Background

The Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) started in 2015 and aims to strengthen the capacities of science granting councils in 16 sub-Saharan African countries to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to the continent’s economic and social development.  The SGCI provides a window of opportunity for the Councils to focus on their role as boundary managers and how evidence can be utilised more effectively to support their activities. SGCI does this through programmes focused on the management of research grants; the use of evidence to inform STI policy; supporting knowledge exchange with the private sector and establishing partnerships between Councils and other science system actors. SGCI is also focused on the cross-cutting issues of strategic communication, gender, and inclusivity. The SGCI is a collaborative initiative, jointly funded by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the UK’s Department for International Development (now the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office), the South African National Research Fund (NRF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

The SGCI phase 2, Evi-Pol project, has the objective to strengthen the capacity of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) to generate and use evidence in policy and decision-making and to enhance their roles as policy champions. To achieve the main goal, the specific objectives of the Evi-Pol project are: a) Support SGCs to conduct reviews of national STI policies and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the policy processes; b) Support the Councils to develop robust organizational-level MEL frameworks and plans; c) Support the Councils to develop data management systems and frameworks and systematically collect, analyse and use relevant data/ evidence; d) Promote peer to peer learning and knowledge exchange between Councils and local STI experts.

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of Zambia is one of the Councils participating in this Initiative. The NSTC is a statutory body established by the Science and Technology Act No. 26 of 1997. The main function or mandate of the Council as prescribed in the Act is to “promote science and technology so as to improve the quality of life in Zambia”.

The Evi-Pol project has the funds to contract short-term consultants to assist in building capacity for conducting reviews of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy in several of the SGCs involved in the SGCI. In this regard, the African Centre for Technology Studies, as Evi-Pol grant holder (IDRC grant number: 109573), is requesting applications for an STI Policy Review consultant to assist the NSTC.

STI Policy consultant

The STI Policy consultant will provide technical assistance to the Council on a part-time basis for an agreed period and with defined tasks. The NSTC, as part of the Evi-Pol STI Policy Review work package, is requesting support to the NSTC Zambia to monitor the implementation of national STI policy. The Evi-Pol STI Policy Review team has developed a set of tools to guide the review and monitoring of STI policy implementation. The STI Policy consultant will be expected to use the tools in supporting the NSTC. The consultant may be required to conduct stakeholder interviews/meetings/workshops.

The scope of the work

The current funding available provides for 15 days of consultant time, proposed to be broken down as follows:

1. Initial meetings with the NSTC and Evi-Pol STI Policy Review team to agree on the final scope of work and familiarise with the STI Policy Review framework and instruments
2. Support the NSTC to adapt the Evi-Pol framework and instruments for monitoring STI policy implementation in Zambia
3. Carry out discussions/meetings/interviews with key stakeholders
4. Analyse and interpret the findings from the stakeholder discussions/meetings/interviews, and present the findings to the NSTC and Evi-Pol STI Policy Review teams
5. Based on feedback from the NSTC and Evi-Pol STI Policy Review teams, finalise and submit a brief written report on the stakeholder discussions/meetings/interviews
6. Support the NSTC to present the key findings/recommendations of the STI policy analysis in planned validation workshops

The instruments for the stakeholder interviews/meetings/workshops should be aligned with the Evi-Pol STI Policy Review framework and methodology. 

Where possible, engagement with the NSTC should be conducted face-to-face i.e., where COVID-19 workplace rules allow.  Where COVID-19 working restrictions are in place, this work will occur virtually by phone, email, and online meeting platforms. Where possible, the stakeholder interviews should be conducted by phone, email, and online meeting platforms. The validation workshops may be conducted face-to-face or virtually depending on COVID-19 regulations.

Deliverables

These will be agreed upon during the scope of work but are provisionally expected to include:

1. A report on the stakeholder interviews, signed off by the NSTC.
2. Present and support the NSTC to organise validation workshops.
3. A set of customised STI policy monitoring instruments.

Duration of the assignment

The successful consultants will be given a three-month consultancy contract (estimated to start in July 2022).

Management

This consultancy will be administered by ACTS under the guidance of the principal investigator working on the SGCI phase 2, Evi-Pol project. The PI is Dr. Rebecca Hanlin.

The day-to-day management of the consultancy will be conducted by the NSTC.  The consultant’s line manager will be Ms Atridah Mulonga, Acting Manager in the Programme Development and Implementation Department at the NSTC.

A monthly progress meeting involving the Consultant, STI Policy Review work package lead or representative, and the Council’s line manager.  These will ensure that the tasks are on track, the objectives are being achieved, and are in tandem with the support requested by the Council.

Contract value and payment

Each consultancy contract will have a maximum potential value of US$ 3,300 (15 days at US$ 220 or 8 days at US$ 400 a day, depending on the consultant’s level of experience) inclusive of taxes.

Payment will be made on completion of all work and sign-off of deliverables.  The total will not exceed the number of days and value of the contract.

Please note all Kenyan consultants will be subject to 5% withholding tax on all invoices while others from outside Kenya will have a minimum of 20% withholding tax removed.    

Qualifications of the applicants

• A degree in a relevant discipline, for example, political science, sociology, development studies, economics, and related in the social sciences
• A minimum of five years’ experience in policy/legislation research in the area of science, technology and innovation, and inclusive development/gender equality
• Experience in the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, particularly conducting stakeholder interviews and validation workshops
• Proven experience in policy/legislation analysis
• Must be based in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Zambia
• Proven record of producing high-quality research publications and/or drafting policy/legislation in the field of science, technology, and innovation will be an advantage

In addition, candidates should also outline their competencies in the following areas:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work on context-specific needs/topics
• Flexible when it comes to change and open to receive and integrate feedback

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

1. Experience in science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy/legislation research and analysis, especially in the Council’s country
2. Experience working with government departments, science granting councils, or other government agencies
3. Track record of conducting reviews of STI policy/legislation or STI policy/legislation research or drafting STI policy/legislation 
   

Application instructions

Qualified applicants (both individual and organizations) are invited to apply and submit:

1. A proposal indicating how they meet the specifications for the consultancy work and the methodology on how such work will be implemented (no more than three (3) pages).
2. Curriculum vitae of the individual consultant indicating their previous experience in similar work and the contact details of at least three referees.
3. Submit at least one example material from a previous work assignment that is similar to this one

 

Applications should be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copied to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with ‘SGCI STI Policy Review consultant’ in the subject heading.

Call for applications will close on 8^th July 2022

If you have queries or questions about the call for applications, please contact Dr. Agnes Lutomiah: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  ‘SGCI STI Policy Review consultant’ in the subject heading