Consultancy opportunity: Strengthening accountancy institutions and regulatory frameworks across Africa

The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is inviting eligible consulting firms to express their interest in a significant multi-country assignment under the Strengthening PAFA and PFM Resilience in Africa (SPRA) Project. SPRA is a multinational institutional-support project financed by the African Development Bank through its Transition Support Facility Pillar III and implemented by PAFA. Consistent with Pillar III’s focus on building inclusive, effective and accountable institutions in countries affected by fragility, the Project seeks to strengthen professional capacity in public financial management, promote greater harmonisation of professional accounting standards, tools, practices and regulatory frameworks, and professionalise accountants and auditors in the public sector.

A central element of the Project is strengthening the institutional, professional and human capacities of professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) to improve the quality of financial reporting in transition states. Strong, well-governed and sustainable PAOs are essential to developing competent and ethical accountancy professionals, supporting the adoption and implementation of international standards, contributing to effective regulation of the profession, and advancing transparency and accountability. The consultancy opportunity directly supports this objective by strengthening the strategic direction of six PAOs and developing model legal, constitutional and governance arrangements for the accountancy profession.

About the assignment

Under the component focused on strengthening the institutional capacity of PAOs, the selected consulting firm will undertake a 12-month assignment to:

Develop tailored strategic plans for six selected PAOs;

Develop a model accountancy law aligned with international standards and good regulatory practices;

Develop model PAO constitutional and governance arrangements; and

Support the adaptation and implementation of the model accountancy law and PAO frameworks in two selected countries.

The assignment will support the six PAOs to establish clear strategic direction, strengthen their institutional capacity and governance, and enhance their relevance and sustainability. It will also provide model legal, constitutional and governance arrangements that can be adapted to the specific circumstances of the two countries selected for implementation.

Expertise required

The assignment requires a consulting firm—or joint venture of firms—with the multidisciplinary expertise necessary to integrate accountancy profession development, institutional strategy, legal and regulatory reform, PAO governance and implementation across diverse African environments.

Interested firms must demonstrate:

At least eight years of experience in public-sector financial management reform, accountancy profession strengthening, institutional development and strategic planning;

A track record in developing accountancy laws and regulatory frameworks;

Experience in designing governance and constitutional arrangements for professional bodies;

Familiarity with international standards and frameworks issued by the International Federation of Accountants;

Experience working in developing countries in Africa;

An understanding of legal and regulatory reform processes and the capacity constraints affecting PAOs and regulatory institutions; and

Experience supporting multi-country or regional assignments.

Consulting firms may form joint ventures to combine the complementary technical, legal, institutional and country experience required for this important assignment.

The consulting firm will be selected through the Quality- and Cost-Based Selection method in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Framework for Bank Group-Funded Operations.

Country/Region: Africa

Issue Date: 20 July 2026

Submission Deadline: 7 August 2026 at 17:00 hours (SAST)

Documents: Request for Expression of Interest

Enquiries:nondumisoB@pafa.org.za with copy to development@pafa.org.za