1. Background
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development in Africa, is invested in supporting African institutions to improve their capacity to efficiently and effectively leverage the continent’s expertise and resources to realise real and lasting change for its people.
In line with this mandate, ACBF is implementing the Program on “Strengthening Capacity of Strategic Partner Institutions in Africa” (SPIA) which is designed to provide capacity improvement support to targeted new and existing Africa-based institutions operating in bio-medical research and development areas. The program seeks to promote innovation and transformative ideas, co-created, translated, accepted, and adopted to specific local needs, with the understanding that this approach will lead to more excellent scientific, technical, and fiduciary capabilities, greater administrative and logistical capacities, and greater nimbleness to respond to the ever-changing Research & Development landscape for strategic institutional partners.
Under the SPIA Program, ACBF is supporting the African Institute for Biomedical Sciences and Technology (AiBST), in enhancing its institutional capacity to effectively deliver on its mandate. AiBST is a pan-African, non-profit, public charitable organisation created to support, strengthen, and promote science and innovation in Africa. By enhancing AiBST’s institutional capacity, ACBF believes that this will promote scientific innovation that can address Africa’s development challenges.
Against this background, ACBF seeks services of an individual consultant to develop a Knowledge Management Strategy Framework for AiBST, that will support the implementation of its programs and operations during the period covered by its strategic plan (2023-2027) and beyond. AiBST will also require capacity-building training session for its staff on the implementation of the developed Framework.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The overall objective of this assignment is to develop a Knowledge Management Strategy Framework for AiBST that enhances knowledge creation, capture, sharing, and utilization across the organization.
The specific objectives are:
- Assess current KM practices, systems, tools, and identify any gaps at AiBST.
- Benchmark AiBST against global KM best practices in science research institutions.
- Identify knowledge needs and priorities.
- Design a practical and scalable KM strategy defining how AiBST captures, curates, stores, shares, and applies knowledge.
- Develop implementation and governance structures.
- Build internal capacity through a validation and training workshop.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant is required to undertake the following:
- Diagnosis/Assessment: Carry out a diagnosis of the knowledge and information management capacities of AiBST, identifying processes, infrastructure, and human resources.
- Lessons Learned: Systematically capture lessons, best practices, research outputs, and implementation experiences.
- Strategy Development: Develop a KM strategy framework to improve creation, acquisition, storage, transfer, utilization, and dissemination of knowledge.
- Policy Consolidation: Consolidate the existing intellectual property policy document into the comprehensive KM strategy.
- Standardization: Establish clear frameworks, tools, and guidelines for knowledge generation and storage.
- Digital Tools: Identify and recommend cost-effective digital tools and repositories to improve access to knowledge products.
- Implementation Roadmap: Propose a phased roadmap including milestones, responsibilities, and change management.
- Staff Training: Provide orientation sessions to ensure the strategy is mainstreamed across all departments.
4. Key Deliverables and Timelines
The assignment is expected to be conducted in 15 working days stretched over 2 months covering May and June 2026. The expected end date is 31 August 2026.
| Key Deliverable | Completion Timelines |
| 1. Inception Report: Summarizing understanding of scope, methodology, and a detailed work plan. | 2 days |
| 2. Knowledge Audit & Needs Assessment Report: Findings on the current state of KM, identified gaps, and proposed relevant frameworks. | 3 days |
| 3. Comprehensive KM Strategy Framework: Finalized document including tools, roadmap, and governance structures. | 8 days |
| 4. Staff Training: At most two days of training for key staff on implementation. | 2 days |
5. Required Qualifications
- Education: Master’s degree in Knowledge Management, Information Science, Organizational Management, or related social sciences.
- Experience: At least 7 years of proven KM or technical advisory experience.
- Track Record: Developing at least 2 similar KM strategies/policies.
- Sector Knowledge: Understanding of research workflows, laboratory knowledge flows, and scientific data management.
- Technical Skills: Familiarity with KM tools and digital platforms.
- Soft Skills: Excellent English report writing and communication; experience in facilitating training.
- Advantage: Experience in the health/scientific research sector in Africa.
6. Modalities of Delivery
- Location: Virtual (Consultant works from their own office).
- Data Collection: Drawing heavily on primary data (surveys, interviews, group discussions) and secondary data (desk review).
- Technical Support: Provision of support to facilitate the presentation of knowledge in formats suitable for diverse target groups.
7. Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation is based on a minimum scoring threshold of 80%.
| Criteria | Points |
| 1. Overall Experience & Demonstrated Results (Qualifications, evidence of practical experience, similar assignments, health sector experience) | 60 |
| 2. Strategic Planning Approach (Technical and strategic strength of methodology) | 30 |
| 3. Efficiency (Understanding of assignment, capacity to deliver on time, training experience) | 10 |
| Total Points | 100 |
8. Selection Process & Submission
The consultant will be selected based on an assessment of both the technical proposal and the financial offer.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) must include:
- A technical proposal responding to the ToR (Max 5 pages).
- Reference list of at least 3 previous similar assignments.
- Proposed time plan/roadmap.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A financial offer with a detailed breakdown of costs.
Submission Details:
- Email: submissions@aibst.edu.zw
- Subject Line: “Knowledge Management Strategy Framework for AIBST”
- Deadline: 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CAT