Request for Proposal: Terms of Reference for Senior Security Advisor (SSA) in Somalia

1. About AECF

The AECF, LLC (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organization that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting climate resilient communities, and creating jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding; we are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

To date, we have supported over 510 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 33million lives and created over 35,000 direct jobs. The AECF is headquartered in Kenya and has offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

2. About the FIG programme

Funded by the European Union, FIG is a component of the Inclusive Local and Economic Development (ILED) programme, whose objective is to revitalize and expand the local economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, job creation, and broad-based inclusive growth for Somali women, youth and producers through:

• Designing and offering appropriate and sustainable financial products and services to clients through its partner Financial Institutions (FI) and ensuring targeted clients are growing and becoming more bankable.
• Catalyzing sustainable increase in lending to economic actors in Somalia, esp. youth, women, and producers.
• Building the capacity of the partner financial institutions to increasingly provide appropriate financial services for a wider scope of customers living in urban centres, and rural and decentralized areas in Somalia.
• Building the capacity of targeted end clients to profitably use the financing for business growth.

3. About the Role

The Senior Security Advisor (SSA) is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the national staff, setting up and continuously implementing safety and security protocols to ensure a high level of safety and well-being for the AECF Somalia team. The SSA will maintain a high level of contextual awareness of the security situation in Somalia and coordinate closely with the Programme team at the field level and the HO risk team. The SSA will promote a strong safety and security culture through continuous training for all field-based staff and collaborative security assessments.

The SSA will report directly to the FIG Programme Manager.

4. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

a) Security Risk Management and Analysis

• Conduct regular country-level and field-specific security and risk assessments to identify safety and security needs and risks.
• Monitor the evolving security landscape, including threats, incidents, and developments that may negatively affect staff or operations.
• Analyze relevant data, intelligence reports, and field-level information to identify emerging trends, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Assess security risks and considerations for staff traveling to various programme sites within Somalia.

b) Security Communication and Advisory

• Provide timely, accurate, and context-specific security updates to national staff via multiple channels (e.g., WhatsApp, text messages, emails, in-person briefings).
• Maintain an active communication and feedback loop with national staff to address concerns, gather field intelligence, and meet information needs.
• Ensure that all updates include clear guidance on relevant security protocols, travel restrictions, and emergency procedures.
• Provide pre-travel country security briefings and context updates to headquarters (HO) staff or external personnel visiting Somalia.
• Offer pre-departure and on-site security briefings to field staff prior to site visits, including recommended safety protocols and emergency response procedures.

c) Operational Security Support

• Coordinate with local authorities and vetted security providers to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for staff movement and site visits.
• Accompany staff on field visits, if necessary, to provide direct security oversight and support.
• Track staff movement and conduct regular check-ins, ensuring that all field visits are documented and monitored.
• Liaise with the hosting agency’s security team to ensure that security standards are upheld and reflected in all office and property procedures.

d) Liaison and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain productive relationships with local authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and other actors to gain timely security information and ensure access.
• Participate in inter-agency and sectoral security coordination meetings where appropriate.
• Maintain up-to-date security contact lists for all relevant stakeholders and support staff in accessing them when needed.

e) Training and Capacity Building

• Provide regular security awareness and preparedness training to all staff.
• Support capacity building of in-country security focal points and other staff as needed.
• Facilitate drills or simulations related to emergency preparedness (e.g., evacuation, hibernation, relocation).

f) Reporting and Compliance

• Provide timely incident reports and post-incident assessments.
• Update the Security Risk Management Plans (SRMP), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and crisis management protocols.
• Ensure compliance with internal security policies as well as donor and host country requirements.

5. Deliverables

a) Monthly Security Risk Reports

• Comprehensive updates on the national and field-level security situation, including threat assessments, incident trends, and mitigation recommendations.
• Security Risk Assessments and SRMPs
• Updated Security Risk Management Plans (SRMPs) and area-specific risk assessments for all operational regions, including movement protocols and risk mitigation measures.

b) Weekly Field Security Updates

• Timely, accessible security advisories for national and field staff, distributed via appropriate communication channels (WhatsApp, SMS, email, in-person briefings).

c) Head Office Visitor Briefing Packages

• Security briefing documents and pre-travel advisories for visiting headquarters or external personnel, tailored to the Somalia context.

d) Pre-Travel Briefings and Site Visit Support

• Written or verbal security briefings for staff traveling to field sites, including risk assessments, safety protocols, and check-in/check-out procedures.

e) Training Sessions and Drill Reports

• At least two staff training sessions on personal security, emergency response, and field safety protocols, with participant attendance records and training materials.
• Reports from any scenario-based drills (e.g., evacuation or hibernation exercises) conducted during the contract period.

f) Incident and Post-Incident Reports

• Timely documentation and analysis of security incidents involving staff or operations, including response actions and lessons learned.

g) Stakeholder Contact List and Coordination Log

• Up-to-date contact list of relevant security actors, local authorities, and support networks, with a coordination log outlining engagements.

h) Staff Movement Logs and Field Visit Reports

• Consolidated records of staff movement tracking, check-ins, and summaries of accompanied site visits, where applicable.

i) Office Security Review and Recommendations

• Assessment report of the security arrangements at offices and facilities, including recommendations for improvements in collaboration with the hosting agency.

