RSTI Policy Review Consultant to support the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)

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 in order 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 RSTI experts.

National Commission for Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) is one of the Councils participating in this Initiative. The NCRST is a State-Owned Enterprise established in terms of the Research, Science and Technology (RST) Act, 2004 (Act No. 23 of 2004) with a primary role of promoting, coordinating, monitoring and developing research, science, technology and innovation in Namibia.

The Evi-Pol project has funds to contract several short-term consultants to assist in building capacity for conducting reviews of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy in a number 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 a RSTI Policy Review consultant to assist the NCRST.

RSTI Policy Review consultant

The RSTI Policy Review consultant will provide technical assistance to the Council on a part-time basis for an agreed period and with defined tasks. The NCRST, as part of the Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review work package, is requesting support in conducting an analysis of RSTI policy in Namibia to inform the finalisation of the RSTI policy implementation and other related policy documents, and to enable the NCRST to build the capacity of their RSTI policy officers/unit. The NCRST has worked with the Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review team to adapt a framework and template to guide the policy analysis. The RSTI Policy Review consultant will be expected to use the framework and template in the policy analysis. The consultant will also be required to conduct stakeholder interviews/meetings/workshops to inform the policy analysis and finalisation of the RSTI policy implementation.

The scope of the work

The current funding available provides for 8 to 15 days of Consultant time, proposed to be broken down as follows:

1. Initial meetings with the NCRST and Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review team to agree on the final scope of work and familiarise with the STI Policy Review framework and methodology
2. Carry out discussions/meetings/interviews with key stakeholders
3. Analyse and interpret the findings from the stakeholder discussions/meetings/interviews, and present the findings to the NCRST and Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review teams
4. Based on feedback from the NCRST and Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review teams, finalise and submit a brief written report on the stakeholder discussions/meetings/interviews
5. Support the NCRST to present the key findings/recommendations of the RSTI policy analysis in the planned validation workshops
6. Draft written comments and recommendations for finalising the draft National Programme for Science, Technology and Innovation 2022/2023 to 2026/2027 (NPSTI II), based on the stakeholder interviews/meetings/workshops and the analysis of policy documents.

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

Where possible, engagement with the NCRST 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 NCRST. This report will be used to inform the policy analysis report prepared by the Evi-Pol RSTI Policy Review team.
2. Present and support the NCRST to organise validation workshops.
3. Draft amendment to the National Programme for Science, Technology and Innovation 2022/2023 to 2026/2027 (NPSTI II), signed off by the NCRST. The draft amendment must be informed by the analysis of the stakeholder interviews/meetings/workshops and the analysis of policy documents.

Duration of the assignment

The successful consultants will be given a three-month consultancy contract (estimated to start in October 2021).

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 NCRST. The consultant’s line manager will be Gernot Piepmeyer, Manager in the Policy and Programme Development at the NCRST.

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 Namibia
• 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