Science for Africa and ARMA Training Proposal – invitation to tender

Overview

ARMA invites proposals from experienced individuals/providers to design and deliver 2 Research Impact workshops and a follow up coaching clinic for colleagues from Africa in conjunction with SFA Foundation Africa.

Background

As a follow on to the International Research Management Staff Development Programme (IRMSDP) implemented by ARMA and the SFA, this additional training is designed to strengthen the skills and capacities of research management staff from African institutions, further enhancing their knowledge on engaging in international research collaboration.

Previous training delivered during the first phase of the IRMSDP included hands on workshops on topics such as research impact, research communication, due diligence, contracts etc.

This series will focus on contextualisation and knowledge application, specifically on equitability in research partnerships, research security and research impact, and targets research management and project support staff from selected research institutions.

To contextualise and root the training into existing activities being carried out by SFA Foundation, the workshop series will include

1. An introductory session delivered by the SFA on the recently launched Good Research Management Practice Standard (GRMP Africa)
2. 6 interactive workshops on Equitable Research Partnerships, Research Security and Research Impact. Workshop content will be firmed up following responses from the pre-assessment survey (to be filled during application). Potential topics have however been proposed below.
3. 3 group coaching clinics – to reinforce the outcomes from the workshops, there’ll be a series of three virtual group coaching clinics. Each clinic will run for a maximum of two hours and provide structured, interactive support to address immediate implementation needs.

This training is for research management and project support staff from selected research institutions in Africa. Participation will be limited to 30 participants.

Scope of Work

This tender is specifically for an individual(s)/organisation to deliver the Research Impact training element of the programme. Research impact is increasingly recognised as a critical measure of success, yet many African research institutions face unique challenges in planning, evidencing, and communicating this impact within resource-constrained environments. The workshops should be designed to equip participants with practical tools and strategies to navigate these challenges effectively through hands-on application and peer learning.

Specifically, the trainer will be expected to:

1. Design the content for two virtual workshops (2-hours each) – it is expected that these will be interactive and responsive to the learning needs identified in the pre-assessment survey.
2. Deliver the two workshops – the workshops will be run on ARMA’s own Zoom platform. Technical support will be provided before and during the workshops.
3. Support in the design and delivery of coaching sessions – there will be three coaching sessions following the workshops. The content and plan of how this will be conducted will be firmed up following a post-workshops survey. They will aim to respond to any additional learning needs from participants. It is not expected that the expert be at all three coaching sessions, but he/she should at least attend and lead one.
4. Contribute to the final report and news article – the training programme lead will be responsible for developing the report and article, with input from the trainers.

It is highly encouraged that the trainer engage 1 or 2 additional speakers/co-trainer from Africa and to include how/whom they’ll engage in their response to the call. This shouldn’t be a deterrent however, and should the trainer not have such networks, ARMA and SFA can support in sourcing for one.

Proposed Potential Topics

The topics below have been proposed for the two workshops. They are however not prescriptive, and the trainer is at liberty to suggest different topics based on their relevant expertise.

• Understanding and planning for research impact – focuses on building a strong foundation for impact by exploring its multiple dimensions in African contexts. Participants will learn how to develop Theory of Change models, design impact pathways, and identify meaningful indicators that go beyond traditional academic metrics.
• Demonstrating and communicating research impact – moves from planning to practice, offering techniques for capturing credible evidence, overcoming LMIC-specific evaluation hurdles, and crafting compelling narratives for diverse audiences – from funders and policymakers to communities and research partners.

Delivery Timeline:

• Workshop 1: 4^th May 2026
• Workshop 2: 18^th May 2026
• Coaching clinics: June 2026 (Dates TBC)

Deliverables

• Programme design and session plans.
• ID and recruitment of co-speakers (from Africa)
• Delivery of 2 virtual session(s) and group coaching clinic,
• Review and integration of findings from pre-training questionnaire and analysis into workshop plan.
• Post-training; shareable materials to support continuing good practice

Tender Timeline

• Programme delivery: from May 2026 (dates to be agreed).
• Clarifying questions/informal discussions can be booked by contacting Eva Kagiri-Kalanzi eva@scientiascripta.co.uk or eva.kagiri@gmail.com by Friday 23rd January
• Proposal submission deadline: 17:00 Friday 30^th January.
• Contract award: .

Budget

The overall fixed budget for delivering the training is £7500 (excluding VAT). £5000 for the Research Impact sessions and £2500 for the group clinic session. Please note that this includes any remuneration to invited speaker(s)/co-trainer. It is the responsibility of the lead trainer to make any fee agreements in this regard with their selected speaker(s)/co-trainer.

There will be invited speakers for the Coaching Sessions, but this will be paid directly by ARMA.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed on:

• Relevance and quality of proposed content.
• Experience in subject matter and audience
• Value for money.

Submission Instructions

Please submit your proposal to james.dunphy@arma.ac.uk  by 17:00 Friday 30^th January Include:

• Relevant experience.
• Proposed training outline and delivery approach.
• Delivery team bios and relevant references/testimonials.
• Budget and timeline.
• Please use no more than 3 pages of A4 for your proposal (excluding CVs).