TERMS OF REFERENCE – CONSULTANCY FOR TRAINING ON CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Background

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO), in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

A key pillar of our 2022–2026 Strategic Plan is strengthening individual and institutional capacity to produce and use evidence to drive the continent’s development agenda. In line with this commitment, APHRC invests in continuous learning and professional development to equip staff with the necessary tools, knowledge, and competencies to thrive in increasingly complex, dynamic, and interdisciplinary research and policy environments.

To advance this goal, APHRC seeks to engage a qualified consultant to design and deliver a short course training on Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills. These competencies are essential to staff members working in diverse research, programmatic, and operational roles, enabling them to approach challenges methodically, evaluate evidence with rigor, and design innovative and practical solutions.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to enhance the critical thinking and problem-solving capacity of APHRC staff through a highly interactive, adult-learner-centered training. The consultant is expected to deliver a hands-on training program that combines theory, practice, and real-life application in ways that are relevant to the Center’s work.

The approach should:

• Be grounded in andragogical principles suitable for adult professionals.
• Prioritize experiential learning through individual and group exercises.
• Aim to develop and assess tangible outputs from participants that reflect a change in thinking and problem-solving approaches. Preferably, participants should prepare a final product demonstrating knowledge and skill acquisition resulting from the training.

Roles and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

• Conduct a desk review of relevant APHRC documents and related materials.
• Design and conduct a pre-training needs assessment and submit a report outlining priority content areas.
• Develop a full training package that includes:
  • A participant curriculum or training guide
  • A detailed training agenda
  • PowerPoint presentations and facilitator notes
  • Supporting handouts and practical exercises
• Deliver a five-day, interactive training program, grounded in findings from the needs assessment.
• Facilitate the production of a final product or deliverable from participants that reflects their learning (e.g., a problem-solving framework, action plan, or case study analysis).
• Administer pre- and post-training evaluations and gather feedback from participants.
• Submit a post training report summarizing the process, outcomes, and recommendations.

APHRC will:

• Provide the consultant with access to relevant internal documents, including the Strategic Plan and applicable policies.
• Mobilize and coordinate participants from across APHRC’s units.
• Review and provide feedback on the consultant’s deliverables (curriculum, agenda, presentations, etc.).
• Facilitate logistical and contractual arrangements to ensure smooth implementation.
• Review and validate the training report and recommendations

Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report directly to the Training Coordinator in the Individual Capacity Strengthening Unit, with oversight and input from the Head of Research and Related Capacity Strengthening Division and the Head of People & Culture Unit.

Submission of Bids

Interested bidders should send proposals (3 pages of proposal/approach, CVs and/or firm profile, relevant past work, references, work plan, and detailed budget outlining all costs associated with the consultancy) by email to consultancies@aphrc.org and copy to procurement@aphrc.org with the subject line titled, “Short Course Training Consultancy: Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills.” The deadline for receiving applications will be June 17, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Special Notice

APHRC is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.