Country: Kenya, Somalia
Closing date: 16 Mar 2016
Background
Prolonged armed conflict and the collapse of the Somali state has profoundly limited opportunities for academic learning, critical thinking and research for men and women across the Somali territories. All Somalia’s academic and research institutions collapsed along with the state in 1991. The past two decades have seen the establishment of local and diaspora supported universities and Somali research organisations and think-tanks. The establishment of new universities since 1994 has done much to support the normalization of life in the different Somali regions and urban centres, and the proliferation of institutes of higher education testifies to the growing demand for further education. New communication technologies have also created more opportunities for long distance learning and new teaching methods. There are also an increasing number of Somalis in the diaspora conducting PhD research with the potential to contribute to practical research and policy development in the Somali regions. However, there remains a dearth of Somali researchers and Somali-generated research.
Funded by the Somalia Stability Fund, the Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) at the University of Hargeysa (UoH), the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Research and Capacity Development (CPSRCD) at Puntland State University (PSU), and the Rift Valley Institute (RVI), have formed a partnership to address this situation, in two Somali regions. The partnership is seeking to commission a two-person consultancy team, comprising an international and a Somali consultant, to build the capacity of IPCS and CPSRCD to deliver training courses in social research methodologies to post-graduate students.
The long-term aim of this collaboration between RVI and the universities of Hargeysa and Puntland State is:
To deliver high-quality research by Somalis and Somali institutions that will generate useful knowledge of the Somali regions and its communities, and that will inform Somali and international development policy.
Specifically the consultancy will:
• undertake a training needs assessment;
• develop a post-graduate curriculum and teaching manual in social research methods for Somali students;
• train Somali teachers to teach social research methodologies;
• design and deliver an advanced practical field course in social research methods.
The Consultancy Team
The project partners are seeking a team of two consultants for this assignment, comprising an international social research specialist and a Somali, whose research and training skills and experience complement the international consultant’s. Application may be from an already-made team, or from individuals from whom a team will be selected.
Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of the consultancy is to establish the necessary foundations for social research methods to be taught effectively at post-graduate level in both universities.
Phase 1 (Total of 10 days, includes travel to Hargeysa and Garowe) Deliverables: Training needs assessment and report; project baseline data.
Phase 2 (Total of 12 days) Deliverables: a manual and course plan for training of the teachers (TOTs); a syllabus for a post-graduate module on research methodology.
Phase 3 (Total of 40 days in year 1 and 20 days in year 2) Deliverables: training of teachers (TOTs) and follow up support
Timing and location of activities
The project is funded for 27 months. This consultancy is expected to be completed within the first 24 months with the bulk of deliverables completed in the first 12 months. The consultancy team’s detailed work-plan will be developed in collaboration with RVI, IPCS and CPSRCD.
The training needs assessment should be conducted by April 2016 at the latest, across both universities during the first field visit. The syllabus for the teaching module, to be completed by the end of April, or early May can be done from the consultant(s)’s home base. Training of teachers has to take place during the university vacations where these coincide for both universities, such as April-May and September 2016.
A field course would take place towards the end of the first year.
Between the two consultants, the following requirements must be met:
Essential
- Masters level or above post-graduate Social Science degree
- More than 3 years’ experience of teaching social science research methodologies at post-graduate level in a university setting
- Experience of assessing research training needs of postgraduate students
- Proven ability to design training material for postgraduate teaching
- Previous experience of social science syllabus development
- Previous experience in training academic teaching staff More than three years direct experience of designing and conducting social research
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Computer literacy – the consultants must be self-servicing
- Proven report-writing skills
- Able and willing to travel and work in Somaliland and Puntland, as well as Kenya
- Proven gender awareness and sensitivity
- Available to begin the assignment in April 2016
Desirable
- PhD level
- Previous experience and proven competence in research-training needs assessment of academic teaching staff
- Previous experience of developing curriculum for teaching social research methods
- Direct research experience in the Somali context
- Previous experience of baseline survey data collection.
- Knowledge of Somali
- Proven interest and commitment to building indigenous social research capacity
- Previous experience of working in a relatively resource-poor academic environment
- Able to commit to an assignment that extends over 24 months
How to apply:
A full Terms of Reference is available on the RVI website here. Online applications can be submitted here.
Please ensure your application includes ALL of the following:
- An up to date CV
- A covering letter that highlights how you fit the above person specification
- Details of three referees, one of whom must know you in an academic capacity and one as a previous consultancy contractor (references will only be followed up if your application is successful)
- A detailed budget based on your daily rate and estimated number of days required for each stage of the assignment. Note: if applying as a team please submit a shared budget that includes both individuals’ costs. RVI will cover the cost of flights, insurance and in- country expenses such as accommodation and a modest daily per diem rate.
- A proposed timeline for the assignment and deliverables. Be as specific as possible for Year One, indicative for Year Two.
- Your organisational profile (if applying as an institution).
- A sample of your work that is relevant to this assignment.
Please also state your availability to work from April 2016 and note if your application is part of a joint proposal with another (named) consultant.
In case of questions please contact Yassmin Mohamed, RVI Projects Manager for East Africa and the Horn of Africa: yassmin.mohamed@riftvalley.net
Closing date for applications: midnight East African Time (EAT), 16 March 2016