Expression of Interest (EoI) for Capacity Building and Strengthening of Rwanda’s Investment Treaty Negotiation Function

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Capacity Building and Strengthening of Rwanda’s Investment Treaty Negotiation Function.

Reference Number: 7000018671

Publication date: 23.07.2026

Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

List of abbreviations

1. Context

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years, supporting the country’s development priorities through interventions aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable development. Cooperation between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany focuses on sectors including decentralization and good governance, economic development and employment promotion, energy, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Through GIZ, Germany currently provides technical assist to the African Union Commission (AUC), particularly the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), and the AfCFTA Secretariat through the project “African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).” The project aims to strengthen the framework conditions for intra-African trade through assist for the implementation of AfCFTA commitments and reforms at continental, regional, and national levels.

Beyond assist for outstanding Phase I negotiations on Trade in Goods and Trade in Services, the project also supports implementation and negotiations under Phase II and III areas, including Investment, Competition Policy, Intellectual Property Rights, and Digital Trade. The project further promotes the participation of private sector actors and civil society in continental integration processes.

To achieve these objectives, the project applies a multi-level implementation approach by supporting continental institutions such as the African Union Commission and AfCFTA Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and national institutions within selected focus countries, including Rwanda.

Within this context, strengthening Rwanda’s capacity to negotiate, evaluate, and execute international investment agreements has emerged as a strategic priority. Rwanda has negotiated approximately fifteen Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), many of which are old-generation agreements characterized by broad investor protections and limited policy safeguards for the State. To address these challenges, the Government of Rwanda developed a Model BIT, a National BIT Strategy, and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening treaty governance and aligning investment commitments with national development priorities.

Furthermore, Rwanda established a cross-governmental BIT Committee mandated to negotiate new investment agreements, evaluate existing treaties, and organize national positions in international investment discussions. However, increasing complexity in global investment governance, including ongoing reforms under UNCITRAL Working Group III on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), negotiations under the AfCFTA Investment Protocol, and emerging investment-related disciplines, requires enhanced technical, legal, and negotiation capacities.

Against this background, this assignment seeks to strengthen Rwanda’s investment treaty negotiation function through targeted capacity building, expert accompaniment, structured preparatory engagements, and participation in international investment policy processes.

Objective

The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen Rwanda’s institutional and technical capacity to effectively negotiate, evaluate, and execute international investment agreements in line with national development priorities and emerging continental and global investment governance frameworks.

Expected Results

• Strengthened institutional capacity for investment governance under AfCFTA implementation. 
• Improved technical readiness of Rwanda’s BIT Committee to engage in regional and international negotiations. 
• Increased participation and influence of Rwanda in continental and international investment reform discussions. 
• Enhanced alignment between negotiated bilateral investment agreements/treaties and Rwanda’s national development objectives. 
• Improved coordination of investment treaty governance across institutions.
• Aligned future negotiations with the ongoing reforms and best practices for International Investment Treaties (IIAs)

2. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is tasked with providing the following services:

The contractor shall deliver technical, organizational, and logistical assist for implementation of activities aimed at strengthening Rwanda’s investment treaty negotiation capacity.

Task 1: Organize Expert-Guided Preparatory Meetings and Negotiation assist

The contractor shall organize and facilitate 2-3 preparatory meetings for four (4) working days each.

Activities shall include:

• Legal analysis of treaty provisions;
• Alignment with Rwanda’s Model BIT, AfCFTA Protocol on investment and ongoing reforms in international Investment treaties and best practices 
• Development of safeguards and redlines;
• Assess the relevance of the model provisions and ensure consistency
• Identification of legal and policy risks.
• Draft and discuss the negotiation positions;

Expected outputs:

• Improved negotiation readiness;
• Refined negotiation positions;
• Reduced legal and strategic risks.

Task 2: Deliver Structured Capacity Building Program

The contractor shall design and deliver three (3) technical training sessions of five (5) days each.

Indicative training topics include:

• International Investment Agreements overview;
• Treaty drafting , negotiations and interpretation;
• Negotiation simulations and role plays;
• Rwanda’s Model BIT analysis and other related laws;
• Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms & ongoing reforms;
• WTO Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development vs AfCFTA investment Protocol;
• Trade-investment linkages;
• Investor-State Dispute settlement + ongoing reforms ;
• Emerging investment issues including digital economy, ESG, and climate provisions;

Additional topics identified through training needs assessments.

Expected outputs:

• Improved technical capacity of negotiators;
• Enhanced treaty drafting and skills;
• Better understanding of legal risks and safeguards.

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Period of assignment: from 1st August 2026 until 30th December 2026.

3. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to deliver the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The tenderer is required to present and explain its approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and its contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

The tenderer is required to describe its contribution to knowledge management for the partner (1.5.1) and GIZ and to promote scaling-up effects (1.5.2) under learning and innovation.

Project management of the contractor (1.6)

The tenderer is required to explain its approach for coordination with the GIZ project. In particular, the project management requirements specified in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) must be explained in detail.

The tenderer is required to draw up a personnel assignment plan with explanatory notes that lists all the experts proposed in the tender; the plan includes information on assignment dates (duration and expert days) and locations of the individual members of the team complete with the allocation of work steps as set out in the schedule.

The tenderer is required to describe its backstopping concept. The following services are part of the standard backstopping package, which (like ancillary personnel costs) must be factored into the fee schedules of the staff listed in the tender in accordance with Section 3.1 of the GIZ AVB:

• Service-delivery control
• Managing adaptations to changing conditions
• Ensuring the flow of information between the tenderer and GIZ
• Assuming personnel responsibility for the contractor’s experts
• Process-oriented steering for implementation of the commission
• Securing the administrative conclusion of the project

Further requirements (1.7)

4. Personnel concept

The tenderer is required to deliver personnel who are suited to filling the positions described, on the basis of their CVs (see Chapter 7), the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications.

Senior Expert (1)

Tasks of Senior Expert (1)

• guide the overall technical design, methodology, and implementation approach for the assignment.
• deliver strategic and technical guidance on international investment governance, Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and investment negotiation processes.
• guide engagement with key stakeholders, including government institutions, BIT Committee members, development partners, and international organizations.
• Oversee development and validation of training materials, negotiation tools, simulation exercises, legal analyses, and technical methodologies.
• deliver expert guidance during preparatory meetings, negotiation assist processes, and formulation of treaty safeguards and redlines.
• Ensure quality assurance of technical outputs, legal analyses, and reports produced under the assignment.
• guide stakeholder consultations, validation workshops, and presentation of findings and recommendations.
• Supervise and mentor experts and ensure timely delivery of outputs in line with the ToRs.
• guide drafting and finalization of technical reports, recommendations, policy briefs, and dissemination materials.
• assist strategic positioning of Rwanda in international investment governance discussions

Qualifications of Senior Expert (1)

Education/training (2.2.1): Master’s degree (or higher) in International Economic Law, International Trade Law, Investment Law, Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, or related fields. A PhD in a relevant discipline is an added advantage. Additional certification/training in investment treaty negotiations, arbitration, dispute settlement, or international economic governance is an advantage.

Language (2.2.2): C2-level proficiency in English. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

General professional experience (2.2.3): Ten (10) years of professional experience in international investment governance, investment policy, treaty negotiations, trade policy, economic policy, or related fields.

Specific professional experience (2.2.4): Eight (8) years of demonstrated experience in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), International Investment Agreements (IIAs), Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), treaty negotiations, investment policy reforms, legal analysis, and capacity building. Experience supporting governments in treaty negotiations, formulation of the National Investment Treaty model and reform of the states old stock of BITs specifically in Rwanda and more generally on the African continent, Training in a specialized trade and investment institute on matters related to trade and international investments or international economic governance processes is required.

Experience working through or with recognized trade and investment institutes, regional economic communities, international organizations, or government training institutions is required including the UNCITRAL Working Group III process and/or the AfCFTA investment Protocol negotiations.

Leadership/management experience (2.2.5): Eight (8) years of experience leading technical teams, coordinating multi-stakeholder assignments, or managing complex advisory assignments.

Regional experience (2.2.6): Eight (8) years of experience working in Rwanda and/or Africa continent with demonstrated knowledge of regional integration frameworks, AfCFTA processes, and investment governance institutions.

Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.2.7): Five (5) years of experience implementing donor-funded projects, technical cooperation programs, or assignments with governments and international organizations is desirable.

Other (2.2.8): Strong analytical, facilitation, negotiation, legal drafting, and report writing skills. Demonstrated experience engaging public institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.

Soft Skills of Team Members

In addition to specialist qualifications, the following competencies are required:

• Teamwork skills
  • Leadership and initiative
  • Communication and facilitation skills
  • Stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills
  • Socio-cultural awareness
  • Efficient, partner- and client-oriented working methods
  • Strategic and interdisciplinary thinking

Expert (2)

Tasks of Expert (2)

• assist preparation of training materials and delivery of technical trainings on international investment agreements and treaty negotiations.
• Contribute to development of negotiation simulations, legal analyses, and technical guidance materials.
• assist preparation and facilitation of preparatory meetings and negotiation assist sessions.
• Formulate the relevant positions papers
• perform legal and policy research on BITs, investment governance, and international investment trends.
• assist analysis of investment treaty provisions (BIT model, negotiating partner’s models etc..), safeguards, and redline formulation.
  Compile and oversee technical documentation and background materials.
• assist preparation of reports, presentations, workshop materials, and knowledge products.
• organize stakeholder engagement activities and logistical arrangements for meetings, trainings, and forums.
• Undertake any additional technical tasks required for successful implementation of the assignment.

