Mapping and Evaluation of Land Governance Trainings in Africa

Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) is a GIZ-AU program that aims to enhance land expertise in Africa through the establishment and coordination of the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA). NELGA is a network of 70+ universities from 40 African countries working on land governance issues to promote sustainable and equitable land governance through training and education programs, research, and policy advocacy.

Since its inception, SLGA has supported the development or review of 29 academic curricula across partner institutions and awarded 182 scholarships in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The program also delivers a range of short-term and specialized trainings — including executive courses, online modules, summer schools, and technical seminars — aimed at strengthening land governance capacity at multiple levels. Support is coordinated regionally through NELGA Nodes, which serve as hubs for curriculum development, peer learning, and institutional capacity building across geographic clusters.

Understanding the availability, relevance, and impact of land governance education is critical to achieving the objectives of the Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in Africa (SLGA) program. This assignment will map out land governance courses and training programs offered across Africa, assess curricula supported by NELGA, and evaluate alumni outcomes.

To deepen the understanding of NELGA’s institutional impact, the project also through surveys and virtual interviews with alumni and university representatives. This will provide valuable insights into how supported curricula translate into real-world skills, how alumni apply their knowledge professionally, and how universities engage in policy dialogues and government advisory roles on land governance matters.

The main objectives of the assignment are to:

• Conduct a comprehensive overview of land governance-related academic and training programs offered in and on Africa.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and status of curricula developed or reviewed under SLGA support.
• Disseminate alumni surveys and analyze personal and professional data to assess the practical application and relevance of NELGA education initiatives.
• Optionally, conduct virtual interviews with NELGA member universities to evaluate their engagement with GIZ-supported services and their roles in policy advisory.

1. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is responsible for providing the following services:

Task 1: Mapping of Land Governance Courses

• Identify as many land governance courses and training programs as possible across Africa.
• Collect key data (institution name, course title, format—online/in-person/hybrid, language of instruction, link or point of contact).
• For each identified course, perform a one-time spot check to confirm availability and accuracy of the information (e.g., contacting the institution or verifying online if the course still exists).
• Maintain a short record (e.g., date, method of verification, outcome) for internal reference.
• Highlight gaps and opportunities in land governance education for an internal document.
• Compile all verified courses in a clear, user-friendly format suitable for broad dissemination.

Task 2: Alumni Surveys

• Coordinate with GIZ to obtain contact information for target NELGA universities.
• Reach out to universities to gather updates on curricula developed or reviewed under NELGA support, collect contact information for relevant stakeholders, and gather data on the number of individuals who have participated in these courses.
• Disseminate already existing surveys to alumni, with GIZ providing the prepared survey, and ensure a representative response rate.
• Analyze survey data to assess:
• Alumni’s ability to apply their knowledge in their professional tasks.
• Employment outcomes and alignment with land governance education.

Task 3: Reporting and Deliverables

1. Public-Facing Booklet (Word & PDF)

• Provide a concise, user-friendly overview of existing land governance courses in Africa.
• Scope:
• Institution and course names
• Course formats (online, in-person, hybrid)
• Links or contact information for further details
• Basic descriptors (duration, location, language)
• Design & Formatting:
• Font: Arial 11 for body text
• Organized layout with a table of contents, clear headings, and links for more info
• Suitable for both print and digital dissemination

1. Alumni Survey Report (Word & PDF)

• Detailed analysis of survey findings, including:
• Response rate, respondent demographics, and professional application of acquired knowledge
• Key insights and notable trends
• Actionable recommendations for curriculum improvement (if relevant)

1. Curriculum Status Report (Word & PDF)

• Summary of the status of any curricula developed or reviewed under NELGA support.
• Information gathered from universities on recent updates or revisions.
• Recommendations for enhancing course relevance and alignment with labor market needs.

1. Presentation of Findings (Virtual)

• One virtual session on MS Teams to present the final results and respond to questions from GIZ and key stakeholders.

Unless explicitly required by GIZ, the survey and interview results or any other data and information shared with GIZ by the contractor must be provided strictly anonymously, meaning that any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (data subject’) must be excluded.

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Milestones/process steps/partial services

Deadline/place/person responsible

Inception report (Includes a detailed work plan, methodology, and refined timeline.)

Within 2 weeks of contract start date

Disseminate Alumni Surveys (Surveys sent to relevant alumni, follow-up plan in place)

Within 8 weeks

Public Booklet (Draft) (listing of courses with verified data)

Within 14 weeks

Alumni survey Report (Clear analysis with recommendations)

Within 16 weeks

Curriculum status report (Updates on NELGA-supported curricula)

Within 16 weeks

Final Deliverables & virtual presentation (Final booklet, survey report, and presentation of findings)

Within 20 weeks

Period of assignment: from 12.07.2025 until 01.12.2025.

