Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Facilitator
ABOUT ACTS
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), founded in 1988, is a non-profit, non-partisan, intergovernmental think and do tank whose mandate is to strengthen the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable development. The Centre delivers its mandate through policy-oriented research, capacity
building, advisory services, and knowledge dissemination. The vision is knowledge for better livelihoods, while the mission is to strengthen the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology, and innovation for inclusive sustainable development.
In the current cycle of the Centre’s Strategic Plan (2022-2026), ACTS thematic areas of focus includes climate change; energy; digital innovation; agriculture and food security; gender, youth and inclusive innovation. The areas have been articulated through quality research, policy analysis and engagement, capacity strengthening, and knowledge and technology brokerage.
THE SCOPE OF WORK
ACTS is looking for a facilitator to strategically support and guide in co-development of the organization’s Strategic Plan for the year 2027 to 2031.
Objective
The primary objective of this consultancy is to facilitate and guide in a consultative and collaborative development of a new Strategic Plan for the Organization. At the end of the process the main goal is to develop a Strategic Plan that builds upon the achievements of the organization over the years including the current plan and seizes the opportunities presented by the evolving and dynamic internal organizational infrastructure, as well as the external operating environment in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem. Ultimately, this new plan is expected to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of ACTS’ core mission as stated above.
The Assignment
The assignment is facilitative in nature will entail co-working and co-learning with the ACTS steering committee dedicated to this process, comprising of ACTS senior management, and guiding their direction towards achieving the above objective. The roadmap of the SP development process will guide in the process and comprise among others, the following.
- Review of relevant past and existing resources including the current mid term review report, the ACTS research conference reports and working groups reports, the ACTS new organizational structure, new human resource manual and new carer progression guidelines among others.
- Internal working groups namely: thematic areas working group; regional expansion strategy and partnership; commercialization and technology transfer and resource mobilization.
- Consolidation of groups’ work into one whole document, towards the first draft Strategic Plan.
- Validation of the draft SP by the Governing Council during the August mid year meeting.
- Launch of the Strategic Plan later in the year.
Expected Deliverables
The anticipated deliverables from this facilitative consultancy include:
- A structured plan on how to support the four working groups based on available internal resources and mapped external environment.
- A format for the five-year Strategic Plan – 2027-2031; and structured plan on how to align the available resources to this format.
- A programme for engaging the stakeholders for their input towards the strategic plan co-development.
- Facilitating in at least four strategic planning meetings/webinars/workshops involving all stakeholders.
- First draft strategic plan co-developed with all stakeholders.
Eligibility
- Relevant documents demonstrating past experience in similar assignment, either in an individual capacity or within an established firm.
- A dynamic individual who is well versed with the science, technology and innovation ecosystem in the African continent and how it interacts with the wider global ecosystem.
- Ability to engage the stakeholders in a collaborative manner using a learning approach.
- Ability to use an evidence-based approach, maintain the highest standards of work, and ensure timely deliverables at all stages of the assignment.
Supervision The facilitator will work closely with the Director of Research and Innovation who is leading the overall SP development, and the ACTS Strategic Plan Steering Committee. The ACTS Executive Director will provide overall oversight and guidance.
Duration and renumeration
- The consultancy will be 30 days spread out across a period of three months from the signing of the consultancy agreement.
- The consultant will provide a workplan for this duration with indicators of impact aligned to tangible expected deliverables as outlined above.
Contact:
Please submit an application to dri@acts-net.org on or before 30th April 2026.
