The Association of African Universities (AAU) has received financing from the World Bank for the Learning and Evidence Agenda for Regional Collaboration in Eastern and Southern Africa (LEARN-ESA, Project ID P516274, Grant No. E7330TD) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to engage an individual consultant as Education and Research Specialist at the AAU Headquarters in Accra, Ghana. This is a Request for Expression of Interest under the Individual Consultant Selection method.
Roles and responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Director of Special Projects, the Education and Research Specialist will provide technical and academic leadership for the project's regional learning agenda and implementation research initiatives. The Specialist will manage relationships with regional research partners, research teams and technical consultants, ensuring that all regional public goods and knowledge assets align with country demands. The Specialist will serve as the core technical anchor for Component 1 and Component 2 execution, working closely with the Policy Specialist, M&E Specialist and country networks to translate empirical evidence into actionable, system-wide basic education policy reforms across the six participating member states: Angola, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique.
Competency and expertise: Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications, relevant experience and competencies to perform the services, as set out in the Terms of Reference (https://www.research.net/r/EduResS26).
Selection: The consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method in Section VII of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Seventh Edition, September 2025), and the selection process in Section 4.5 of the Terms of Reference. Interested consultants are referred to Section III, paragraphs 3.13, 3.14 and 3.16 of the Procurement Regulations on conflict of interest.
AAU subscribes to the principle of equal opportunities, and applications from women are strongly encouraged.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit applications and supporting documents online at https://www.research.net/r/EduResS26 no later than Monday 2 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The dossier must include a cover letter with a statement of interest and availability date, a detailed CV, supporting documents for qualifications (copies of certificates), and at least two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a country outside the candidate's country of origin. Referees must send the recommendation letters directly at https://www.research.net/r/RefEduResS26 by 9 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Further information: smkandawire@aau.org (office hours 0900-1700, Monday to Friday). Applications not complying with the submission requirements may not be considered.