Assistance Technique au profit des autorités ivoiriennes pour la coordination dans le Nord de la Côte d'Ivoire

The European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) has issued a call for tenders, identified as EC-INTPA/ABJ/2026/EA-RP/0001, for technical assistance aimed at supporting Ivorian authorities in coordinating activities in northern Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative is part of the Action Approche Territoriale Intégrée dans le Nord de la Côte d’Ivoire (ATINORD) set to begin in 2026, which aims to contribute to the stability of the region through an integrated territorial approach.

The contract has an estimated value of €2,050,000 and spans a maximum duration of 48 months. The specific objectives include: strengthening the governance, management, planning, monitoring, and coordination capacity of the Commission Nationale des Frontières en Côte d'Ivoire (CNFCI), enhancing local authorities' capabilities in these same areas, and implementing logistics for the governance of the ATINORD initiative.

This procurement opportunity is classified as a restricted procedure, requiring a two-stage application process. Service providers must first submit a request to participate by the deadline of 23 February 2026 at 16:00 UTC, showcasing their qualifications. Only those pre-selected will be invited to submit full technical and financial proposals.

The awarding process will prioritize the best price-quality ratio, heavily weighting quality over cost. The tender documents emphasize electronic submissions through the designated eSubmission portal, which supports multiple official EU languages and incorporates extensive technical requirements.

Submissions require a Personal Identification Code (PIC), and while SMEs may participate, the procurement is not specifically targeted at them. Questions raised about eligibility for references, definitions of capacity providers, and consortium member inclusion have been clarified in the tender documentation.

The entire project is financed 100% by EU funds, with no co-funding required. Beneficiaries of the contract will be compensated directly for technical assistance services rendered, which will include capacity building and logistical support without any co-funding obligation. This initiative is critical for enhancing coordination among various governmental and international efforts in Côte d'Ivoire, particularly in the face of existing challenges in the region.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA), has announced a call for tenders, EC-INTPA/ABJ/2026/EA-RP/0001, for technical assistance to support Ivorian authorities in coordinating efforts in northern Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative falls under the Action Approche Territoriale Intégrée dans le Nord de la Côte d’Ivoire (ATINORD), set to begin in 2026, aiming to contribute to the stability of Côte d'Ivoire through an integrated territorial approach within the intervention zone.

The specific objectives of this contract are:

OS 1: To support the capacities and tools of the Commission Nationale des Frontières en Côte d'Ivoire (CNFCI) in governance, management, planning, monitoring, and coordination of actors at the borders.

OS 2: To strengthen the capacities and tools of local authorities (prefectures, sub-prefectures, regional councils) in governance, planning, monitoring, and coordination.

OS 3: To implement logistics for the governance and management of the ATINORD action.

This is a restricted procedure. The estimated total value of the tender is 2,050,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 23/01/2026. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement associated with this tender. The place of delivery or performance is Cote d'Ivoire, specifically identified by the code 20000861. The program associated with this tender is 44995760, Sub-Saharan Africa. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 23/02/2026 at 16:00 Africa/Abidjan time.

The main classification (CPV) code for this tender is 75130000, which refers to supporting services for the government. The nature of the contract is for services.

Submissions must be sent electronically via the designated submission address.

Two documents are available for download: "FRInformations complémentaires sur l’avis de marchéInvitation to submit a request to participate" and "FRFormulaire type de demande de participationInvitation to submit a request to participate," both published on 23/01/2026, Version 1, and without translations.

Several questions and answers related to the tender have been published:

Question 84104: Asks whether references based on grants (EU or EMs) can be considered eligible. The answer refers to footnote 16 of the "Formulaire de demande de participation à un marché de services financé par l'UE / le FED" (annex « b3_req_part_form_fr »). Published on 02/02/2026 at 15:44.

Question 84111: Asks whether an entity presenting itself as a "capacity provider" is permissible. The answer refers to point "17. Critères de sélection" of the "Informations complémentaires concernant l’avis de marché" (annex a5f_additional_information_contract_no...). Published on 02/02/2026 at 15:44.

Question 83909: Asks whether it is permissible to include a member of a consortium for the technical assistance component. The answer clarifies that the "EC-INTPA/ABJ/2026/EA-RP/0001 Assistance Technique ATINORD" is not subdivided into lots and concerns only Specific Objective 1. Published on 28/01/2026 at 15:34.

Regarding the eSubmission system, the following information is provided:

To address system slowness or issues during document upload/download, use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, clear browser cache and cookies.

eSubmission supports the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Refer to the System Requirements link for up-to-date technical recommendations.