6. Required Qualifications and Experience

a) Essential

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in security risk management, preferably in conflict-affected and fragile environments.
• Prior experience working in Somalia or similar high-risk contexts.
• Strong understanding of local dynamics and geopolitical context in Somalia.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing security frameworks and protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Background educational training in Security Studies or a related field.

b) Desirable

• Prior work experience with international NGOs, UN agencies, or diplomatic missions.
• Excellent relations with law enforcement agencies in Somalia, UN and INGO security teams.
• Familiarity with donor-funded organizations access, acceptance strategies, and community engagement.
• Crisis management training or certifications (e.g., HEAT, Hostile Environment Awareness Training).

c) Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to build trust and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Proficient in security technology and communication systems.
• Fluent in English; Somali language skills being mandatory.
• Experience in managing incidents, incident mapping, and developing and producing high-quality security reports and assessments.

7. Duration

The assignment is expected to be completed in December 2025 from the commencement date.

8. Reporting

The consultancy firm will report to AECF, the FIG programme manager.

9. Pricing

The AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure that VAT, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.

10. Proposal submission

Interested firms are invited to submit:

A technical proposal, max 10 pages (excluding annexes)

• An understanding of the consultancy requirements.
• Methodology and work plan for performing the assignment underpinned by a demonstration of value for money
• Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments.
• Relevant services undertaken in the last five (5) years.
• Registration and other relevant statutory documents
• Detailed Resumé
• All documents related to the technical proposal must be compiled into a single PDF file, organized with a clear Table of Contents

A financial proposal

• Clearly showing the proposed days and the proposed professional fee (daily rate and total amount per month/day). The financial proposal shall also include an indication of reimbursables (travel, communication etc.). Currency to be in USD.

N/B: TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY. COMBINING THE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENT AS ONE DOCUMENT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THE APPLICANT.

11. Evaluation criteria

MANDATORY EVALUATION CRITERIA

Mandatory Requirements for independent consultants: –

1. Passport/National Identification & CVs of the lead consultant and key personnel (Applicable to independent consultants)
2. Must be a Somali National.
3. Technical proposal as a response to the TOR. All documents related to the technical proposal must be compiled into a single PDF file, organized with a clear Table of Contents & paginated in sequential order.
4. Financial proposal as a response to the TOR.
5. Past similar experience with reference letters.

Mandatory Requirements for companies: –

1. Company profile.
2. Trading license, Certificate of incorporation, Certificate of Registration, and other statutory documents.
3. Must be registered in Somalia as a Security service provider company and must have been in operation for the last 5 years.
4. Valid Tax Compliance certificate (Applicable to firms).
5. Technical proposal as a response to the TOR. All documents related to the technical proposal must be compiled into a single PDF file, organized with a clear Table of Contents & paginated in sequential order.
6. Financial proposal as a response to the TOR.
7. CVs of the team members.
8. Past similar experience with reference letters.

N/B: FAILURE TO ATTACH AND ADHERE TO THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION

An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF and may include employees of the businesses to be supported. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. The consultant should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated.

The AECF may request and receive clarification from any consultant when evaluating a proposal. The evaluation committee may invite some or all the consultants to appear before the committee to clarify their proposals. In such event, the evaluation committee may consider such clarifications in evaluating proposals.

In deciding the final selection of qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be opened. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked in terms of total points scored.

The mandatory and desirable criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are identified in the table below.

12. Application

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all interested candidates based on merit without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• Interested firms & Independent consultants are requested to submit their technical and financial proposal to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org by 1^st July 2025, 5 pm EAT
• All questions or clarifications should be directed to the procurement email by 23^rd June 2025, 5pm EAT.
• The subject of the email should be ‘’TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR SENIOR SECURITY ADVISOR (SSA) IN SOMALIA”. The AECF shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject or responding to questions that did not meet the deadline as indicated.

13. Disclaimer

AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, the number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

Note: AECF does not charge an application fee to participate in the tender process and has not appointed agents or intermediaries to facilitate applications. Applicants are advised to contact the AECF Procurement Department directly.