AFRICAN ECONOMIC RESEARCH CONSORTIUM The Collaborative Master’s Degree Programme in Economics for Anglophone Africa (CMAP) The Collaborative PhD Degree Programme in Economics for Sub-Saharan Africa (CPP) CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR EXTERNAL EXAMINERS FOR CORE AND ELECTIVE FIELDS FOR THE PERIOD 2020/21-2022/23 Call Reference Number: AERC/PROC/RFP/TMA/2019-2020/0504/019

African Economic Research Consortium Established in July 1988, the African Economic Research Consortium is a public not-for-profit organization devoted to advanced policy research and training. The principle objective is to strengthen local capacity for conducting independent, rigorous inquiry into problems pertinent to the management of Sub-Saharan African economies through a synergistic programme combining economic research with postgraduate training in economics. The AERC is supported by donor governments, private foundations and international organizations.

The Training Programme CMAP Participating Universities The AERC’s Training Programme augments the pool of economic Category "C" researchers, policy analysts and policy makers in sub-Saharan Africa by , University of Dar es Salaam, supporting graduate studies in economics and improving the capacities of University of , Legon departments of economics in participating universities. This is primarily , undertaken by tapping, harnessing, and pooling human and other available Category "B" resources to produce standardized and high-quality degree programmes. Makerere University, Key components of the Training Programme include: University of , Ghana • The Collaborative Masters Programme (CMAP) in Economics, University of which brings together departments of economics in 25 public University of universities in Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa; University of • The Collaborative PhD Programme (CPP) in Economics, which is a University of collaboration amongst eight (8) public universities in Eastern, Category "A" Western, Southern and Francophone Africa; and Eduardo Mondlane University, • The Collaborative Masters in Agricultural and Applied Economics , Kenya (CMAAE) Programme, which is spearheaded by departments of Kwame Nkrumah Uni. of Science & Tech., Ghana agricultural economics in 17 public universities in Eastern, Central , Kenya and Southern Africa. National University of Burundi National University of For more information on the programmes, please visit our website: National University of www.aercafrica.org or write to us on the email or postal addresses , provided below. , South University of The Joint Facility for Electives (JFE) University of University of Swaziland The JFE is an intensive teaching environment that offers a full range of University of elective courses in the CMAP and CPP. Each year, from late June to early University of November, eligible CMAP and CPP participating universities send their postgraduate students to the joint facility, usually held in Nairobi, Kenya. CPP Participating Universities The JFE admits approximately 70 CMAP students and about 30 CPP University of Cape Town, South of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania students after their successful completion of core courses comprising , Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Quantitative Methods in their University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon home universities. The CMAP JFE runs for a duration of 14 weeks University of Benin, Nigeria comprising 2 semesters of 7 weeks each, while the CPP JFE runs for 16 University of Cocody, Côte d’Ivoire University of Nairobi, Kenya weeks divided into two 8-week semesters. Apart from encouraging a more University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa efficient use of resources, the JFE offers an ideal environment for networking and a structured exchange of people, ideas, materials and methods that reduce isolation and stimulate continued growth and collective improvement in quality. On successful conclusion of JFE coursework, draft theses and examinations, students return to their home universities for final thesis preparation. In the case of CPP, candidates also sit for comprehensive examinations in core and elective fields, and present PhD thesis research proposals and post-field reports during the AERC biannual research workshops. APPLICATIONS FOR THE JFE 2020/21-2022/23 EXTERNAL EXAMINERS CMAP-CPP external examiners are typically appointed for a renewable period of three years, with annual review based on performance in each year, as well as the external examiner’s availability and willingness to continue in that role. This advertisement is for an initial three-year period, effective 2020.

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On behalf of Departments/Schools of Economics of CMAP and CPP participating universities, the AERC wishes to invite applications from qualified and experienced economists, who have proven expertise in the specific areas and are willing to serve as external examiners for the period 2020/21-2022/23 for the following Masters and PhD core and elective fields:

CMAP/CPP Core Fields/Courses 1. Microeconomics 2. Macroeconomics CMAP/CPP JFE Elective Fields/Courses 8. Health Economics 1. Agricultural Economics 9. Industrial Economics 2. Economics of Climate Change** 10. International Economics 3. Development Economics* 11. Labour Economics 4. Econometrics 12. Land Economics and Governance* 5. Environmental Economics 13. Managerial Economics** 6. Financial Economics 14. Monetary Theory and Practice 7. Game Theory and Information Economics** 15. Public Sector Economics *Offered in CPP only. **Offered in CMAP only.

