Consultant to support the Annual Award for Development and Strategy Department planning, monitoring and reporting

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS)

Additional Information

Possibility of contract extension: In general, the OPEC Fund consulting contracts may be extended to a reasonable degree when doing so is justified within OPEC Fund's core procurement principles. Any extensions are subject to operational needs, consultant performance, and continued availability of funds.

Specific considerations for this assignment, if any: extensive proven experience in fundraising for trust funds managed by Development Finance Institutions, in particular Multilateral Development Banks.

Country of assignment: Austria – preference is given to local consultants in Austria.

Candidates may send REOI and CV (in the attached format[1]) with supporting documentation, e.g. certificates, diplomas, work references, etc. to:

The OPEC Fund for International Development (The OPEC Fund)

Procurement Office

Parkring 8

Vienna, Austria.

CONTACT PERSON:

procurement@opecfund.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.     Project Background

In 2026-2027, the OPEC Fund will implement a set of priority institutional initiatives requiring structured coordination, monitoring, and implementation support. These include the Innovation for Development Award, as well as several activities aimed at strengthening monitoring and reporting on the grants portfolio.

The OPEC Fund introduced its Annual Award for Development in 2006 to recognize outstanding contributions to sustainable development and poverty reduction worldwide. In 2026, the Award has been revamped as the Development Award, with a renewed focus on promoting innovative, scalable solutions to development challenges in areas aligned with the Fund’s mandate, including poverty reduction, health, education, climate change, and food security.

Each category combines a financial prize with non-monetary benefits such as visibility, networking, and capacity-building support.

The Strategy Department will manage the program through an Award Secretariat with participation from Public Sector, Private Sector, and Communications Departments. An Independent Selection Committee of three external experts will ensure transparent, merit-based selection. The second edition of the award will launch in Q4 of 2026 to be awarded in 2027.

In parallel, the Strategy Department will lead and coordinate a number of high-profile events throughout 2027, hosted at the OPEC Fund headquarters in Vienna. These events will bring together external partners and OPEC Fund colleagues to advance strategic priorities, strengthen partnerships, and promote knowledge exchange. Ensuring the effective planning, coordination, and successful delivery of these events will be a key priority for the Department. In addition, the OPEC Fund will undertake enhancements to its grants monitoring and reporting framework, including updates to related systems and processes to improve effectiveness, accountability, and reporting. These initiatives, together with the implementation of the Development Innovation Award, will require dedicated project management support to ensure strong coordination, timely execution, and alignment across workstreams.

2.     Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide project management, coordination, monitoring, and implementation support for a set of priority institutional initiatives being advanced by the OPEC Fund in 2026/2027.

These initiatives comprise three interrelated streams of work:

(i)              the Annual Award for Development;

(ii)            Support in the planning and delivery of Strategy Department events and

(iii)           Support monitoring and reporting activities of the department.

The consultant will support the planning, coordination, documentation, and tracking of activities across the streams, with a focus on ensuring efficient delivery, effective internal coordination, and timely implementation.

3.     Duration and Location of the Services

12 months period with the possibility of extension subject to operational needs, consultant performance, and continued availability of Funds.

This assignment will be based in OPEC Fund premises (see section on working arrangements).

4.     Scope of Services, Tasks (Components), and Expected Deliverables

A. Annual Award for Development

·       The consultant will support the implementation of the Annual Award for Development through the following tasks:

·       Support the preparation and maintenance of the Award implementation plan, activity schedule, and monitoring tools.

·       Coordinate the application process, including preliminary screening of submissions against eligibility criteria and follow-up with applicants, as required.

·       Support the review and periodic updating of Award guidelines, templates, and related documentation.

·       Coordinate internally with relevant units to support implementation of the Award, including scheduling, information flow, and follow-up actions.

·       Support the organization, documentation, and follow-up of meetings of the Award Secretariat and Independent Selection Committee, including agendas, minutes, and action logs.

·       Maintain organized records of Award-related documentation and correspondence.

·       Track implementation progress, flag issues requiring attention, and contribute inputs to progress reports and briefings.

·       Support budget tracking, disbursement documentation, and financial monitoring related to the Award.

·       Support the organization of the Award ceremony and related events, including logistical arrangements and preparation of basic visibility materials.

B. Strategy Department Support

·       Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of Strategy Department initiatives and activities throughout 2027, including strategic events, partnership engagements, and special projects.

·       Assist in the development of event concepts, preparation of agendas and materials, stakeholder coordination, participant management, and implementation planning.

·       Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure the successful execution of departmental events, workshops, meetings, and consultations.

·       Support coordination across internal and external stakeholders to facilitate timely implementation of Strategy Department priorities and initiatives.

·       Maintain project plans, action trackers, and implementation schedules, ensuring systematic follow-up on agreed actions and deliverables.

