TRAINERS FOR A TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH METHODS, PROPOSAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS – EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

BMGF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Introduction 

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is a premier institution with over 30 years’ of experience in building capacity in research, training, and policy outreach. The research department has thematic and collaborative programs whose goals are to build capacity of early career and senior researchers enabling them to contribute effectively to economic policy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). AERC has a wide network of universities, policy makers, researchers, educators, and international resource persons who participate in our capacity building activities. The capacity building through training and research is underpinned by our Strategic Plan 2020-2025, which strives to enhance quality,  ensure sustainability and policy influence. 

To enhance quality, AERC is facilitating training to improve the skills, competencies, and capacity of our researchers to conduct frontier and high-quality research to generate evidence for sound economic policy decisions and high publishable work.  Over the years, the thematic program has organized tailor made retooling courses to impart methodological skills for researchers in economics. Some of the trainings we have organized include panel data econometrics and impact evaluation methodologies. 

AERC plans to offer a ten (10) day research methods workshop, exclusively for women researchers in sub-Saharan Africa – to enhance their skills in Research Methods, Proposal Writing and Presentation Skills. This physical workshop is scheduled for 28 August – 8 September 2023, Nairobi Kenya. 

Aim of the Course

The goal is to build the capacity of women researchers and analysis to conduct rigorous and policy-relevant research to support informed policy making in these countries. It is expected that the technical workshop, by building and strengthening the capacity of participants/researchers from SSA countries, will contribute in a major way towards the attainment of the goal. The course will cover several topics on research methods including the following: identifying research topic, critical literature review, data collection and analysis, proposal writing and presentation skills. Several practical exercises on materials covered and practical issues related to the course will be conducted. Participants will also be introduced to some of the econometric software for their use. The participants in the technical workshop will be required to develop a research proposal thereafter with the support of the instructor as a mentor. Best proposals will be selected on a competitive basis to be presented at a back-to-back workshop at the December 2023 biannual research workshop.

The Call for Expression of Interest

We would like to invite qualified persons to respond to the expression of interest to offer this training. The terms of reference for the instructor include the following tasks:

• Preparation of the workshop agenda and technical prospectus to be used in the ten-day training workshop.
• Identification of relevant materials and documentation for use during the workshop. 
• Lead the discussions and provide the participants with extensive exposure to a selected number of useful concepts and issues relevant to the course.
• Provide practical examples on appropriate analytical methods. 
• Prepare a report on the proceedings of the workshop.
• Perform any other activities as mutually agreed upon between the trainer(s) and AERC.
• Women trainers are encouraged to apply.

Selection of the trainer(s) will be based on the following criteria: 

• At least have a master’s degree and professional progression thereafter.
• Experience in teaching and/or implementing research methods and proposal writing course.
• Ability to use interactive platform to deliver the course and evidence of experiential teaching will be an added advantage. 
• Experience in offering short courses to participants with diverse background. 
• Published in refereed/peer reviewed outlets (Journal Articles, Books and Book Chapters) on areas relevant to the course.
• A brief outline of what will be covered in the course.
• The expression of interest should have a motivation statement of not more than five hundred (500) words on why you should be selected. 
• Any other useful information relating to offering the course.

More information on the training is as follows: 

• The workshop will be physical from 28 August to 08 September 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The trainers are expected to use their own computers (laptops).
• Training will consist of two daily sessions. The morning session will run from about 0900-1300 hrs. The afternoon session will run from 0200-0500hrs. 
• AERC will offer a honorarium for the services provided during that period including the time required for preparation of the course and mentoring the researchers. If selected, AERC will provide an air ticket to and from the venue of the workshop; accommodation; per diem, visa fee and other expenses as will be specified in the agreement letter.           

Application Process 

• To express your interest in offering the course, kindly send your CV and a brief course outline to procurement@aercafrica.org  on or before August 05, 2023, at 1700 Hrs. The CV should clearly indicate all the relevant information to this call. The biographical section of the CV must include the researcher’s nationality, gender, and full contact details.  The subject of your email should be “EOI INSTRUCTOR(S) FOR TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH METHODS, PROPOSAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.”

Attn: African Economic Research Consortium

Executive Director 

3rd Floor, Mebank Towers, Jakaya Kikwete Road

PO Box 62882-00200, Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel : 254 20 2734150