Qualifications of Expert (2)

Education/training (2.3.1): Master’s degree in International Law, International Trade, Economics, , , or related fields. Additional certification in investment law, arbitration, treaty negotiations, or economic governance is an advantage.

Language (2.3.2): C2-level proficiency in English. Knowledge of French is an advantage.

General professional experience (2.3.3): Eight (8) years of experience in investment policy, international trade, economic analysis, treaty negotiations, legal analysis, or related fields.

Specific professional experience (2.3.4): Six (6) years of experience in investment governance, BITs, IIAs, ISDS mechanisms, legal analysis, treaty negotiations, research, capacity building activities and participated in investor–State dispute settlement proceedings as advocate or advisor. Experience supporting training programmes, technical assistance initiatives, policy advisory services, or capacity-building activities for governments, regional organizations, or public institutions on matters related to international trade, investment governance, economic integration, and international economic law is highly desirable.

Leadership/management experience (2.3.5): Three (3) years of experience coordinating technical assignments, stakeholder engagement processes, or project activities.

Regional experience (2.3.6): Five (5) years of experience working in Rwanda and/or Africa Continent with knowledge of regional institutions and investment governance frameworks.

Development Cooperation (DC) experience (2.3.7): Three (3) years of experience supporting donor-funded projects, technical assistance programs, or public sector assignments is desirable.

Other (2.3.8): Strong analytical, research, facilitation, and report writing skills. Experience engaging public and private sector stakeholders is desirable

The tenderer must deliver a clear overview of all proposed short-term experts and their individual qualifications.

5. Costing requirements

Assignment of personnel and travel expenses

Per diem allowances are reimbursed as a lump sum up to the maximum amounts permissible under tax law for each country as set out in the country table in the circular from the German Federal Ministry of Finance on travel expense remuneration (downloadable from the German Federal Ministry of Finance – tax treatment of travel expenses and allowances for international business travel as of 1 January 2026 (GERMAN ONLY)).

Accommodation allowances are reimbursed as detailed in the specification of inputs below.

With special justification, additional Accommodation costs up to a reasonable amount can be reimbursed against evidence.

All business travel must be agreed in advance by the officer tasked with the project

Sustainability aspects for travel

GIZ has undertaken an obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 emissions) caused by travel. When preparing your tender, please incorporate options for reducing emissions, such as selecting the lowest-emission booking class (economy) and using means of transport, airlines and flight routes with a higher CO2 efficiency. For short distances, travel by train (second class) or e-mobility should be the preferred option.

CO2 emissions caused by air travel must be offset. GIZ specifies a budget for this, through which the carbon offsets can be settled against evidence.

There are many different providers in the market for emissions certificates, and they have different climate impact ambitions. The Development and Climate Alliance (German only) has published a list of standards (German only). GIZ recommends using the standards specified there.

Specification of inputs

Please describe in your concept how you execute the minimum standards specified above.

6. Inputs of GIZ or other actors

GIZ and other actors are expected to make the following contributions:

7. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToR. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organized in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English.

The complete tender must not exceed 10 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in English 

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

Submission of offer: The Expression of Interest should contain the following:

Technical Proposal: 

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical Proposal (attached template for technical proposal MUST be used)
• Up to date CVs of proposed experts
• Completed Self declaration of eligibility

Financial Proposal: Financial offer indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs as described in the specification of inputs. 

Your EoI has to be submitted in 2 separated emails to RW_Quotation@giz.de until 02/08/2026

1.The technical offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: Technical offer 7000018671

2.The financial offer has to be submitted in PDF format andthe price must be in Rwandan Francs and VAT excluded (if applicable) and as attachment to the email with the subject: Financial offer 7000018671

If the emails exceed the default email size of 30MB, offers can be exceptionally submitted through https://filetransfer.giz.de/

Offers submitted through any other sharing platform, as google documents or similar will not be considered.

Offers submitted in hard copy will not be considered.

GIZ reserves all rights. 

Annex: 

• Technical Proposal template 
• Technical assessment grid 
• Self-declaration of eligibility