Danemarca – Servicii de consultanţă în gestiune financiară – Fund Manager for The Fund for African-Danish Relations through mutual Exchange of Culture and Arts (ARCH)

The Fund for African-Danish Relations through mutual ExChange of Culture and the Arts (ARCH) is Denmark’s initiative to strengthen equitable, long-term cultural partnerships with countries in Africa where Denmark is represented through an Embassy or a Consulate General, or in special cases, in other African countries where projects may be considered to be of particular importance. It is a four-year program anchored in Denmark’s Development Policy Strategy “A Changing World – Partnerships in Development” and its “Africa’s Century” strategy. ARCH is implemented through a dedicated Fund Manager (FM). The FM will be responsible for day-to-day implementation and must ensure full compliance with MFA’s principles and requirements for results-based management and financial accountability, as defined in the Aid Management Guidelines (AMG) for bilateral programmes and projects and Financial Management Guidelines (FMG). The contract period runs from August 2026 to December 2030. ARCH positions culture and the arts as a development end in itself based on the intrinsic value of culture for societies, communities and individuals and its ability to foster mutual understanding and appreciation for a diversity of cultural expressions and cultural heritage. At the same time, ARCH is also a strategic tool for contributing to a wide range of sustainable development goals and Danish development priorities related to areas such as promoting innovation, social cohesion and inclusive economic growth, and fostering intercultural dialogue and strengthened diplomatic relations that can bring about mutual benefits. ARCH is implemented in countries in Africa, where Denmark is represented through an embassy. At present, these include Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and South Africa. In special cases, projects in other African countries may be considered if they demonstrate an extraordinary ability to achieve the objective of ARCH or are considered to be of particular importance. The purpose of ARCH is: To invest in matching Danish and African culture creators and producers to develop commercial, technical and institutional relationships that facilitate mutual learning and sustainable structures generating jobs and social and economic benefits. The objective of ARCH is: Advancing equal people-to-people engagements in culture and the arts that contribute to sustainable cultural development, creates jobs, and social and economic benefits in African partner countries. ARCH is divided into three tiers of support and in addition offers travel/residency grants. The project is built on three overall outcomes: Outcome 1 - Inclusive and equitable cultural partnerships: Strengthening the quality, diversity, and sustainability of collaboration through grant support and dedicated mentorship. This outcome seeks to move beyond transactional funding by fostering genuine, long-term relationships rooted in reciprocity and mutual benefit. Outcome 2 - Mutual recognition and visibility: Enhancing awareness and public diplomacy through high-profile cultural initiatives and strategic communication. This outcome aims to challenge stereotypes and create more nuanced public narratives about contemporary African and Danish societies. Outcome 3 - Learning and exchange: Learning from cultural exchange that deepen and strengthen political cooperation between African partner countries and Denmark. This outcome positions culture as a vital space for discussing complex societal issues and exploring innovative solutions. A core premise of the ARCH project is a deliberate departure from traditional donor-recipient relationships. The principle of equal partnership is the foundational philosophy that must guide every aspect of the FM's work. The FM is expected to champion a model based on reciprocity, mutual learning, co-creation, and shared ownership. This means prioritizing African voices and perspectives in project design and decision-making, ensuring that partnerships are guided by shared interests and mutual benefit, and fostering an environment of trust, transparency, and respect where all partners have an equal stake in the outcomes. The FM modality will ensure independent, arm’s-length grant administration; proactive outreach to cultural actors, including new and underrepresented actors, proactive outreach to cultural actors; and strengthened capacity and learning across the portfolio. The FM will bring in sectoral expertise, transparent grant-making systems, and agile implementation in a decentralised context. The FM is expected to mitigate fiduciary risks, promote equitable partnerships, and ensure value for money through consolidated financial, monitoring, and grant support functions. In addition to being fund administrator, the FM will also serve as a strategic partner to the Department for Africa, Development Policy and Financing (AFRPOL) of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing professionalized support that aligns with ARCH’s ambition of inclusive, equitable, and co-created cultural cooperation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Access to the procurement procedure requires online registration. Guidance (in Danish and English) on the use of the tendering system can be found at: https://mercell.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/3/article/177996038?src=1869524006. Economic operators may only submit one application (request to Participate) or tender. Economic operators must submit a European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) as preliminary evidence, that the economic operator is not subject to exclusion grounds and that the economic operator fulfils the requirements for economic and financial standing and technical and professional ability. When the economic operator is participating together with others or if the economic operator relies on the capacity of other entities, each participating economic operator must provide a separate ESPD. In Part III.A-C of the ESPD, economic operators must answer whether they are subject to exclusion grounds, listed in section 2.1.6 of this contract notice. An economic operator is not required to answer whether it is subject to purely national exclusion grounds, cf. Part III.D of the ESPD. The contracting authority has a maximum budget of DKK 30,000,000 net of VAT in relation to the procurement. Tenders will be rejected if they exceed the contracting authority's maximum budget. Economic operators will not receive remuneration for their participation in the procedure. ARCH is implemented in countries in Africa, where Denmark is represented through an embassy. At present, these include Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and South Africa. In special cases, projects in other African countries may be considered if they demonstrate an extraordinary ability to achieve the objective of ARCH or are considered to be of particular importance. Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen Actions regarding requests to participate and selection must be submitted within 20 calendar days from the day after the contracting authority has notified the economic operators of the decisions regarding selection. Other actions regarding the procedure (e.g. decisions regarding award of contract) must be submitted within 45 calendar days from the day after the publication of a contract award notice in the Official Journal of the EU. Complaint guidelines (in English) can be found at: https://naevneneshus.dk/media/u42g3exz/complaint-guidelines.pdf. Consultancy Agreement for Fund Management regarding Fund Manager for The Fund for African-Danish Relations through mutual Exchange of Culture and Arts (ARCH) Klagenævnet for Udbud In the tender, economic operators must submit a completed and signed statement regarding Article 5k(1) of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, as amended by Council Regulation (EU) No 2023/1214 of 23 June 2023. The contract cannot be awarded to a tenderer subject to Article 5k(1) of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014, as amended by Council Regulation (EU) No 2023/1214 of 23 June 2023. Before the time limit for receipt of tenders, the candidates, which the contracting authority has invited to tender, must present documentation of the information provided in the ESPD. The contracting authority can accept the following documentation in relation to the exclusion grounds in sections 135(1), 135(3) and 137(1)(2) of the Danish Public Procurement Act (in order of priority): (1) Extracts from the relevant register or similar documents issued by a competent judicial or administrative authority or certificates issued by the competent authority in the country referred to as documentation that the tenderer is not subject to the grounds for exclusion stipulated in sections 135(1), 135(3) and 137(1)(2); (2) A declaration on oath (only if such extracts, certificates or similar documents are not issued in the country where the economic operator is established, or where the documentation does not cover all the grounds for exclusion stipulated in sections 135(1), 135(3) and 137(1)(2) entirely); (3) A solemn declaration made by the person concerned before a competent judicial or administrative authority, a notary or a competent professional or trade body, in the country of origin or in the country where the economic operator is established (only if there is no provision for declarations on oath in the country where the economic operator is established). Thus, the contracting authority cannot accept e.g. a solemn declaration made before a notary if there can be issued a certificate by the competent authority in the country where the economic operator is established. Moreover, the contracting authority cannot accept self-declarations or similar declarations issued by the economic operator or the person concerned as documentation in relation to the exclusion grounds. Economic operators can identify the relevant documentation using the online platform e-Certis: https://ec.europa.eu/tools/ecertis. If an economic operator is entered on an official list of approved economic operators or has an equivalent certificate (e.g. under a national (pre)qualification system), the economic operator may refer to the list in question or present a certificate issued by the competent authority instead of documentation of the information provided in the ESPD. When an economic operator is participating in the procurement procedure together with others, the economic operator must present a joint statement from all the participating economic operators which identifies the member of the group who can act as an agent on behalf of the group with mandate to establish a legal obligation on behalf of the group in relation to the contracting authority. Economic operators are encouraged to submit all necessary documentation as early as possible. Prior to the signing of the contract, the tenderer, which the contracting authority has awarded the contract to, must present statements of availability from all non-permanent staff (e.g. project specific consultants or freelance consultants). This contract has not been divided into lots, cf. section II.1.6), due to market and economic considerations. Price Quality Fund Manager for The Fund for African-Danish Relations through mutual Exchange of Culture and Arts (ARCH) The following sub-criteria was used for the evaluation: Technical Approach and Methodology (20%) Work plan and Organisation (16%) Quality Assurance and BIMP (4%) Qualifications and Competence of Head of Secretariat (30%) Qualifications and Competence of Senior Administration and Financial Management Specialist (15%) Qualifications and Competence of Senior Culture and Arts Specialist (15%) Mercell Holding ASA The procurement procedure is governed by Danish law and the rules applicable hereunder, specifically the Danish Public Procurement Act. Action Aid Denmark The contracting authority evaluated the price of the remaining tenders on the basis of the Contract Price as defined in the Agreement and quoted in Appendix 3 and awarded a numerical score on a scale from 0 to 8. The tender with the lowest price was awarded a score of 8 points and the other remaining tenders was awarded points using the following formula: Points = lowest price * 8 / price DNK 01 2026-08-17Z part-req Askekroken 11 [email eliminat] Toldboden 2 Copenhagen N none 18243717 Copenhagen https://www.kfst.dk [telefon eliminat] [telefon eliminat] price 8800 29608960 13 Viborg large 12:38:30+00:00 anyw DK041 CON-0001 quality 32014L0024 per-exa 3 79412[telefon eliminat]Z KEN can-standard 3[telefon eliminat]Z 6e91b98e-9dd9-412f-9edd-053b6a333c50 SEN 20 https://naevneneshus.dk/start-din-klage/klagenaevnet-for-udbud/ MAR 37795526 29 43271911 TEN-[telefon eliminat] eforms-sdk-1.13 RES-[telefon eliminat] DZA [email eliminat] services SOM 0277 2.3 Asiatisk Plads 2 [email eliminat] ETH TZA ActionAid Denmark as Fund Manager for ARCH cga econ-aff ted-esen 10294819 12:01:58+00:00 GHA Ida Dietz Elmstrøm selec-w DK011 [telefon eliminat] ORG-0003 ORG-[telefon eliminat]+00:00 ORG-0005 anyw-cou 158/2026 RWA ORG-[telefon eliminat] ORG-0002 https://um.dk/en/danida Oslo DKK 2026-08-14Z 07acb288-6d5c-4bf1-9eff-aefd92a854bb [telefon eliminat] NO081 NGA no-eu-funds NOR 2026-08-18+02:00 6c045aca-7778-4d02-8b37-b2937de8797c-01 true ENG 0f5a7bb0-6264-4066-80e7-7428289652ed eSender no Africa, Development, Policy, and Financing (AFRPOL) http://mercell.com/ Fælledvej 12 7512c90e-2476-4fef-922a-91fd5ff1491b LOT-[telefon eliminat] TPA-0001 Carl Jacobsens Vej 35 false [email eliminat] TUN https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2025/116 UGA 1448 Valby [telefon eliminat] tenders restricted EGY DC3409 80 ZAF