CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
(CONSULTANCY FIRM)
Service: Consulting Firm to Conduct an assessment of the level of implementation of the amended regulation on the zero tariff on pharmaceutical raw materials, packaging, and finished products within the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).
Grant No: 2100155041318
Project ID No: P-Z1-BZ0-012

1. The outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in 2014 and COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 reinforced the urgency for ECOWAS member states to strengthen their pharmaceutical industry, improve the business environment to boost local production of essential medicines as well as reduce its de-pendency on global value-chains for medical supplies and build resilience in the sector. The Pro-ject of Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry (DPI) Industry is a regional undertaking con-ceived to support ECOWAS pharmaceutical institutions, including the Medicines Regulatory Au-thorities (MRAs), quality control laboratories, and regional pharmaceutical training institutions. This project is supported by the African Development Bank and aim to strengthen the pharmaceu-tical sector to boost local production of safe, quality, and affordable medicines and vaccines in the ECOWAS region to meet the healthcare services and needs of the population.

2. Access to essential medicines is a fundamental part of the right to health and a key indicator of the Universal Health Coverage. A good healthcare service is impossible without access to quality-assured affordable medical products and technologies. The implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) prompted the need to adopt special protection measures such as the amendment of the ECOWAS CET to endorse zero tariff on pharmaceutical raw materials, packaging, and finished products as part of the policy to enhance exports, increase intra-regional and African trade, and support to industries. So, to ensure that the expected results are achieved, it is essential to recruit a consulting firm to assess the