Background

The AfricaLics network was founded in 2012 due to a growing recognition of the need for more support for academic ‘research on innovation’ that has relevance to the contextual environments of African countries. There was acknowledgement that the huge focus on ‘research in innovation’ (i.e., research and development of specific inventions that can help solve practical problems) would be undermined if the enabling environment for such inventions to be developed and commercialized through innovation was not conducive. The concept of ‘research on innovation’ focuses on innovation processes, what fosters innovation and on what may help new solutions get accepted and adopted. It is particularly interested in understanding the impact on the social and economic development of African countries. It considers these issues at the level of firms, networks, and collaborations as well as at the national, continental, and global levels. As such the work of scholars in the AfricaLics network is multi-disciplinary being at the intersection of the established academic fields of innovation studies and development studies (innovation and development (I &D) studies). However, the network also includes those from other more disciplinary fields such as engineering, economics and political science. The network’s vision is to facilitate the production and use of high-quality research at this intersection of innovation and development to promote inclusive and sustainable development in African countries.

Over the last 10 years the network has solidified its activities across three areas:

1. Capacity building through holding of residential or online two week-long PhD training academies; a one-year visiting fellowship programme with a five-month stay at Aalborg University in Denmark and dedicated mentorship to enhance paper writing for conferences and journal
2. Research strengthening via seed funding to multi-partner consortiums to fill identified research gaps; regular research conferences and support to build research training at post-graduate level including PhD supervisor training and model postgraduate curriculum development.
3. Network building through formalization of the network as a non-incorporated voluntary association with a dedicated Secretariat, Scientific Board (ASB), interim constitution and membership database; development of a network website and social media accounts to keep members engaged and a series of webinars, policy engagement events and other opportunities.

A recent external evaluation in 2021 noted that AfricaLics has successfully created a unique and multi-disciplinary network of scholars working with innovation and development (I &D) issues on the continent.  

We are looking for three dynamic scholars who will assume “Thematic Chairs” positions and work with the Secretariat in actualizing a series of “Thematic Research Areas”. The scholars will engage Network members who work in the specific thematic areas to encourage discussion, debate and collaboration in these areas forward on the continent. Topics must be relevant to the broad research agenda promoted by AfricaLics. The Thematic Chairs could take a sectoral focus (e.g. agriculture, health, firm performance, work organization, gender and innovation or any other sectoral area), or conceptual/theoretical focus (e.g. innovation systems, competence and capabilities building, organization of innovation or transformative innovation policy). The ultimate aim is to build the Network’s I & D knowledge base by encouraging collaboration and networking between the scholars working in these thematic areas. In this regard, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), as the host of the AfricaLics Secretariat and the administrator of the Sida funded Research Capacity Building project is requesting for applications to fill up these positions. 

The scope of the work

As noted above, the thematic chairs are expected to provide an anchor point for collaboration, networking and discussion of key thematic (research agenda) areas that are critical to innovation and development studies.  The thematic areas need to be both anchored in the issues affecting the continent now and likely to affect the continent in the medium to longer term as well as provide opportunities to develop theoretical and conceptual contributions to an Africanized field of ‘innovation studies’.  As such, we encourage applicants to review the following resources as you develop your applications:

• the research topics identified in 2012 during the launch of AfricaLics which were essentially gaps or under-researched areas in Africa related to the field of I&D,
• the three research themes used in Phase II that grouped the original research topics
• the analysis of research papers submitted in the AfricaLics external evaluation (categorization of research topics based on titles mainly) available as part of Evaluation.
• current and future challenges such as post-Covid19 agenda, the SDGs and including the need to respond to climate change and ensuring transformative action.

The first three of these are available on the AfricaLics website.