1. Concept

In the tender, the tenderer is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the tenderer must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The tenderer is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to tender (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the tenderer presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The tenderer is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

1. Personnel concept

The tenderer is required to provide personnel who are suited to filling the positions described, on the basis of their CVs (see Chapter 7), the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications.

The below specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.

Expert

Tasks of the Expert

• Coordinate and implement the mapping of land governance courses.
• Liaise with universities to gather curricula updates and alumni contacts.
• Oversee survey rollout and data analysis.
• Draft all final deliverables (booklet, survey report, curriculum status report).
• Present findings in a virtual session.

Qualifications of proposed staff

• Education/training (2.2.1): Bsc. in Land Governance, Education, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation or related fields
• Language (2.2.2): Business fluency in English (C2) and working proficiency in French (B2)
• General professional experience (2.2.3): 5 years of experience in research, data collection, and analysis. Familiarity with African higher education systems and land governance.
• Specific professional experience (2.2.4): 2 years proven experience in conducting alumni/stakeholder surveys. Experience working with universities or academic networks.
• Regional experience (2.2.6): 5 years of experience in the African region.
• Development cooperation (DC) experience (2.2.7): 1 year of experience in DC projects
• Other (2.2.8): Strong writing and analytical skills.

1. Costing requirements

Note: This assignment will be conducted entirely remotely. No travel or logistical costs will be incurred or reimbursed.

1. Inputs of GIZ or other actors

GIZ is expected to make the following available:

• Access to previously developed survey instruments and alumni contact information where available.
• Technical feedback on key deliverables (booklet, reports) within a reasonable timeframe.
• Support in reaching out to NELGA focal points if needed.

1. Requirements on the format of the tender

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToR. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organised in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English (language).

The complete tender must not exceed 6 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in English (language).

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

1. Option

After the services put out to tender have been completed, important elements of these tasks can be continued or extended. Specifically:

Type and scope

The contractor may be requested to implement additional surveys with NELGA member universities to complement the main study. These surveys would assess the extent to which support provided through NELGA meets the needs of the universities and evaluate how these institutions engage with stakeholders on land policy issues.

The contractor is responsible for providing the following optional services:

• Conducting up to 30 virtual interviews with NELGA university representatives.
• Collecting data on university usage of NELGA services and satisfaction levels
• Gathering insights into how universities are involved in land policy advisory
• Producing a summary and analysis report (Word and PDF formats)

Requirements

Exercising the option will depend on internal project needs.The decision on continuation is expected to be made within 2 months of the contract start date. If the option is exercised, it is anticipated that the contract term will be extended to 01.01.2026.

The option will be exercised by means of a contract extension on the basis of the individual approaches already offered.

Quantitative requirements for the optional services

Preparation/debriefing

0.5 days

Planning interviews, aligning with GIZ, preparing tools

Implementation

15.5 days

Conducting up to 30 interviews, analysis, and summary report writing

Requirements on the format of the tender for the option

Please complete both spreadsheets in the price schedule, i.e. one for the main service and one for the optional service.

Data Protection

The performance of the contract may be associated with the processing of personal data by the contractor, such as (but not limited to) names and contact information and who would alone define the nature of such data and how such processing would be carried out. In such cases, the contractor shall act as an independent DATA CONTROLLER and must alone comply with ALL applicable data protection obligations, including those stemming from regional and local laws. The contractor shall process personal data only when a given goal cannot be reasonably attained without such data. The data protection principles such as lawfulness, data minimization, accuracy, purpose limitation, storage limitation, transparency, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability, as well as the numerous rights of the data subject must be paid due attention. The GIZ is NOT in any way responsible for such processing.

Whenever the contractor executes the instructions of a partner to the GIZ with regard to such processing, the partner shall be the data controller, and the data processing shall be carried out in accordance with the partner’s instructions as well as laws and standards to which it is subject.

If the contractor is not subject to the GDPR and the applicable laws do not contain any explanation on the data protection principles and rights mentioned here, the definitions and meanings provided by the GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) should be considered.

How to Apply:

Please request all tender documents via email from au_bidderquestions@giz.de by mentioning 83487551 Training and Survey on your subject email.

Tender documents include:

• Invitation letter
• Bidding conditions
• General Terms and Conditions of Contract (AVB local)
• Terms of Reference (ToR)
• Technical assessment grid
• Price Sheet
• Eligibility Self Declaration
• Specimen for association clause (if relevant)
• Extract from Act against Restraints on Competition (GWB)