In line with the ACE project’s monitoring and evaluation strategy, Supervision Teams consisting of experts in the thematic disciplines of Agriculture, Health and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will be embarking on the 5th supervision missions to 11 ACEs in West and Central Africa between 12th March and 17th April 2018. The Centres to be visited are The Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER); Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA); Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI); Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK); Centre for Excellence in Reproductive Health and Innovation (CERHI); Ecole Nationale Superieure de Statistique et d’economie Appliquee (ENSEA);  Centre d’Excellence Africain Mines et Environnement Minier (CEA-MEM); ACE in Mathematics, Informatics, and ICT (CEA-MITIC);  ACE in Poultry Sciences (CERSA);  ACE for Phytomedicine Research and Development (ACEPRD); and ACE in Maternal and Child Health (CEA-SAMEF).

Representatives from the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the World Bank will also be part of the supervision mission.

Objectives

The purpose of the mission is to assess the extent to which implementation is consistent with the agreed timelines and outcomes set out in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD). It is also to track progress, achievements and impacts made by each ACE.  The mission further presents the opportunity for experts to provide technical advice on addressing challenges facing the Centres in project execution.

Background

The Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project emphasizes results-oriented management and supervision based on tracking results and how these feed into achievement of the Project’s goals. In line with this, frequent monitoring and evaluation is required to ensure the Centres implement activities according to their approved Implementation Plans and Annual Work Plans. Since its inception in 2014, four supervision missions have been undertaken by teams of experts and representatives of World Bank and AAU to various ACEs to monitor progress and make recommendations towards attainment of the Project’s goals. Logistical arrangements for the Fifth Supervision Mission are at an advanced stage. Click here to see timetable.