Local Content and Regional Integration Scorecard

This scorecard evaluates how much a project contributes to the local economy and the broader AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) goals. It is essential for demonstrating “Value Add” to regional governments and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

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Project sector

Manufacturing, extractive and productive industries
Service, Digital & Knowledge-Intensive Enterprise
Consultancy, Advisory & Capacity Building / Training Organizations
Hard Infrastructure Asset

Project Information

Project Name : *

Project Sponsor : *

Country of Implementation *

Contact Person's Name : *

Contact Person's Email : *

Contact Person's Telephone number *

Pillar 1: Local Content & Economic Multiplier

1. Management & Technical Employment *

Less than 10% local management; no formal succession or training plan.
10% to 40% local management; internal policy for skills transfer exists.
Greater than 50% local management; existence of a certified, funded skills transfer program (e.g., AfroSkills).

What percentage of management and high-skill technical roles are held by local nationals ?

2. SME Procurement & Supply Chain Integration *

Procurement is handled globally; less than 5% local SME spend.
Local procurement policy exists; 5% to 20% spend on non-core local services.
Binding 30%+ procurement spend on core and non-core services from certified local SMEs.

What percentage of the total procurement spend is directed toward verified local Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) ?

3. Industrial Value Addition *

Zero local processing (Direct export of raw ore, gas, or agricultural crops).
Primary processing only (e.g., cleaning, drying, or basic sorting).
Secondary or Tertiary processing (e.g., Refining, Smelting, or Manufacturing) occurs locally.

To what extent is the raw material processed within the host country before export ?

Pillar 2: Regional Integration & AfCFTA Alignment

4. Regional Feedstock & Sourcing *

100% of technical inputs/feedstock are imported from outside the African continent.
10% to 30% regional sourcing; identification of potential African suppliers.
Over 40% Regional Value Chain integration; active sourcing from AfCFTA partners.

What percentage of project inputs/feedstock is sourced from neighboring African (AfCFTA) countries?

5. Regional Market Penetration & Financial Integration *

Domestic Enclave: Focus is exclusively on the domestic market; there is no formal strategy for regional exports or use of cross-border payment platforms.
Emerging Exporter: A formal regional export strategy is documented; the project has identified specific regional distributors or cross-border offtakers but has not yet commenced high-volume trade.
Continental Trader: The project generates active, documented revenue from multiple African markets and utilizes the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) or regional clearing houses to settle cross-border transactions.

Select the option that best represents the extent to which the your revenue model is integrated into the regional African market and the Pan-African financial infrastructure

6. Infrastructure Connectivity & Regional Integration *

Isolated Enclave: The project utilizes "Pit-to-Port" or dedicated, closed-loop infrastructure that bypasses national or regional networks with zero benefit to the local utility grid or transport system.
Socially Integrated: The project shares its essential infrastructure (e.g., access roads, water pipelines, or power captive plants) with the immediate host community or local municipality.
Regionally Interconnected: The project provides a direct, documented contribution to a regional transport corridor or is fully synchronized with a Regional Power Pool (e.g., WAPP or SAPP) for cross-border energy/logistics trade.

Select the option that best represents the extent to which project’s physical or utility infrastructure interfaces with national and regional networks

Pillar 3: Knowledge & Institutional Strength

7. Intellectual Property (IP) Sovereignty & Technology Transfer *

Foreign Dependency: Core technology is 100% foreign-owned "Black Box" IP with no local access to underlying technical data and no provisions for local R&D or IP rights.
Licensed Participation: The project operates under a formal local licensing agreement with the foreign owner, including a structured program for local staff to handle specialized maintenance, repair, and operational troubleshooting.
African Ownership/Co-Development: The core IP is either wholly owned by an African entity or has been co-developed through a documented partnership with a localized R&D center or African research institution.

Select the option that best describes the extent to which the project's core technology and intellectual property (IP) is embedded within or owned by African entities ?

8. Technical Standardization & Continental Harmonization *

Standard Isolation: No alignment with African regional standards; the project relies exclusively on foreign or proprietary "internal" standards that lack local or regional accreditation.
National Compliance: The project has adopted and is certified under the host country's National Standards and maintains a documented Quality Management System (QMS).
Continental Harmonization: The project has achieved Full ARSO (African Organisation for Standardisation) Certification, ensuring that its outputs meet harmonized continental requirements for seamless AfCFTA trade.

