Call for Evaluation Proposals: The Intellectual Property Initiative Project Evaluation - Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Call for Evaluation Proposals

The Intellectual Property Initiative Project Evaluation

I. About IEA

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is a Think Tank with the mandate to promote an informed discourse on key policy issues. The IEA provides important research and analytical support to policy makers and implementers drawn from three arms of government: the executive, legislature and the judiciary.

Our main programme activities are: Regulation and Competition Policy Programme, Budget Information Programme, Trade Information Programme, Futures Programme and Special Programmes. IEA’s vision is to have “A Kenyan society with a well managed economy that allows for informed public participation where national interest, justice and dignity of all citizens are upheld".

This vision is focused on the future and defines the scope of the IEA’s work so as to ensure that the economy is well managed through participation of citizens.

On the other hand, IEA’s mission is “to facilitate the review of policy and public affairs by Kenyans in order to inform decision making processes”. This mission is derived from its very broad and futuristic vision in addition to its unique experience in exerting transparent and knowledge-based influence on policy processes and outcomes.

In pursuit of its Vision and Mission, the IEA undertakes its work while espousing and exhibiting a set of important values. These values stress the centrality of knowledge, good governance, pursuit of excellence in all institutional activities, justice and fairness, equity, commitment, relevance, professionalism, corporate responsibility, teamwork, accountability, objectivity, futuristic orientation, adaptability, personal growth and innovation.

The Trade Information Programme (TIP)

Kenya is simultaneously engaged in a number of trade negotiation agreements and processes that cover a variety of issues. The agreements include: regional agreements - the East African Community (EAC) treaty, the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) agreement, the Cotonou Partnership agreement (CPA) with the European Union (EU); and multilateral agreement - the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

These agreements cover a wide range of issues such as trade, finance, governance, co-operation etc. The Institute recognizes that it can no longer react to trade issues as they emerge, if it is to continue as a public policy think tank, it must begin to anticipate future change rather than merely react to change.

Programme Goal

To be an influential actor in Kenya’s trade negotiations, policy formulation and reforms and impact assessment.

Objectives

* To monitor and report the developments of multilateral, regional and bilateral trade negotiations.
* To identify and examine the impact of multilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements in Kenya.
* To facilitate the participation of media, private sector, civil society and parliamentarians in trade policy debates.
* To strengthen and sustain partnerships with relevant government departments and ministries and other institutions engaged in the formulation of trade policy.
* To facilitate the development of appropriate trade policies in Kenya based on research

II. The Intellectual Property Initiative Project

Project Goal

The main goal of the Intellectual Property Initiative (IPI) Project is to increase the level of awareness of stakeholders and the public, on issues relating to patenting and copyrights through research and advocacy activities, in order to use the existing IP system in Kenya as a tool for achieving development and poverty reduction.

Objectives

1. To monitor and report the developments of the negotiations under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (WTO-TRIPs) Agreement and the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). The understanding of these international initiatives is important in examining their coherences with national policies and to further address the question why there still exist myriads of challenges even when there are laws that have been put in place.
2. To carry out field surveys on patents and copy rights with the aim of linking these two components to development and poverty reduction in Kenya.
3. To carry out evidence-based advocacy that will raise the level of public awareness on the economic importance of intellectual property and to increase stakeholders’ participation in the IP policymaking process and use of existing regime for development.

III. The Intellectual Property Initiative Project Evaluation Terms of Reference

1. Assess the quality of programme output.
2. Assess the extent to which the project has met the objectives and anticipated outcomes as outlined in the project proposal.
3. Comment on the overall performance of the project in terms of the activities, output and timelines.
4. Assess the strength of the recommendations in terms of their fitness to inform future projects or programme work in the subject of current constitutional reforms.

The candidate must:

1. Have evaluated at least 3 projects related to policy issues in Kenya.
2. Have the ability to work within strict deadlines.

All applications should be addressed to:

Trade Information Programme
Email: admin@ieakenya.or.ke
on or before Wednesday, 27th April 2011