Responsibilities and Terms of Reference External examiners are responsible for overall quality assurance of the AERC-supported collaborative graduate programmes in economics, to ensure that they remain competitive and comparable to other internationally recognized programmes, and that they are run in accordance with global best practices. More specifically, the external examiners assure the AERC on the quality and suitability of the curriculum, the type and content of examinations and continuous assessments for the various courses/fields, as well as the appropriateness of the pitching or level of study and the expected learning outcomes. The external examiners are responsible for ensuring that the examinations and continuous assessments processes and procedures, including marking criteria, are rigorously applied in a fair, reasonable and consistent manner, and that they protect academic standards in the collaborative Masters and PhD programmes. In addition to the examination process, external examiners advise on all aspects of the two-degree programmes and make recommendations to the AERC on areas of improvements. The external examiners are also consulted by the AERC about curriculum reviews and other changes to the programme that may be introduced from time to time.

The specific terms of reference of the external examiners are: (a) Review and moderation of draft examinations during each annual session of the Joint Facility for Electives (JFE). (b) Assessment of the courses in the specific field of economics and students’ performance in the courses. (c) Review of the structure of the curriculum, in terms of content, relevance and sequencing of the topics. (d) Evaluation of the coverage, depth and organization of the courses in each of the JFE semesters. (e) Reviewing the final examination scripts and commenting on the standard of examination questions and consistency in the marking of examinations. (f) Assessment of the adequacy and relevance of reading and teaching materials in the courses. (g) Overall assessment of the courses, including strengths and weaknesses of students’ performance in terms of the quality of their answers, and of the structure and relevance of examination questions in relation to the course outline. (h) Give recommendations to improve the quality of the courses and the programmes as a whole.

Criteria for Appointment as External Examiner To qualify for selection and appointment as external examiner, an individual must: (i) Hold a PhD degree in economics or related field; (ii) Be a senior academic at the rank of Associate or Full Professor (or equivalent); (iii) Have previous experience with supervision and external examination of masters and/or doctoral programmes for a minimum of 3 years; (iv) Possess demonstrable expertise and experience of at least 3 years in graduate level teaching and research in the specific fields of economics; (v) Not be closely and actively associated or affiliated with the AERC Training Programme and its CMAP-CPP network universities in order to ensure objectivity. (vi) Note: Those who have been or are currently external examiners in the AERC Training Programme are still eligible to apply. Qualified female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Remuneration The AERC will pay a modest fee or honorarium in addition to reimbursing any costs associated with the assignment. Should the external examiner be required to travel as part of the assignment, the AERC will finance the costs of such travel, accommodation, subsistence and medical insurance.

Application, Recruitment and Selection If you are interested in contributing to this innovative activity, please forward your application by 28th February, 2020 to:

The Executive Director African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) 3rd Floor, Middle East Bank Towers, Jakaya Kikwete Road P.O. Box 62882 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya E-mail: [email protected] (copied to [email protected])

Electronic applications by e-mail are preferred but hard copy applications will be accepted too. The application should include: 1. A cover letter clearly indicating the fields/courses for which you wish to be an external examiner, the programme (either CMAP or CPP or both) and valid e-mail, postal and telephone contacts. 2. Current curriculum vitae (CV), clearly indicating external examination experience (period undertaken, institution for which the assignment was undertaken, fields/courses for which you were external examiner, and the degree programme for which you were external examiner); teaching experience at graduate/post graduate level (with a list of courses taught at undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels); the number of Masters and PhD theses successfully supervised; and your research and publication record. 3. Two written references, at least one of which MUST be from your immediate Head of Department. (NB: Applicants who have been external examiners in the CMAP or CPP JFE are exempted from this specific requirement). 4. A copy of one of your most recent publications.

Note: The deadline for receipt of applications is 28th February 2020. Efforts will be made to acknowledge and respond to all applications individually. However, in the event that you do not hear from the AERC by 31st May 2020, please consider your application as unsuccessful. A general notification to that effect will be placed on the AERC website by 2nd June, 2020. "The AERC is an Equal Opportunity Employer"

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