TOR: Development of a short course on “Gender and Public Policy Transformation: Understanding and Practice”

1.    Background

The public policy domain in Africa is shifting at a rapid pace moving towards inclusivity, democratization and the integration of gender as a significant component of equitable and inclusive public policies. At the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), the significance of gender in the studying, understanding and making of public policy has been recognized as indisputable and therefore integrated into all our programs and institutional formation.

PASGR intends to include more gender-based courses in its training including one on gendering the public policy process. A one-day forum that convened experts, activists, policy actors and researchers on gender was organized by PASGR in May 2019. The forum examined and explored the various dimensions and issues involved in the development of a training module to “engender the policy process”. The convening also made the connections between the changing nature of governance and key notions and practices embedded in state-citizen relations and their implications for evolving gender and politics; and gender and policy discourses.

This call is for expert(s) and academic(s) with the interest, commitment, expertise, and capacity to design and develop a high-quality stand-alone module on “gendering the policy process in Africa.”

PASGR is an independent, nonpartisan, pan-African not-for-profit organisation established in 2011 and located in Nairobi, Kenya. Currently engaged in more than 26 African countries, PASGR works to enhance research excellence in governance and public policy that contributes to the overall well-being of citizens. In partnership with individual academics and researchers, higher education institutions, research think tanks, civil society organisations, as well as business and policy communities both in the region and internationally, PASGR supports the production and dissemination of policy-relevant research; designs and delivers suites of short professional development courses for researchers and policy actors; and facilitates the development of collaborative higher education programmes. Our vision is ‘a vibrant African social science community addressing the continent’s public policy issues’.

2.    Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a short course on gender and public policy in Africa. The title of the course is “Gender and Public Policy Transformation in Africa: Understanding and Practice”. The focus of the course will be to contribute to the understanding and practice of the public policy process in Africa through a more dynamic and organic integration of gender in the narrative as well as the practice.

The course among others is expected to cover some of the following elements:

• An- Introduction: that provides a rationale, brief analytical overview and conceptual clarification utilizing Gender analysis as a running thread/theme
• A brief overview of relevant theoretical perspectives
• An exploration of the implications and importance of voice & agency in the policy process
• An exploration of concrete practices in selected thematic areas to provide context and substance for conceptual and theoretical content.

3.    Scope of work

The assignment will entail designing and developing of the short course structured around key elements stated above. There will be a requirement to consider and use PASGR’s innovations in pedagogy that blend face-to-face delivery made up of a variety of learning approaches and platforms with online delivery. It is expected that the course will utilize both the blended approach and stand-alone face to face delivery covering no more than four days.

Specific tasks will include the following:

i. Develop a course on gender and public policy that:

• addresses the understanding and practice of the gendering public policy process;
•  contains intrinsic gender-engaged and gender transformative content, process and objectives;
• addresses the needs of the target audience (predominantly policy actors and policy               practitioners);
•  concretely demonstrates how gender inclusivity is effectively integrated in, or can help reform specific policy processes;
•  demonstrates alignment in content, delivery methods, and learning outcomes;

ii. Identify and develop learning resources/materials for the course.

iii. Engage and endeavour to link the course delivery with appropriate pedagogical strategies currently in use by PASGR.

iv. Design innovative assessment tools.

4.    Request for expressions of interest

PASGR invites expressions of interest (EOI) from individuals or teams with demonstrated expertise and experience in:

•  Gender and public policy analysis/Gender and Governance
•  Teaching and facilitation at higher education or advanced learning levels
•  Module development and writing.

Interested persons who meet the specification are invited to complete and submit the following:

• A Technical Proposal answering to the TORs (not exceeding 5 pages). This should cover the approach to work, detailed course outline, and work plan with an indicative time frame.
• A Financial Proposal;
• A brief description of recent experience in similar assignments;
• A current writing sample on the subject or current course description and brief curriculum if they have developed a similar course
•  CV (2 pages highlighting relevant experience)

All applications should be sent to PASGR info@www.pasgr.org by July 15th, 2019. Quote “EOI- Gendering Policy Process Course Development” in the subject line of your email.