Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) is seeking an experienced consultant or consulting team to design and implement a comprehensive blended learning and exchange trajectory aimed at strengthening the capacity of school leadership researchers across Africa. This part-time, one-year consultancy (70–80 days) supports the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL), a partnership between ESSA, VVOB – Education for Development, and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). The consultant may be based in Kenya, Ghana, or other locations within Sub-Saharan Africa, provided they have the right to work in their respective country. About ESSA ESSA works to improve education outcomes by generating and promoting the use of evidence from African research, ensuring decisions, policy formulation and programme design are driven by high-quality data. The organisation collaborates with researchers, higher education leaders, policymakers and funders to address systemic challenges and develop sustainable solutions that benefit young people across the continent. ESSA’s core values guide all its work: Evidence-driven: Commitment to data and research that strengthens education systems. Solutions-focused: Maximising impact for learners and educators across Sub-Saharan Africa. Strengthening trust: Building equitable and collaborative relationships with communities and partners. Always learning: Encouraging diverse perspectives and team-based learning. About the Assignment The ACSL partnership aims to elevate the quality of school leadership research and practice across Africa through evidence generation, policy engagement, and professional learning. To advance this mission, ACSL is launching a 12-month Blended Exchange and Learning Trajectory. This initiative will: Support early and mid-career researchers Promote peer exchange and mentorship Enhance research quality and policy engagement Align with parallel ACSL-funded research projects The consultant will lead the development and implementation of this trajectory, ensuring it is contextually relevant, pedagogically robust and impact-oriented. Scope of Work The consultant will undertake the following key tasks. A) Inception and Co-Design (Month 1) Conduct a rapid needs assessment to identify researchers’ skill gaps and professional development needs. Review ACSL strategies, ESSA frameworks and VVOB professional learning models. Produce an Inception Report outlining: Conceptual framework and theory of change Impact measurement plan Methodology and delivery timeline B) Curriculum and Content Development (Months 2–4) Design a seven-module online curriculum for self-paced learning. Develop accompanying digital learning resources, including toolkits, videos, readings and reflective activities. Embed impact tracking tools such as pre/post assessments and learning analytics. Ensure content is inclusive and accessible to diverse researcher groups. C) Mentorship and Peer Exchange (Months 3–6) Create a structured mentorship programme, including matching criteria and feedback mechanisms. Design peer learning formats such as research clinics, virtual learning circles and webinars. Integrate opportunities for policy dialogue in collaboration with ACSL partners. D) Implementation and Facilitation Support (Months 6–12) Support delivery of online learning and exchange activities. Provide technical support for the Learning Management System (LMS). Collect evidence on engagement, learning progress and emerging impact. E) Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (Throughout) Develop and implement impact measurement tools. Produce a final Endline Report summarising outcomes, early impact stories and recommendations for scaling and alignment with ACSL research grants. Expected Deliverables Inception Report – Month 1 Curriculum and Module Framework – Month 3 Draft Digital Content and Mentorship Toolkit – Month 5 Implementation Plan – Month 6 Midline Progress Report – Six months after implementation Endline Impact Report – Within the 12-month period Person Specification Essential Requirements Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Education, Educational Leadership, Research Methods or related field. Minimum 10 years’ experience designing or facilitating research or educator capacity-building programmes. Proven expertise in blended learning design and adult education pedagogy. Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) with a focus on research impact. Knowledge of school leadership and teacher development research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Strong facilitation, communication and digital content development abilities. Fluency in English; French or Portuguese is an advantage. Desirable Additional experience in blended learning methodologies or educational research. Management and Reporting The consultant will report to ESSA, working closely with VVOB and ADEA technical teams. Oversight will be provided by the ACSL Programme Steering Committee, ensuring quality assurance and alignment with ACSL’s broader strategy. Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be assessed based on: Understanding and methodology (30%) Technical experience (25%) MEL experience (15%) Experience in African school leadership research (15%) Team qualifications (10%) Value-for-money financial proposal (5%) Submission Requirements Applicants must submit: A technical proposal (max 10 pages) A financial proposal in USD CVs of proposed personnel Two examples of similar work The closing date for applications is 8 December 2025 at 0900hrs GMT. 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