Headquarters:
URL: http://essa-africa.org

POST TITLE: Consultancy: Design and Implementation of ACSL Impact Studies

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT: 2026-2030

LOCATION: Sub-Saharan Africa

 

Applicants must have the right to work in their location. 

REPORTING TO: Senior Research, Evaluation and Impact Manager 

SALARY: Competitive - dependent on experience   

ABOUT ESSA

Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) improves education using evidence and data from Africa in research, advocacy and programme design.  
 
We take a systems approach by identifying challenges and co-designing solutions in partnership with local education researchers, education leaders, policymakers, funders and employers to improve education outcomes for young people. Our research generates actionable insights that inform decisions, policies and practice and strengthen education systems.  
 
ESSA’s values are at the heart of everything we do, and they are: 
•    Evidence-driven: We are driven by data and evidence to find what works best, building an evidence alliance for education in sub-Saharan Africa. 
•    Solutions-focused: We seek the highest impact for young people and educators in sub-Saharan Africa with the cost-effective funds we invest.  
•    Strengthening Trust: We strive to create supportive environments, building trust with the communities we work with. 
•    Always learning: Everyone’s opinion is valuable; we develop solutions through teamwork. 
 
To find out more about ESSA, visit essa-africa.org. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

Background and Context

The African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) was established in 2021 to transform school leadership systems across Africa. The Centre’s mission is to collaborate with governments and regional institutions to provide high-quality, contextualised professional development services, conduct research, and offer policy advice to enhance school leadership, teaching, and student outcomes. By developing school leaders and improving educational practices, ACSL seeks to foster positive changes in the education sector, enhancing learning environments, student well-being, and overall academic quality at national and Pan-African levels. Further details about ACSL can be found on the ACSL website (African Centre for School Leadership).

 

ACSL functions as a coalition of regional and in-country partners implementing donor-funded projects, and four key Pan-African organisations coordinate it: the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA), the Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and VVOB – Education for Development. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, ACSL launched the Foundation Phase Project (2023-2024), which spanned Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana. This initiative focused on two central themes: the intersection of gender and school leadership and the emerging Ubuntu leadership model. These areas guided the Centre's work in promoting inclusive, innovative, and collaborative school leadership practices across the continent. 

 

ACSL is actively engaged in implementing the Leaders in Teaching (LIT) LEAD pillar across Tanzania, Malawi, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This initiative focuses on strengthening the leadership capacities of secondary school leaders to foster more effective teaching and learning environments. By 2030, the programme aims to benefit over 14,493 secondary schools, including both public and non-state institutions, in LIT expansion countries and throughout the Pan-African region.  

 

Through targeted School Leadership Professional Development (SLPD), school leaders will be better equipped to support teachers and drive improvements in student learning outcomes. The initiative is expected to affect approximately 4,853,564 students enrolled in secondary education. 

 

The initiatives of ACSL-LIT-Lead concentrate on four key areas:  

    1. Supporting the development and reform of evidence-based policies and frameworks for school leadership. 

    2. Supporting the delivery of professional development programmes for school leaders. 

    3. Researching to generate insights on school leadership effectiveness.  

    4. Promoting communication and advocacy to disseminate lessons and enhance sector coordination.

 

ACSL aims to improve learning outcomes and reduce gender and equity disparities in education through enhanced school leadership practices. 

Purpose of the Consultancy 

The Centre seeks to engage an African-led consortium of institutions to provide coordinated technical leadership, methodological rigour, and independent analysis to support the design, implementation, synthesis, and cross-study learning across six potential studies. Further details on the studies can be found: ACSL Impact Studies - Concept Note.

The purpose of this engagement is for the consortium of institutions to: 

• Provide independent technical lead for the design and implementation of the ACSL’s six impact studies. 

• Ensure methodological coherence, quality assurance, and alignment with ACSL’s Theory of Change and the outcomes of the ADEA Triennale in 2025 (See the detailed concept note referenced above for more information; pages 35 to 44).  

• Apply contribution-focused, mixed-methods, and Afrocentric analytical approaches across the portfolio. 

• Generate high-quality evidence products to inform learning, policy influence, and the sustainability of the Centre. 