Select the option that best describes the degree to which the project adopts harmonized African technical standards to ensure product/service compatibility for cross-border trade.

Pillar 1: Local Knowledge Capital & Economic Multiplier

1. Leadership, Specialized Talent & High-Skill Employment *

Less than 20% local executive/expert leadership; operations rely primarily on foreign expatriates or outsourced international teams with no structured skills transfer plan.
20% to 50% local leadership; internal policies exist for talent mentoring, capacity building, and localized professional development.
Greater than 50% local leadership; existence of a certified, structured, and funded human capital/upskilling program (e.g., AfroSkills platform integration) to cultivate specialized local talent.

What percentage of executive leadership, software engineering, domain experts, and senior consultant roles are held by local African professionals?

2. Local Service Supply Chain & Subcontracting *

Procurement is managed globally; less than 10% of OpEx is spent on local service providers or domestic SMEs.
Local procurement policy exists; 10% to 30% of non-core administrative and professional services are sourced from local firms.
Binding 35%+ spend on core and non-core technical, legal, digital, and advisory services from certified local/regional SMEs.

What percentage of the operational expenditure (OpEx)—such as local cloud hosting, legal, accounting, marketing, data collection, and sub-consulting—is directed toward verified local/regional service providers and SMEs?

3. Intellectual Value Addition & Knowledge Creation *

Zero local adaptation; direct white-label import or global replication of foreign service frameworks with no local contextualization.
Primary adaptation; basic localization (e.g., language translation, minor regional case study adjustments).
Secondary/Tertiary value addition; proprietary methodology, algorithm, curriculum, or service blueprint engineered locally to address specific African structural challenges.

To what extent is the core service methodology, digital framework, research, or content developed and customized locally rather than simply imported/repackaged?

Pillar 2: Regional Digital & Service Integration under AfCFTA

4. Regional Cross-Border Service Delivery & Talent Sourcing *

100% of external service inputs and technical expertise are imported from outside the African continent.
10% to 30% regional talent integration; identification and onboarding of consultants/providers across neighboring African states.
Over 40% Regional Value Chain (RVC) service integration; active cross-border mobilization of African experts and service partners under AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.

What percentage of project personnel, associate consultants, or platform service providers are sourced from neighboring African (AfCFTA) member states?

5. Cross-Border Revenue Monetization & Pan-African Financial Integration *

(Domestic Enclave): Focus is exclusively on the domestic market; no strategy for regional expansion or cross-border payment integration.
(Emerging Regional Exporter): Documented regional expansion strategy; pilot clients or regional delivery partners identified, but low transaction volumes.
(Continental Service Provider): Active, documented revenue from multiple African markets utilizing the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) or regional digital payment rails for cross-border settlement.

Select the option that best represents the extent to which your digital/service revenue model is integrated into regional African markets and financial systems:

6. Digital Infrastructure & Regional Platform Interoperability *

(Isolated System): Proprietary, standalone system that does not interface with national databases, local fintech ecosystems, or regional digital networks.
(Nationally Integrated): Integrated with host-country infrastructure (e.g., local mobile money networks, national educational or health registries).
(Regionally Interconnected): Fully interoperable digital platform built on open APIs, connected to regional data exchanges, Pan-African platforms (e.g., Kalan-Sira LMS, Maarifa), or multi-country cloud corridors.

Select the option that best represents the degree to which your digital platform or service architecture integrates with national and regional ecosystems:

Pillar 3: Intellectual Property & Continental Harmonization

7. IP Sovereignty, Code & Data Ownership *

(Foreign Dependency): Core IP, code, or data architecture is 100% foreign-owned with zero local ownership or access rights.
(Licensed Regional Rights): Operates under a formal licensing agreement with a foreign IP holder, with structured rights for regional customization and management.
(African Ownership / Open Innovation): Core IP, codebase, or methodology is wholly owned by an African entity or co-developed in formal partnership with African universities, innovation hubs, or research institutes.