The work to be undertaken in 2022 will comprise of, but may not be limited to the following tasks:

1. develop a concept note for a special session to be held at the AfricaLics Conference 2022 which can be used to stimulate discussion of your thematic area Develop a thematic report for your specific focus area based on available literature and reflecting state of the art research in the field within Africa. This should preferably include collaboration/ inputs with other researchers who work in your thematic area (providing an opportunity to collaborate in defining and developing this strand of innovation and development studies in Africa)
2. Coordinate review of papers submitted for the Conference 2022 within specific thematic area(s) (helping build up the I & D Research communities related to suggested sub-themes for the conference and future events). This will help validate and adjudicate any discrepancies in scoring between reviewers; ensure high quality of papers presented and help coordinating the paper review process.
3. Explore possibilities for other opportunities for researchers working in your thematic area in Africa to collaborate and network, this might include guest-editing special issues of I&D journals or any other relevant Journal following the conference or organizing one of the AfricaLics monthly webinars. Ideas for other innovative collaboration ideas are welcomed as part of your proposals.

Minimum Deliverables

These will be fine-tuned during the discussion on the scope of work but are provisionally expected to include:

1. A proposal for development and organisation of a thematic group aimed at promoting collaboration or networking in the respective thematic area of focus (August 2022).
2. A thematic report that will be evaluated and approved by the AfricaLics secretariat and the ASB working group in charge of conference planning and selection of thematic chairs group (draft by 1^st October; final draft report before the 2022 AfricaLics conference)
3. Substantial contribution to paper review process leading to selection of papers for the 2022 AfricaLics Conference
4. A special session organised during the AfricaLics Conference in Cameroon from 9^th-11^th November 2022.
5. A brief report (4-6 pages) on activities undertaken to initiate activities within the thematic group for which the Thematic Chair is responsible (to be submitted by end of contract period/end November) including a plan of action for 2023.

Duration of the assignment

The I & D Thematic Chairs will support the AfricaLics Network on a part time basis each for a maximum of 20 days to undertake the following tasks. The successful applicant will be given a 5-6 months contract (estimated to start in June 2022)

The successful candidate(s) is/are expected to be self-driven, working towards ensuring timely and quality deliverables that will be reviewed from time to time by the AfricaLics Secretariat and the responsible ASB Working Group.

Management

This consultancy will be administered by ACTS under the AfricaLics Research Capacity Building (RCB) project funded by Sida, with supervision from AfricaLics Secretariat.

Contract value and payment

This is not a fully funded research chair position.  This is a part time, volunteer position with a small token fee available to cover a portion of the time this role will take to fulfil.  Other networks sometimes call these positions, ‘division chairs’ or ‘section leads’. The work will be done for a maximum of 20 days between June – December 2022. Payment will be conditional upon completion of all work as per the approved work plan and sign off of deliverables. The contract attracts a withholding tax (the rate of tax is dependent on the location of the applicant with different rates for a national in Kenya and those residing internationally).  

Qualifications of the applicants

1. Be a holder of a Master’s or PhD Degree in Innovation Studies or relevant field,
2. One to three years research experience in an innovation relevant field is p However, PhD students with knowledge in innovation studies may be considered.

In addition, candidates should also outline their competencies in the following areas:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work on context specific needs/topics. 
• Flexible when it comes to change and open to receive and integrate feedback.

Terms of engagement

• The applicant will receive a moderate fee for the task
• Duration of engagement may vary between 5 to 6 months (between June and December 2022)
• Applicant must be affiliated with a research or academic institution, preferably in Africa
• Engagement may be on an individual basis but partnership with respective institution may also be considered

Application Procedure

Qualified applicants are invited to apply and submit:

• No more than 2 A4 page proposal indicating:
  • an introduction to the thematic area they wish to promote and a justification for its promotion by AfricaLics
  • A short overview of a plan of action for the remainder of 2022 (including by not limited to the deliverables outlined above) and
  • An overview of how they meet the specifications for the thematic chair position
• a Curriculum vitae clearly indicating experience relevant to this position.
• Priority will be given to scholars engaged or interested in innovation studies. Qualifications and experience must be demonstrated by evidence of publication list.
• Priority will be given to AfricaLics alumni (participants in previous conferences, PhD academies, VFP etc.) provided they have the necessary qualifications.

Interested individuals to send an application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and a copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with ‘AfricaLics Thematic Chair” in the subject heading.

Further enquiry may be channeled through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Call for applications will close on 1^st July 2022