Tracer and impact study for the short course of the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA)
PLAAS invites applications from suitably qualified persons to conduct a tracer and impact study. These terms of reference set out the details of the tracer and impact studies for the NELGA short course on ‘the Political Economy of Land Governance in Africa’.
Background of PLAAS
The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) is a leading research and teaching centre with an international reputation for high-quality applied research and critical scholarship.
PLAAS was founded in 1995 as a specialist unit in the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town. Since 2008, PLAAS is recognised as a Research Institute and has developed a proven track record of undertaking groundbreaking research on rural and urban poverty and inequality, land and agrarian reform, agro-food value chain restructuring and natural resource management in South Africa and the southern African region.
Besides the teaching programme, PLAAS undertakes training, provides advisory, facilitation and evaluation services and is active in the field of national policy development. Through these activities, and by seeking to apply the tools of critical scholarship to questions of policy and practice, PLAAS seeks to develop new knowledge and fresh approaches to the transformation of society in southern Africa.
Vision and mission
PLAAS engages in research, training, policy development and advocacy in relation to chronic and structural poverty, land and agrarian reform, rural governance and natural resource management.
PLAAS is committed to social change that empowers the poor, builds democracy and enhances sustainable livelihoods. Gender equity is integral to these goals.
PLAAS aims for rigour in its scholarship, excellence in its training, and effectiveness in its policy support and advocacy. It strives to play a critical yet constructive role in processes of social, economic and political transformation.
We work to advance social justice, foster equitable social change, and nourish informed as well as democratic debate and practice in the world around us.
NELGA short course training
The NELGA short course on the Political Economy of Land Governance in Africa was initiated in 2018 in collaboration with the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC), at the UN Economic Commission for Africa and hosted 5 short course offerings. To date, we have trained 260 land professionals across 38 African countries. The short course is endorsed by the University of the Western Cape, and strongly aligns with the African Union agenda, along with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank to strengthen the training and curriculum development of land governance in Africa. We have held three in-person courses in South Africa (2018), Ghana, and Zanzibar. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the course transitioned to a virtual format, hosting two online courses in 2021 and 2023, reaching more professionals.
Aim of the tracer and impact study
The overarching aim is to provide evidence of the reach and impact of the capacity building, knowledge and governance of our work.
The specific aims are:
to trace the 260 alumni of the six classes in the short course
to determine how many alumni have been integrated into the land sector labour market
to discover where they are currently based and their job position, compared to when they attended the course
to clarify the extent to which the training has contributed to their career trajectories
to assess the extent to which they are applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the course in their current jobs on a scale of 1-5.
to identify what they have done since the training, or done differently, within their professional fields as a result of the training received, including any impacts on policy or practice
to summarise the nature of demand for further training.
Terms of reference
The consultant will perform the following tasks:
Review relevant documents as background to PLAAS’s NELGA work
Produce an inception report including a detailed work plan and methodologies using both census (quantitative) and sample (qualitative) approaches.
Develop, test, refine and administer a questionnaire for an online survey. The quantitative survey will need to include information to allow for analysis and comparison by:
in-person versus online participation in the course
sector (government / academia / civil society / private sector)
seniority
gender
region
language
Conduct interviews with key informants and focus groups, exploring:
understanding and learning: the process, the depth, the breadth
post-course engagement with alumni and lecturers: WhatsApp, and more
Practical application of the trainings: “what have you done or done differently as a result” and “what more can you do / offer”
demand for more training
explore feasibility of ‘opportunistic reunions’ in-person in capital cities
Produce a written report on the findings. The outcomes indicators that we wish to learn about include the course participants’:
publications
career advancement
sense of community
understanding
policy development
use of assignments
Present the findings in a presentation to PLAAS and key stakeholders identified.
Data protection: the Consultant will be expected to be cognisant of legal constraints and permission for use of personal information. Suitable methods compliant with GDPR must be proposed to secure the consent of survey participants.
Eligibility requirements
The consultant must be:
knowledgeable about regional land governance in Africa;
able to demonstrate experience with evaluation research; and
able to work independently, flexibly, and within agreed timeframes.
PLAAS undertakes to:
provide institutional support to the consultant; and
Provide any NELGA related information the consultant requires.
Time Frames
Deadline for proposal:
15 August 2024
Contracting:
30 August – 13 September 2024
Inception meeting & draft report:
11 October 2024
Inception report finalised:
18 October 2024
Draft report & workshop:
28 November 2024
Final report:
06 December 2024
Remuneration
The total available funds for this evaluation will be commensurate with the work proposed. Applications are invited to propose a budget in the range of 8,000-12,000 Euros, inclusive of all professional fees and costs.
How to apply
Applications must be sent in the form of a detailed proposal in a Word document, together with the consultant/s detailed CV, indicating past clients and evaluation reports concluded. This must be emailed to chenry@plaas.org.za by 15 August 2024.
Download the Terms of Reference here.
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