·       Support the collection, validation, and consolidation of data related to the grants program, innovative financing initiatives, and other Strategy Department activities.

C. Monitoring, Reporting and Innovative Financing Support

·       Assist in the maintenance and continuous improvement of grants monitoring and reporting systems, processes, and related documentation.

·       Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure timely provision of information and adherence to established monitoring and reporting requirements.

·       Prepare and update dashboards, reports, presentations, and analytical summaries to support management oversight and decision-making.

·       Contribute to the monitoring and reporting of the Innovative Financing Solutions Unit portfolio, including tracking progress against milestones, outputs, and key performance indicators.

·       Support the preparation of internal briefs, management updates, and other reporting products related to grants, innovative financing initiatives, partnerships, and departmental activities.

·       Maintain structured tracking of decisions, action items, and follow-up activities to support effective project management and implementation across Strategy Department workstreams.

5.     Detailed Outputs of the Assignment

Annual Award for Development

• Short-list of candidates based on preliminary screening.
• Updated Development Innovation Award Guidelines.
• Minutes from Award Secretariat and Independent Selection Committee meetings.
• Preparation of progress reports (quarterly and annual) and updated monitoring data.
• Draft communication materials for visibility.
• Tracking system established for post-award monitoring

Strategy Department & Innovative Financing Solutions support

·       Support coordination and delivery of Strategy Department events, workshops, consultations, and partnership engagements planned for 2027, including event planning documents, agendas, participant lists, briefing materials, and post-event summaries.

·       Provide inputs to ensure project management tools are up-to-date, including workplans, action trackers, implementation schedules, stakeholder coordination matrices, and follow-up records, maintained throughout the assignment period to support timely delivery of departmental priorities.

·       Review and consolidate data sets and submit for validation to innovative financing solutions unit, and related Strategy Department activities maintained within established monitoring and reporting systems, with supporting documentation updated as required.

·       Assist in updating regular dashboards, analytical summaries, management reports, and presentations prepared and submitted to support monitoring of Strategy Department initiatives, grants activities, and the Innovative Financing Solutions Unit portfolio.

·       Support delivery of periodic briefs and progress updates on grants, partnerships, strategic initiatives, and the Innovative Financing Solutions portfolio, including tracking of milestones, outputs, KPIs, key decisions, and follow-up actions to support management oversight and decision-making.

6.     Key Timelines or Milestones

Key milestones will include:

-        Publicity and outreach period (end of December);

-        Preliminary Screening completed (end of March/early April);

-        Selection of awardees completed (end of April/early May);

-        Award Announcement and Presentation (June at the Development Forum);

-        Post-award monitoring system established by Q3, 2027.

7.     Qualification Requirements for the consultants (criteria for evaluation)

The target is to engage an individual consultant. To effectively deliver on the scope and objectives of the project, the consultant should possess a combination of professional experience, technical skills, industry knowledge, and appropriate soft skills. Crucially, he/she should meet the following minimum requirements:

OPEC FUND may require conducting an interview for the potential qualified consultant

Educational background:

·       The consultant should have a minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in Project Management, Event Organization, Monitoring and Reporting or related field, and at least 5-7 years of working experience in project coordination and management within development finance institutions, intergovernmental organizations or donor funded operations.

Soft Skills:

·       Communication Skills: Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities.

·       Strong reporting and documentation skills.

·       International Experience: Experience working with culturally diverse teams in an international environment.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% in the evaluation will be considered.

8.     Working Arrangements

The Consultancy will be on sight in the OPEC Fund premises.

9.     Reporting Requirements and Time Schedule for Deliverables.

·       For activities related to monitoring and reporting, the consultant will report to the Vice President, Strategy Department.

·       For activities related to the Development Innovation Award, the consultant will report to the Director, Innovative Financing Solutions Unit.

10.  Relevant background information or materials for the assignment

Development Award Documentation, i.e. report outlining objectives and scope, call for nominations, and other documents as deemed appropriate). Member country engagement documents.

11.  Indication if downstream work is potentially considered

Yes, subject to results delivered and based on needs at time of completion of this assignment.

12.  Training and capacity building requirement NA

13.  Client’s Inputs and Counterpart Personnel

a.     Services, facilities, and property to be made available to the Consultant by the Client: NA

b.     Client will provide the following inputs, project data and reports to facilitate preparation of the Outputs:

                                      i.     Existing Award related documents and materials.

                                     ii.     Databases, contacts, minutes and background information on member country engagement activities.

14.  Basis of Payment and payment schedule

Monthly payment upon submission of invoices for days worked (based on the agreed daily rate).

15.  Contractual modality

The REIO will be subject to OPEC FUND standard contractual modality in a form of Framework agreement for consultants.