The content of the submission is not accessible after the deadline due to system encryption.

Submissions can be found in the Funding & Tenders portal under ‘My Submission(s)’ for open calls for tenders, or in ‘My Area’ for requests to participate in restricted procedures.

Attachments should be less than 50 MB in size.

Attachment names in eSubmission must follow the System Requirements.

The system supports all 24 official EU languages.

The character set encoding is UTF-8.

The system uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information.

Supported file types depend on the type of submission and are specified within the system requirements.

Draft submissions can be viewed, edited, and deleted until the deadline.

A "Legal form: UNKNOWN" display issue in the submission report does not block submission.

An automatic email received after submitting on time, informing about the deadline, does not mean the submission was incorrect.

A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a consortium.

The maximum number of documents allowed per tender submission is 200 files.

This call for tenders focuses on providing technical assistance to the Ivorian authorities to enhance coordination in the northern regions of Côte d'Ivoire. The EU aims to foster stability in the region through an integrated territorial approach. The project seeks to bolster the capacities of both national and local authorities in governance, planning, and coordination, while also ensuring the logistical support necessary for effective project management. The tender is structured as a restricted procedure, meaning that only pre-selected candidates will be invited to submit full proposals. Interested parties must first submit a request to participate by the specified deadline. The tender documents provide detailed information on the eligibility criteria, selection process, and technical requirements for the project. The EU emphasizes electronic submission through the eSubmission portal, and provides detailed guidance on how to use the system, including troubleshooting tips and technical specifications.

Eligible Applicant Types: The provided text does not explicitly define eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender for technical assistance, eligible applicants could include consulting firms, research institutions, NGOs, and other organizations with expertise in governance, management, planning, and coordination, particularly in the context of international development and cooperation. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that registered organizations are the intended applicants.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for "Assistance Technique," and the "Nature of the contract" is explicitly stated as "services."

Consortium Requirement: The text suggests that both single applicants and consortia are possible. The FAQ section mentions that a PIC is mandatory for participation "as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium)."

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is focused on Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), as the project is centered on providing technical assistance to Ivorian authorities in the northern region. The program is part of the "Sub-Saharan Africa" program, suggesting a broader regional focus, but the direct beneficiaries are in Côte d'Ivoire. The call is an "Appel d'Offres Restreint International," implying that international organizations are eligible to apply, provided they meet the criteria.

Target Sector: The target sector is government and public administration, with a focus on governance, border management, and regional development. The specific areas include: Supporting services for the government, Governance, management, planning, monitoring, and coordination of actors at the borders, Capacity building for local authorities in governance, planning, monitoring, and coordination, Logistics for governance and piloting of the ATINORD action.

Mentioned Countries: Côte d'Ivoire.

Project Stage: The project stage is implementation and support. The call is for technical assistance to support an existing action (ATINORD) that will start in 2026. The focus is on strengthening capacities, providing tools, and implementing logistics, indicating a move beyond the initial research or development phases.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 2,050,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is a restricted call for tenders. The submission method is electronic and open for submission.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services in the form of technical assistance. This includes capacity building, provision of tools, and logistical support.

Application Stages: The provided text does not explicitly state the number of application stages. However, as a "restricted procedure," it typically involves at least two stages: a request to participate (assessing eligibility) and a full tender submission (assessing the technical and financial offer).

Success Rates: The provided text does not include information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a restricted call for tenders (EC-INTPA/ABJ/2026/EA-RP/0001) issued by the European Commission, INTPA - International Partnerships, for the provision of technical assistance to Ivorian authorities in the northern region of Côte d'Ivoire. The tender, with an estimated total value of 2,050,000 EUR, falls under the "Action Approche Territoriale Intégrée dans le Nord de la Côte d’Ivoire (ATINORD)" and aims to contribute to the stability of Côte d’Ivoire through an integrated territorial approach. The objectives are to support the Commission Nationale des Frontières en Côte d'Ivoire (CNFCI) and local authorities in governance, management, planning, monitoring, and coordination. The contract duration is 48 months. Submissions must be electronic, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 23/02/2026 at 16:00 Africa/Abidjan time. The call is open to international organizations, and a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a single applicant or as part of a consortium. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The selected contractor will provide services, including capacity building, tools, and logistical support. The eSubmission system supports multiple languages and encrypts uploaded documents. The maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB, and up to 200 files can be uploaded per tender.