Terms of Reference (TOR) for Design of Informed Research Consumers Module

Background

The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) is a pan-African organisation established in 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya with a vision to promote a vibrant African social science community that addresses key governance and public policy issues on the continent. PASGR pursues its vision through three core programmes: Higher Education, Professional Development and Training, and Research. Our work is defined by excellence and quality at the highest international standards, innovative programme delivery and attention to gender equity and diversity.

Under the Professional Development and Training programme, PASGR has successfully designed and delivered high quality and internationally recognised short professional development training that tools and retools policy researchers and policy actors on the continent. PASGR has also distinguished itself as an important player in policy uptake by taking evidence directly to policy actors through Utafiti Sera. Utafiti Sera is an innovative PASGR- designed research-policy initiative that provides a space, a vehicle and a forum for researchers, policy actors and other key stakeholders to move from evidence to policy action through negotiated processes. Through this initiative, it has become evident that policy research consumers want to be able to access policy research evidence promptly and in a manner that is easily understandable, verifiable and usable.

With research findings now available from a wide range of sources including the social media, policy actors also want the assurance that this evidence is credible and reliable. Additionally, research consumers represent a wide variety of policy actors that include legislators, governors, county administrators, chiefs, NGO managers, civil society and community activists. This has implications for the sort of research evidence different constituencies require, in what formats and how it is processed and presented.

In order to address these needs, PASGR is designing an Informed Research Consumers module. This module aims to equip policy actors with requisite knowledge and skills to identify, understand and utilise credible and reliable research evidence that is fundamental to their mission and work. It is also intended to broaden an understanding of the intricate nature of the policy process as well as constraints to effective public policy making and implementation and how this interfaces with research evidence. This module will take cognisance of the different governance contexts and constituencies in Africa and will be gender responsive.

PASGR invites qualified and interested individuals or teams to submit an application detailing how they would design a module that addresses the needs stated above.

Scope of work

There should be a short concept note that will cover the following:

• Description of the learning objectives to be met
• An outline of the module content and a recommendation on whether the module should be offered as a holistic, generic module to all of the different consumer groups or whether the module should be segmented into parts that address the needs of the different consumer groups
• An indication of the module duration (PASGR advises that its modules take between 2-5 days maximum)
• The mode of delivery i.e. face to face or blended online and face to face
• Description of the pedagogic approach most suitable to deliver such a module
• Description of how the module will address various governance and public policy contexts across Africa
• Description of how the module will integrate gender dimensions

Resource Persons’ Requirements

This call is open to researchers and educators with experience in the field of governance and public policy and who understand the African policy landscape. Experience in the design and delivery of short professional training in Africa is desirable.

Response package should include:

• A short 3 page (maximum) response to this call that highlights how the consultant proposes to design this module.
• A short 3 page (maximum) module outline of the content, supporting materials and teaching and learning strategies.
• A brief description of similar work done indicating the date, nature of exercise and client (2 pages maximum).
• C.V. (maximum 3 pages of details only relevant to this call)
• Budget
• Indicative timelines for developing the module

Submission

Proposals in response to this call must be submitted electronically via email to nirungu@www.pasgr.org and received by 5:00 pm East African Time on Monday, October 23, 2017.

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