Recruitment of Two (2) Study Consultants for ECCAS and SADC Regions

Mapping Study to support the development of a Strategic Framework for the ADEA Inter-Country Quality Node on Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICQN-HESR)

Deadline for submissions is Monday, March 16th, 2020 at midnight (12:00am) GMT to the following address: adea-applications@afdb.org. The subject of the e-mail should be “Mapping Study for ICQN-HESR Strategic Framework Development”.

I. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is a voice for education transformation in Africa, a forum for policy dialogue and true partnership between African Ministers of Education and Training and technical and financial partners, and a key player in capacity development of African countries.

ADEA has championed the establishment of 10 thematic Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) that promote peer learning and sharing of experiences and best practices among countries facing similar challenges and strategic partners with expertise in specific areas. 

ICQNs bring together representatives of Ministries of Education from different countries and education experts to create a network of actors around a central thematic issue. Countries learn from shared experiences to improve their own education policies and practices.

Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation hosts ADEA’s ICQN on Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICQN-HESR), launched in 2018 in Dakar to advance higher education and quality scientific research in Africa. Senegal is a member of the CESA[1] Higher Education Cluster, and H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, is the current Chair of the Committee of Ten (C10) African Heads of State and Government Champions for Education, Science and Technology.

This ICQN will focus, among other things, on researchers and their professional development, students’ success, partnerships and the creation of a conducive environment for quality research and innovation development.

As part of defining the strategic direction and focus of ICQN-HESR, ADEA and the host Ministry will organize a technical workshop to develop the ICQN’s strategic framework in the second quarter of this year. This strategic framework will subsequently guide the ICQN’s operationalization, in particular through the development of an annual action plan in line with ADEA’s Strategic Plan 2018 - 2022 and orientated to key continental blue prints such as Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25) and the Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024. The work of the ICQN will also contribute to the achievement of the global goals, particularly Goal 4 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda on education.[2]

In preparation for the technical workshop, the ICQN has planned a preliminary mapping study of Africa’s higher education and scientific research landscape to inform the development of the ICQN Strategic Framework. Higher education and scientific research challenges take into account national, regional and continental realities as well as young people’s issues like matching education and training with labour market demand. The regional studies will be cognizant of the recent phenomenon of the industrialization of African countries and the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), as well as the current move to address global climate change.

The ADEA Secretariat jointly with ICQN-HESR wishes to recruit Two (2) consultants who will be responsible for carrying out a general inventory of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the ECCAS[3] and SADC[4] regional economic communities. This inventory will lead to the development of the ICQN strategic framework during a technical workshop to be held in Dakar.

Outcomes of the consultants’ work will be presented and validated during a feedback workshop in the presence of experts, country representatives, technical and financial partners and ADEA representatives under the auspices of Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in the second part of May 2020.

II. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The general objective is to make a general inventory of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the continent’s different regions to inform the ICQN’s Strategic Framework development for the next three (3) years. 

III. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives are to:

  1. Provide information on the strengths and weaknesses of the current higher education and scientific research systems in each African region; 
  2. Provide information on current good practices in higher education and scientific research that could be shared among member countries;
  3. Revisit the various specific objectives of the ICQN, as outlined in the ICQN concept note[5], to see if the they are relevant and achievable in each African region;
  4. Propose other possible important and achievable specific objectives that are not listed in the concept note; 
  5. Outline broad guidelines in terms of the ICQN’s Strategic Initiatives for the next three (3) years, the means of achieving them as well as the precise expected outcomes at national, regional and/or continental level aligned to the ADEA Strategic plan (2018-2022).

IV. DELIVERABLES FOR EACH CONSULTANT 

  1. A working timeline covering the entire consultation period;
  2. A report that includes:
    1. A situational analysis of each region’s higher education and scientific research context;
    2. Findings of the study and strategic guidelines for the ICQN; 
    3. A map of the technical and financial partners engaged in higher education and scientific research in the consultant’s own region (i.e. activities, themes addressed, commitment, etc.);
  3. Presentation of the draft regional reports during a two-day technical validation workshop to be held in Dakar;
  4. Final regional reports sent to ADEA Secretariat and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Senegal 

A synthesis report based on the regional reports will be produced and used to inform the development of the Strategic Framework of the ICQN in a separate workshop. 

V. CONSULTANT’S PROFILE

A Senior Expert with a minimum of seven years of proven experience in higher education and scientific research in Africa, and having already done similar work. 

  • Sound knowledge of higher education, scientific research, and innovation issues within the continent;
  • Experience working with ADEA, AfDB and the African Union or a reputable research institution will be an asset; 
  • Fluency in English and/or French and excellent writing skills; 
  • Experience in developing strategic documents; 
  • Experience in regional analysis or research;
  • Sound ICT knowledge.

VI. TIMELINE 

ADEA Secretariat will determine the precise work schedule with the successful consultants. The entire process will run from the beginning of March until mid-April 2020.

VII. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applications (CV and Cover letter) must be sent to adea-applications@afdb.org no later than Monday, March 16th, 2020 at midnight (12:00am) GMT. The subject of the e-mail should be “Mapping Study for ICQN-HESR Strategic Framework Development”.

Due to the high volume of applications, only selected candidates will be contacted through a formal correspondence via e-mail. Please do not contact ADEA or staff members to enquire about the status of your application.


Duty Station: in-country 

 


[1] The African Union's Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025

[2] Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

[3] Economic Community of Central African States

[4] Southern African Development Community

[5] Document to be transmitted to the selected consultant