Eastern and Southern Africa Awards Mid-Term Evaluation Contract for Food Systems Resilience Program

The Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa has reached a key implementation milestone with the award of a mid-term evaluation consultancy contract, according to newly published tender results. The contract award, disclosed on January 27, 2026, forms part of ongoing procurement news under a multi-country, World Bank–supported initiative aimed at strengthening food security and climate resilience across the region.

Contract Overview and Scope

The awarded contract covers the mid-term evaluation (Évaluation à mi-parcours du projet) of the Food Systems Resilience Program (Project ID: P178566). The evaluation will assess progress against development objectives, review institutional and operational performance, and analyse early outcomes of interventions implemented across participating countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Key contract details include:

• Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS)

• Contract duration: 2 months

• Minimum qualifying technical score: 70

• Financing: IDA Credits 71570 and E0830

The findings will support adaptive management, ensuring the programme remains responsive to climate risks, market volatility, and food supply challenges.

Awarded Firm and Financial Details

The contract has been awarded to CABINET CAST, a consulting firm headquartered in Antananarivo, Madagascar, with experience in monitoring and evaluation assignments for development projects.

• Signed contract price - MGA 286,009,380

• Final evaluated price - MGA 286,009,380

• Award notification date - January 13, 2026

CABINET CAST ranked first overall, meeting the technical threshold based primarily on consultant-specific experience relevant to regional development and resilience programmes.

Entities Involved and Evaluation Criteria

The procurement was conducted under World Bank guidelines, emphasising consultant qualifications over price competition. The technical assessment focused on prior experience in programme evaluation, with the minimum qualifying score set at 70. No competing firms exceeded this threshold, leading to a direct award under the CQS method.

Strategic and Regional Significance

The Food Systems Resilience Program is a cornerstone initiative designed to help countries in Eastern and Southern Africa better withstand climate shocks, droughts, and food system disruptions. This government contract plays a critical role in:

• Measuring effectiveness of resilience-building investments

• Strengthening accountability for donor-funded programs

• Informing policy dialogue at national and regional levels

• Guiding future phases and potential scale-up of interventions

At a time of heightened climate vulnerability and food price pressures, the evaluation’s recommendations are expected to influence future funding priorities and implementation strategies.

Conclusion

This awarded tender highlights the growing importance of independent evaluation in large-scale development programmes. With CABINET CAST now engaged, the Food Systems Resilience Program enters a decisive review phase that will shape its next steps and long-term impact across Eastern and Southern Africa.

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