Required Qualifications and Experience 

Given the multi-country scope, cross-cutting thematic focus, and technical complexity of the six interrelated studies, ACSL strongly encourages applications from qualified consortia of organisations rather than single entities. Applicants are therefore encouraged to form consortia that strategically combine complementary expertise. 

 

ACSL requires the consortium to be African-led. The lead institution must be legally registered and headquartered in Africa, with demonstrated experience leading multi-country evaluation portfolios on the continent.  

 

The consortium model should clearly demonstrate: 

• Defined and complementary roles among partners. 

• Clear governance and coordination arrangements. 

• Mechanisms for quality assurance and methodological coherence across studies. 

• Efficient financial management and accountability structures. 

• Designation of a lead institution responsible for overall portfolio coordination and primary contractual engagement. 

 

Additionally, the consortium team collectively should demonstrate: 

• Proven experience in school leadership and/or education systems evaluation, preferably in Africa. 

• Strong expertise in school leadership, professional development, and policy reform. 

• Demonstrated use of mixed-methods, contribution analysis, and systems evaluation. 

• Experience with gender-transformative and equity-focused research. 

• Strong understanding of Afrocentric and contextually grounded leadership models. 

• Ability to manage multi-country, multi-study evaluation portfolios. 
• Excellent analytical writing and knowledge translation skills. 

Scope of Work

ACSL expects the consortium of institutions to possess complementary expertise, where each member leads or co-leads specific studies aligned with its demonstrated core strengths. The consortium must collectively demonstrate the capacity to deliver all six studies and present a clear framework for executing them as a coherent portfolio, including defined approaches to sequencing, methodological alignment, cross-study learning integration, and quality assurance.  

 

Applicants are advised that the methodology presented in the concept note is indicative and may be used as a guiding framework.  

 

Study Coverage: 

1. Study 1: School leadership practice, data use, and learner outcomes (Tanzania). 

2. Study 2: Gender, equity, and social inclusion in school leadership (Pan Africa & Tanzania). 

3. Study 3: Policy and institutionalisation of school leadership professional development (Pan Africa & Tanzania). 

4. Study 4: Effectiveness of school leadership professional development (Pan Africa & Tanzania). 

5. Study 5: Research capacity, blended learning trajectories, and evidence use (Pan Africa & Tanzania). 

6. Study 6: Collaboration, networks, and formative assessment for ACSL Centre establishment (Pan Africa & Tanzania). 

 

Key Tasks and Responsibilities 

The consortium will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

1. Inception and Design

• Review ACSL programme documentation, Theories of Change, and study concept notes. 

• Review evaluation questions and contribution pathways across the six studies. 

• Develop and/or validate study designs, sampling strategies, and data collection tools. 

• Ensure Afrocentric, gender-responsive, and context-sensitive frameworks are embedded across studies.
• Define clear leadership and technical responsibilities among consortium members for specific studies, while establishing mechanisms for portfolio-level coordination and coherence

 2. Methodological Implementation Support

• Lead the longitudinal, mixed-methods, and contribution-based evaluation approaches through designated lead institutions within the consortium. 

• Embark on network mapping, policy analysis, institutional readiness assessment, and professional development effectiveness analysis. 

• Ensure ethical standards, data protection, and safeguarding protocols are applied. 

• Provide technical oversight to fieldwork coordination (working with partners). 
  

3. Data Analysis and Synthesis

• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data across studies under coordinated leadership arrangements within the consortium. 

• Conduct cross-study triangulation and synthesis. 

• Generate contribution narratives explaining how ACSL interventions influence observed outcomes. 

• Support intersectional analysis (gender, location, disability etc.). 

• Establish internal quality assurance processes to ensure methodological consistency across consortium-led studies. 
  

4. Learning, Adaptation, and Knowledge Translation

• Produce learning briefs and adaptive management insights. 

• Support policy dialogue processes and learning convenings. 

• Collaborate with ACSL to translate findings into policy briefs, practice notes, and advocacy-ready products. 

• Ensure structured cross-learning between consortium members to inform adaptive programme refinement. 

5. Portfolio-Level Integration

• Ensure coherence and complementarity across the six studies. 

• Produce an integrated impact and learning synthesis. 

• Share how the six study outputs will feed into a unified portfolio-wide evidence and learning framework to inform ACSL learning, policy dialogue, and programme adaptation. 

Key Deliverables 

The institution/firm/consortium will be responsible for delivering, at minimum, the following deliverables: 

• Inception and Integrated Portfolio Evaluation Design Report covering all six studies, including the overarching evaluation framework, cross-study analytical approach, and synthesis strategy. 

• Study-Specific Technical Reports and Case Studies (as per agreed scope). 

• Mid-term Learning and Adaptive Management briefs. 

• Final Integrated Impact, Learning, and Contribution Synthesis Report. 

• Policy, Practice, and Centre Products, including briefs and a roadmap for the ACSL Centre. 

Duration and Level of Effort

• The consultancy is expected to run over a multi-year period (2026–2030), aligned with the timing of the six studies (as indicated in the ACSL Impact Study Concept Note). 

• Level of effort will be phased and agreed during inception, with peaks during design, midline reviews, and final synthesis with clear allocation of responsibilities across consortium members. 

 

Reporting and Coordination

• The institution/firm/consortium that is awarded the contract will report to the Senior Research Evaluation and Impact Manager at ESSA, with a dotted line to the ACSL Head of Research. 

• Work will be coordinated closely with ACSL partners (ADEA, ESSA, FAWE, VVOB, Education for Development) and national stakeholders. 

• Agreed timelines for progress updates and learning check-ins will be required. 

• The consortium must demonstrate a clear internal governance structure to ensure effective coordination and accountability. 
  

Ethical Considerations

The consortium must: 

• Adhere to ethical research standards. 

• Ensure informed consent and confidentiality. 

• Apply safeguarding and data protection protocols. 

• Demonstrate sensitivity to power dynamics and institutional contexts. 

 

Application and Selection Criteria

Interested consortia/firms should submit: 

• Technical proposal outlining approach, methodology, and work plan. 

• Team composition and CVs. 

• Relevant organisational and team experience. 

• Financial proposal (must be submitted using the provided ACSL Budget Template: ACSL Impact Studies - Budget Template). Proposals not aligned with the template may be considered non-responsive. Please consult the Budget Guidance Note for guidance on completing the budget template: ACSL Impact Studies - Budget Guidance Note.
  

• Samples of similar assignments.
  

Selection will be based on technical quality, relevance of experience, methodological robustness, and value for money. 

ACSL Pre-application Information Webinar

Interested institutions/consortium/firms are requested to carefully review all the provided documents, including the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If, after reviewing the documents, you require further clarification, please submit your queries: ACSL Impact Studies - Enquiries Form. All questions must be submitted by 11 May 2026 at 0900 hrs GMT. 

 

ACSL will host an information webinar to provide additional clarification on the Impact Study and respond to submitted queries. Details of the webinar are provided below. 

 

• Date: 15th May 2026 

• Time: 1000hrs – 1200hrs GMT | 1300hrs – 1500hrs EAT 

 

To attend, please register via this link: Zoom registration link.

 

How to apply

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications after the information session.

 

Please ensure that all your application documents are saved using your given name and surname. For example, Firstname.Surname Technical Proposal. The closing date for applications is 20th July 2026 at 0900hrs GMT 

Expected start date

The consortium engagement is expected to commence in October 2026, subject to contracting and finalisation of scope. 

Equality & Diversity

The importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) underpins our mission and values at ESSA. We prioritise inclusion and celebrate the breadth of knowledge and experience working across diverse cultures brings to the organisation.

 

EDI at ESSA is embodied in the current composition of our Board of Trustees and our workforce, which strongly reflects the communities we work in, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/education-sub-saharan-africa-consultancy-design-and-implementation-of-acsl-impact-studies

SCM is committed to a workplace that values and promotes diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunity by ensuring that all employees are valued, heard, engaged and involved at work and have full opportunities to collaborate, contribute and grow professionally.

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Advance AbbVie’s pipeline by striving for excellence in clinical research, turning science into medicine for our patients and leveraging advanced capabilities to drive industry leading performance.

Partners with study teams, AbbVie internal R&D stakeholders, investigators, and site staff for meaningful and effective engagements positioning AbbVie as the partner of choice in clinical trials.

Focus on site clinical research that ensures appropriate conduct of the trial while driving improvement in data integrity, compliance, overall study performance and customer experience.