Select the option that best describes the ownership and hosting of the initiative's intellectual property (IP), software source code, proprietary algorithms, and data:

8. Professional Accreditation & Continental Standards Harmonization *

(Unaccredited / Non-Aligned): Reliance on proprietary or unaccredited standards with no alignment to national or regional professional bodies.
(National Certification): Fully certified by host country’s national accreditation bodies (e.g., national ISO branch, data protection authority, higher education board).
(Continental Harmonization): Achieved recognition under African regional standards (e.g., ARSO, AfCFTA digital trade protocols, regional professional association certifications).

Select the option that best describes the degree to which your service or platform aligns with harmonized African professional, quality, or technical standards:

Corridor Institutional

Pillar 1: Local Knowledge Capital & Human Talent Development

1. Leadership, Specialized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) & Management *

Less than 20% local management or expert staff; heavy reliance on foreign consultants or international parent companies with no formal skills transfer or succession plan.
20% to 50% local management and expert staff; internal policy for local talent mentorship and capacity building active.
Greater than 50% local leadership and expert staff; existence of a certified, funded skills transfer program (e.g., integrated with the AfroSkills platform).

What percentage of senior advisory, instructional design, executive leadership, and technical consulting roles are held by local African nationals?

2. Local Service Supply Chain & SME Procurement Spend *

Global or centralized procurement; less than 10% of operational service spend is directed to local SMEs.
Local procurement policy exists; 10% to 30% of non-core administrative and professional service spend goes to verified local providers.
Binding 35%+ procurement spend on core technical, advisory, digital, and operational services sourced from certified local/regional SMEs.

What percentage of operational and technical service expenditure (e.g., local research, software engineering, venue sourcing, legal, logistics, and data collection) is directed toward verified local Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)?

3. Intellectual Value Addition & Methodology Localization *

Zero local adaptation; direct off-the-shelf import or unadjusted white-label replication of foreign methodologies or training programs.
Primary adaptation; basic contextualization (e.g., translating materials, incorporating local case studies, or modifying examples).
Secondary/Tertiary value addition; proprietary methodology, learning architecture, or advisory model engineered locally to address specific African market, policy (e.g., AfCFTA), or economic realities.

To what extent are advisory frameworks, training curricula, diagnostic toolkits, and software algorithms engineered or customized locally to solve African structural challenges?

Pillar 2: Regional Integration & AfCFTA Trade in Services

4. Regional Talent Sourcing & Cross-Border Service Value Chains *

100% of external advisory inputs or technical expertise are imported from outside the African continent.
10% to 30% regional talent integration; active identification and onboarding of experts across neighboring African countries.
Over 40% Regional Value Chain (RVC) integration; active cross-border deployment of African experts under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.

What percentage of associate consultants, faculty trainers, researchers, or digital content creators are sourced from neighboring African (AfCFTA) member states?

5. Cross-Border Service Monetization & Pan-African Financial Clearing *

(Domestic Enclave): Service focus is exclusively domestic; no strategy or operational capability for cross-border delivery or payment settlement.
(Emerging Regional Service Exporter): Documented regional strategy; pilot contracts or corporate clients identified in neighboring African states, but transaction volume remains low.
(Continental Service Provider): Active, documented revenue generated across multiple African markets, utilizing the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) or regional central bank-approved clearing houses for cross-border transactions.

Select the option that best represents the extent to which your advisory or educational revenue model is integrated into regional African markets and financial infrastructure:

6. Platform Interoperability & Regional Digital Networks *

(Isolated Platform): Closed, standalone system that does not interface with national databases, regional digital networks, or local telecom rails.
(Socially/Nationally Integrated): Integrated with domestic utility/telecom infrastructure (e.g., national mobile money rails, local university networks).
(Regionally Interconnected): Fully interoperable digital architecture connected to regional data exchanges, Pan-African platforms (e.g., Kalan-Sira LMS, Maarifa platform), or multi-country cloud corridors.

