment design, this assignment offers a high-profile entry point into pan-African institutional consulting.

Full details of this RFP can be found HERE.