Responsibilities

List up to 10 main responsibilities for the job. Include information about the accountability and scope.

• “Considered as the Pprimary Sponsor pPoint of contact for the investigative site. Advanced level of competency or experience in providing contextual information on the clinical trials, connecting stakeholders to the investigative sites and strengthening Abbvie’s positioning.

Ability to motivate and align monitoring community through leadership and mentorship.”

• Aligns, trains and motivates the site staff and principal investigator on the goals of the clinical trial program, protocol, and patient treatment principles for the trial ensuring a trusted partnership. Able to support, guide, and mentor junior personnel on Site Management activities.
• “Conducts site evaluation, site training, routine on-site and off-site monitoring, and site closure monitoring activities with compliance to the protocol and monitoring plans, in accordance with applicable regulations, Good Clinical Practices (GCPs), ICH Guidelines, AbbVie Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and quality standards, ensuring safety and protection of study subjects.
• Superior understanding of site engagement and ability to customize site engagement strategy for assigned study/ies and critically apply new strategies as needed. Gather local/site insights and utilize site engagement tools to report/track progress and measure impact of that strategy.
• Superior level of competency connecting the study protocol, scientific principles and clinical trial requirements to the day-to-day clinical trial execution activities. Expert understanding to generate and ensure effective recruitment and retention techniques/plans based on the patient disease journey.

Develop solid knowledge of therapeutic area, asset and clinical landscape / patient journey to enable successful patient recruitment and overall protocol compliance.”

• Possesses advanced level of competency to mentor and train less experienced CRAs on various aspects of work and provides input into their development. Supports local onboarding of more junior CRAs. Demonstrates ability to openly listen to and consider viewpoints to enhance outcomes.
• May participate/lead in global/local task forces and initiatives. Responsible for activities as assigned by manager.

“

• Responsible for continuous risk-assessment proactively, and in collaboration with Central Monitoring team, monitor activities conducted by clinical sites to detect early overall study performance or patient safety issues. Superior ability to think critically to resolve site risk signals while having robust understanding of site processes to drive study execution. Ensures preventative and corrective action plans are put into place, as needed, to mitigate risk and promote compliance using a cust
• Independently Identifies, evaluates and recommends new/potential investigators/sites on an on going basis demonstrating expert understanding and decision making. Potential sites may be identified through networking or internal AbbVie requests to assist in the placement of planned clinical studies with qualified investigators.
• Ensures quality of data submitted from study sites and assures timely submission of data, including appropriate reporting and follow-up for all safety events by site personnel. Ensures audit and regulatory inspection readiness at assigned clinical site at all times. Manages investigator payments as per executed contract obligations, as applicable.

Qualifications

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in health related disciplines (e.g., Medical, Scientific, Pharmacy, Nursing) preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of clinically related experience, of which a period of 2 years is preferable in independent clinical research monitoring of investigational drug or device trials in any therapeutic area. Familiar with risk‐based monitoring approach, onsite and offsite monitoring.
• Knowledge of appropriate therapeutic area indications with the ability to understand and apply scientific concepts as they relate to the conduct of clinical trials
• Superior knowledge on existing and emerging local regulatory and legal requirements, ICH/GCP Guidelines and applicable policies.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills and superior cross-functional collaboration skills among internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate superior planning and organizational skills and the ability to work effectively and efficiently in a dynamic environment with competing projects and deadlines.
• Superior ability to leverage technology, tools and resources to provide customer centric support based on the health of the site.
• Superior interpersonal skills with excellent written, verbal, active listening and presentation skills, with ability to establish and leverage site relationships and trusted partnerships through engagement, motivation, and training.
• Ability to independently use functional expertise, leverage critical thinking skills and apply good judgement to address clinical site issues
• Acts with integrity in accordance with AbbVie code of business conduct and leadership values. Self-motivated individual focused on delivering timely and quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this roleat  the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors  including  geographic location, and we may ultimately  pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be  modified in the future. ​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to  participate in our short-term incentive programs.  ​

Note: No amount of pay is  considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned,  vested,  and determinable. The amount and availability of  any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable to a   particular employee  remains in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be  modified at the Company’s sole and absolutediscretion,  consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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