Select the option that best represents the degree to which your digital platform, learning management system (LMS), or advisory data tools interface with national and regional networks:

Pillar 3: Knowledge Sovereignty & Continental Standardization

7. Intellectual Property (IP) Sovereignty & Knowledge Co-Development *

(Foreign Dependency): Core advisory methodologies, software code, or curricula are 100% foreign-owned with zero local IP access or co-development rights.
(Licensed Regional Rights): Operates under a formal licensing agreement with foreign IP owners, featuring structured rights for local adaptation and regional delivery.
(African Ownership/Co-Development): Core IP, codebase, or methodology is wholly owned by an African entity or co-developed in formal partnership with African universities, regional research institutes, or incubators (e.g., Rabawa incubator).

Select the option that best describes the ownership and institutional grounding of your organization's core IP, courseware, or advisory frameworks:

8. Professional Accreditation & Technical Harmonization *

(Standard Isolation): Reliance on unaccredited or foreign internal standards with no alignment to national or regional professional accreditation bodies.
(National Compliance): Fully certified by host country’s national accreditation authority (e.g., Higher Education Board, National TVET Authority, ISO branch).
(Continental Harmonization): Certified or recognized under regional/continental frameworks (e.g., ARSO standards, AfCFTA digital trade protocols, African regional credit-transfer systems).

Select the option that best describes the degree to which your advisory or training services align with harmonized continental quality standards:

Pillar 1: Domestic Industrialization & In-Country Procurement

1. Local Procurement & Material Sourcing *

Over 90% imported materials and equipment; no formal local vendor procurement strategy or tracking.
Written Local Procurement Policy targeting 20–35% domestic spend; manual tracking of local sub-contracts.
Binding Local Procurement Plan (>35% enforced spend) with a digital vendor audit trail and contractual local content commitments for EPC contractors.

What documentary evidence demonstrates the utilization of domestic raw materials, capital goods, and local suppliers during construction and operations?

2. Domestic Manufacturing & In-Country Value Creation *

Pure import-and-assemble model; no domestic manufacturing, fabrication, or processing integration.
Secondary local sourcing of basic construction materials (e.g., aggregate, cement, timber) without tech transfer.
Formal Joint Ventures (JVs) or long-term off-take agreements with local manufacturers/fabricators; active technology transfer protocols.

To what extent does the infrastructure project stimulate local processing, manufacturing, or secondary supplier industries?

Pillar 2: Human Capital Development & Community Inclusion

3. Local Workforce & Technical Skills Transfer *

Basic compliance with national minimum labor laws; management and specialized engineering roles are exclusively expatriate.
Written Workforce Localization Plan; >50% local employment across construction staff; structured apprenticeships.
Over 80% total local workforce including >40% local management/engineering leadership; funded, accredited technical skills transfer programs (e.g., AfroSkills/institutional partnerships).

What documentary evidence exists regarding local employment targets, specialized technical training, and managerial representation?

4. SME Equity, Community Ownership & Economic Inclusion *

No local equity participation or dedicated SME development initiatives.
Informal SME sub-contracting targets; basic corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in surrounding communities.
Formal Community Benefit Agreement (CBA); ring-fenced equity or revenue-sharing allocation for local/indigenous groups; ring-fenced SME supplier development program.

How does the project structure integrate local businesses, host communities, and marginalized demographic groups (women, youth)?

Pillar 3: Regional Trade Integration & AfCFTA Corridor Alignment

5. Cross-Border Trade & Corridor Connectivity *

Isolated municipal or purely local asset serving no cross-border or regional trade functions.
Strategic positioning along a recognized regional transport, energy, or logistics corridor; preliminary multi-country demand study.
Direct Integration into an AfCFTA Cross-Border Trade Corridor (e.g., Regional Power Pool, Multi-National Highway, Cross-Border Port/Rail Terminal) with formal regional alignment.

How is the infrastructure asset physically and strategically positioned to accelerate cross-border trade and regional market integration?

6. Policy Harmonization, Interoperability & Customs Efficiency *

No alignment with regional economic community (REC) frameworks (e.g., ECOWAS, SADC, EAC, ECCAS).
Alignment letters or MoUs signed with cross-border municipal or national line ministries.
Enacted Multi-Sovereign Agreement / Inter-State Treaty; standardized digital clearance interfaces; automated cross-border transit/utility frameworks.

What structures are in place to ensure seamless cross-border regulatory compliance, operational interoperability, and single-window clearances?

Your Project's Local Content & Regional Integration score is

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