ADEA Overview

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is a critical voice of education in Africa that seeks to empower African countries to transform schooling to meaningful learning. ADEA achieves its goal through its continental-level work and country-focused support using the thematic-based Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) – communities of practice for peer learning, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing. Its vision is to create “a high-quality education and training system for accelerated sustainable development of Africa.” ADEA’s mission therefore is to “serve as an open and flexible pan-African organization that informs and facilitates the transformation of education and training systems for resilience, human capital development, and youth empowerment in Africa.”  

Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge (ESDC) Project Overview 

Africa faces a data crisis in education and skills. Since the Education For All (EFA) 2000 and transcending subsequent major global and continental frameworks (MDGs, SDG4, AU Second Decade of Education for Africa 2006-2015, Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025), the availability of quality education and skills data for informed decision making has been a perennial challenge in many African countries. This is in terms of evidence-based research, policy, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of impact. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, especially for the education sector. In many African countries, the education sector did not contribute significant comprehensive data to inform change in policy and practice responses regarding continued remote education and reopening of learning institutions.

Due to the above-identified challenges, ADEA is partnering with the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) in a five-year project, “Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenge (ESDC)”, to strengthen the capacity of up to 30 African countries “to produce, report and utilize quality data on education and skills for informed decision making in policy, planning, programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of impact.”  

This initiative is expected to achieve the following objectives: 

• Create an appetite for leadership to demand quality education and skills data. This will result in a shift in the decision-making approach to be more evidence-based.
• Strengthen the capacity of the Ministries of Education in the selected African countries to use quality data to reform their education sectors to provide quality education and skills to the youth.
• Provide a platform for peer learning, knowledge exchange and experience sharing among African countries on the production, management, and use of data on education and skills.
• Build regional peer learning for greater coordination and planning in education at regional level.
• Develop a roadmap for scaling up the 30-country experience to other African countries.

As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen national capacities, a comprehensive needs assessment and capacity-building strategy has been developed. To bring this action plan to life, ADEA is seeking a dynamic and experienced in-country institution to support the Ministry of Education in the ESDC project countries in the implementation of impactful capacity-strengthening interventions, based on the agreed action plan, for sustainable growth in education and skills data production and use.

Scope of work

The work assigned to the in-country institution is aligned with the objectives outlined in the country's capacity-building action plan. The selected in-country institution will collaborate with the Ministry of Education in the respective country in implementing this action plan. The specific responsibilities include the following:

• Design and develop comprehensive modules to enhance the country's capacity in the specified areas in the action plan.
• Collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education to organize and facilitate all required capacity strengthening sessions, including practical workshops and mentorship programmes.
• Provide quarterly progress reports on the quality and effectiveness of the capacity-strengthening sessions delivered by experts.

Deliverables

1. Capacity strengthening modules (including in different formats such as PowerPoint slides, tutorial guides or explainer videos, e-learning modules, etc.)
2. Videos of key sessions, workshops, and mentorship activities.
3. Quarterly progress reports including outputs as defined in the country action plan.
4. Final capacity-building implementation and financial (including liquidations) reports.

Methodology 

ADEA suggests that the implementation of the capacity-strengthening action plan be conducted in a highly participatory manner, ensuring active inclusion and engagement of all relevant stakeholders. This collaborative approach will foster ownership, inclusivity, and alignment with local needs and priorities. To achieve meaningful and sustainable impact, the following key principles may guide the process:

• Result-oriented approach
  Every activity will be designed with clear, measurable output, ensuring that the initiative delivers tangible improvements in education and skills data production and utilization.
• Flexibility
  The methodology will remain adaptable to evolving needs, challenges, and opportunities, allowing for real-time adjustments to maximize effectiveness and relevance.
• Gender Sensitivity
  A gender-responsive lens will be applied throughout the process to ensure inclusive participation and address the unique needs of all participants.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  Close collaboration with the Ministry of Education at national and sub-national offices, and other stakeholders, will be prioritized to ensure ownership.
• Participatory Learning
  Interactive and practical learning methods, such as workshops, mentorship sessions, etc. will enhance engagement and knowledge retention.

Timeline 

The implementation of the country action plan is estimated to be completed within a maximum of 12 months.

Qualification and Experience

• Institutional Qualification

  • Legal Status: The institution must be legally registered and recognized in the country of operation. Where this is not feasible, the institution must be registered within the region where the country is based.
  • Reputation: A formidable reputation for integrity, professionalism, and excellence in education, skills development, and data management.
  • Experience: At least 5 years of proven experience in designing and implementing capacity-strengthening programs, particularly in education, skills development, and data systems.

• Expertise and Technical Capacity

  • Data Management Proficiency: Expertise in data collection, analysis, management, and reporting, with a focus on education and skills data.
  • Training and Facilitation Skills: Proven ability to design and deliver high-quality training programs, workshops, and mentorship sessions.
  • Coordination: Ability to organize and manage training sessions, workshops, and events, including travel and accommodation for participants.

• Operational Capacity

  Overview of the control environment.

  • Financial Management: Proven capacity to manage project funds with transparency and accountability.
  • Procurement: Procurement procedure documenting policies and procedures.
  • Human Resources: Human resources manual
  • Grants Management: Grants administration and management policy for grants mobilization
  • Governance: Involvement of management in projects.
  • Audits: Proof of annual financial audits
  • Risk management: Documented key aspects in the risk management plan

• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

  • Partnership: Established relationships with Ministries of Education and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Communication Skills: Effective communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with stakeholders.

• Result-driven oriented

  • Quality Assurance: A commitment to deliver high-quality outputs, including training modules, reports, assessments, etc.
  • Innovation: Willingness to adopt innovative tools, technologies, or methodologies to enhance the effectiveness of capacity-building activities.

Application Requirements

Interested institutions must submit the following documents as part of their application:

• Organizational Profile: Mandate of the institution including mission, vision, and key achievements.
• Legal entity of existence.
• Relevant Experience: 5 years of proven experience in education and skills data production and analysis and conducting capacity development programmes.
• Team CVs: Detailed CVs of project implementation unit.
• Proposed Methodology: A clear and detailed plan for implementing the capacity-building plan.
• Detailed budget Proposal: A realistic budget aligned with the country plan.
• References: Contact information for at least five references from previous assignments.

NB:

• The financial offer must include all cost elements related to the implementation of the activities, including, where applicable, logistics (participant accommodation, transportation), catering (coffee breaks, lunch, dinner), training kits, training fees, etc.
• The assignment is expected to span a period of 12 months. However, the bidder is required to provide an estimated duration for each planned activity, expressed in days or total hours.
• As bidders, you are requested to propose the estimated duration of each training session. The detailed schedule will be finalized in consultation with the Ministry after the final selection.
• Depending on the modules, the bidder is also requested to propose a facilitation approach for the sessions and justify the rationale behind the chosen methods. Particular attention will be given to innovative and high-impact approaches.

Submission of applications

Applications must be sent to adea-applications@afdb.org no later than July 21, 2025, at midnight (12:00 am) GMT. The subject of the e-mail should be “ADEA ESDC Project in South Africa”.

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.

Annex: Area of capacity strengthening