Terms of Reference

I. Introduction

APHRC is a leading pan-African research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, that conducts high quality policy-relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization and related development issues across Africa. We are also a globally recognized leader in individual and institutional research capacity strengthening in the region. We lead the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) program, which supports PhD training within nine universities and four research centers in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa as well as the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF) program, which has supported doctoral students from over twenty African countries. Both programs have enrolled over 240 doctoral students in the last eight years.

A major lesson from our work with higher education and research institutions in Africa is that they are often unable to track graduates of their programs. Yet alumni cultivation and engagement is increasingly critical for forward-thinking universities who need to know where their students go after graduation, what they are doing, how they are deploying their training in society, and what advice and support they have for their alma maters.

For this reason, APHRC seeks to conduct a feasibility study across sub-Saharan Africa to determine the market attractiveness, technical requirements, and financial viability of a Career Tracker (CT) for higher education institutions (HEIs) in Africa. The CT is expected to offer HEIs in Africa a mechanism for monitoring their graduates’ career trajectories and contributions to development and growth globally.

II. Scope of the Feasibility Study

The study will cover four key areas:

• Assessment of APHRC’s capability to successfully host, manage, and market the CT
• Evaluation of the technical feasibility and potential of a CT with capabilities to effectively track research outputs, job mobility, grant awards, policy impact, and community development work of HEIs graduates
• Assessment of the financial feasibility as well as human and material requirements of the CT
• Analysis of the marketability and overall attractiveness of the CT to the higher education industry.

III. Specific Learning Questions

Organizational level

• Does APHRC have the capability to successfully roll-out, manage, and market the CT?
• What structures are required for the effective rollout, management, and marketing of the CT?

Technical level

• What would be the best solution for rolling out of the CT?
• What software and other technical developments might help or hinder the rollout and uptake of the CT?

Financial level

• What are the financial costs of developing, marketing, and maintaining the CT?

Market level

• What is the attractiveness of CT to HEIs in Africa?
• What constraints will HEIs in Africa face in using the CT?
• What national and institutional approvals are needed for the effective rollout and uptake of the CT?
• What ethical issues, if any, will the CT raise and how can these be addressed?

IV. Methodology

The study shall be based on a participatory methodology, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The successful candidate is expected to familiarize himself/herself with current alumni tracking platforms and identify the key lessons for the proposed CT.

The time allocated for the entire consultancy is 10 weeks.

V. Qualifications and Competencies

The selected person(s) is expected to demonstrate the following qualifications and competences:

• Previous experience with feasibility studies on research capacity building and career growth
• Previous consultancy experience related to training in higher education and research institutions
• Hold advanced degree in the social or education sciences
• Strong comprehension, verbal, and writing capacity in academic English. Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage
• Strong analytical skills.

VI. Deliverables

An inception report submitted /presented to APHRC at the beginning of the feasibility study

• Draft study report
• Final study report. The final report will contain a short executive summary and a main body of the report covering the methodology, the conclusions and findings along the four levels identified above.

Application process

We invite interested consultants to submit the following application documents:

• Technical proposal outlining how the consultant meets the selection criteria and understands the TORs and methodology
• A proposed activities schedule/work plan with time frames
• CV of the consultant (s) who will undertake the study
• Examples of similar studies undertaken by the applicant
• Financial proposal, including consultant’s fees and field costs.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through our recruitment portal http://jobs.aphrc.org by February 12, 2016. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applications should be addressed

to:

The Human Resources Officer

African Population and Health Research Center, Inc.

APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru

P. O. Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi