TOR – TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR THE AFRICAN UNION GOVERNANCE CAMPUS PROJECT

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR THE AFRICAN UNION GOVERNANCE CAMPUS PROJECT

November 2019

Introduction

The African Peer Review Mechanism and the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and other African Union institutions are establishing an accredited, post-graduate level Governance in Africa training programme. titled the ‘African Union Governance Campus’. This is a virtual campus envisaged to deliver training programmes across the continent through partnerships with several universities and schools of government. The programmes, which will deliver accredited courses at post-graduate certificate, masters and doctoral level, will offer two streams: an academic stream and an executive stream.

The APRM will develop, design and coordinate the programme in collaboration with one Main Partner Institution which is a University or School of Government and five universities and schools of government as Regional Anchors – one from each region of the African Union. It is envisaged that the Campus will be governed by a Continental Steering Group (CSG) and its technical aspects will be overseen by a Continental Technical Advisory Group (CTAG). Both the CSG and CTAG shall be responsible for oversight and provide policy and strategic direction for management of the programmes of the African Union Governance Campus.

Background

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an autonomous entity of the African Union, (AU) established the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in 2003 as a governance self-assessment and per review instrument. The APRM has the mandate to promote and facilitate self-monitoring by the participating States, to ensure that their policies and practices conform to the agreed political, economic, corporate governance and socio-economic values, codes and standards contained in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance; and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as other relevant African Union and international treaties, conventions and instruments.

Objective

The objective of the advisory services is to provide technical guidance and direction to the establishment and delivery of the training programme of the African Union Governance Campus through the Continental Technical Advisory Group (CTAG).

Terms of reference

In support of the work of the Programme Advisory Committee, the APRM is soliciting the services of a renown academic in the discipline of governance to provide technical advisory services to the African Union Governance Campus Project. The role has been designated Technical Advisor to the African Union Governance Campus Project” and is required from time to provide advice to the African Union Governance Campus Project. The Technical Advisor’s Terms of Reference are stipulated below.

The APRM Continental Secretariat recognizes the technical complexity of the content and processes involved in the establishment and implementation of the African Union Governance Campus Project. To this end the APRM seeks the services of a renown academic with relevant experience in developing and managing curricula and training programmes to serve as Technical Advisors. The Technical Advisors shall comprise the Technical Advisory Committee of the African Union Governance Campus Project. The Technical Advisor shall report to the APRM Continental Secretariat:

The Technical Advisory Committee shall perform the following functions:

1. Provide technical support on the conceptualization of the African Union Governance Campus Project.
2. Provide technical support on the development of the inaugural programmes of the African Union Governance Campus Project.
3. Participate in the development of memoranda of agreement with the Main Partner Institution and Regional Anchors.
4. Identify and consult stakeholders to facilitate the development of the programmes of the AGC in collaboration with the APRM’s AGC Project team, the Main Partner Institution and Regional Anchors.
5. Provide guidance to the African Union Governance Campus curricula development and quality assurance processes.

Purpose

The Technical Advisor shall provide expert advice to the African Union Governance Campus Project on the development, delivery and quality assurance of academic and training programs of the Campus to ensure that the approaches, methods of instruction and course contents sufficiently reflect the context and aspirations espoused in relevant African Union frameworks and instruments.

Scope

Under the guidance and strategic direction of the APRM, the Technical Advisor shall, within the policies and procedures of the African Union APRM:

1. Be responsible for developing the framework for establishing the AGC
2. Review materials and guide processes relating to planning, preparation and implementation of all organizational activities of the African Union Governance Campus Project.
3. Work with APRM and relevant African Union bodies to establish the African Union Governance Campus.
4. Design and support the coordination of the curricula.
5. Support the development of a work plan based on all relevant documentation, including support to the consultation and approval processes.
6. Plan all curricula development phases, including activities, timelines, budget and expected outputs from each activity.
7. Outline the research needed to inform the curricula development.
8. Provide technical direction on relevant and detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for administration and management of training programme delivery.
9. Make recommendations on comparative approaches on curricula development and ensuring that comprehensive literature reviews are conducted showcasing new and innovative practices.
10. Provide technical input into the planning, development, field-testing, and evaluation of the curricula.
11. Draft materials as needed with input from implementing institutions and experts.
12. Facilitate technical meetings and workshops as per agreed roadmaps and prepare reports to demonstrate progress on the agreed deliverables.

Deliverables

1. Draft Framework for the development of the training program of the African Union Governance
2. Academic and training curricula of the African Governance Campus
3. Bi-weekly updates to the Head of the Research, Methodology and Development Division and the APRM Secretariat Lead on the African Union Governance Campus Project; and
4. Related outputs as may be mutually determined from time to time between the Technical Advisor, the Head of the Research, Methodology and Development Division and approved by the CEO of the APRM Continental Secretariat.

Reporting

The Consultant reports to the Head of the Research, Methodology and Development Division on all issues pertaining to the management of the project.