English Connects is a programme funded by the FCO and British Council and managed by the British Council. It aims to:

• connect the UK to young people aged 18-35 and the future generation of leaders in francophone Africa through English
• improve the quality of English language learning and teaching and facilitate digital literacy, thereby creating opportunities to enable young people fulfil their potential while improving their employability, resilience and networks
• increase UK visibility across the region, improving UK access and making the UK more ‘relevant’ to senior policy makers and influencers.

Working with governments, the private sector, young entrepreneurs, future leaders, educators and learners in formal and non-formal education, the programme will reach and impact a wide audience through face to face interaction, media and digital channels and will connect UK ELT providers, institutions, media and educational technology agencies with the targeted countries.

The opportunity

The British Council Senegal is commissioning a piece of research and report on ‘English for Employability in Francophone and Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa’ covering the following five countries: Angola, Djibouti, Gabon, Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) and Senegal.

The services of a research organisation/consultancy are required to:

1. Assess the level of demand for English for employability by economic sector in each of the five countries.
2. Assess to what extent the demand for English is currently being met, by economic sector, in each of the five countries.
3. Provide a range of recommendations for ways to respond towards reducing the gaps between the demand and the current offer in each country.
4. Present the findings and evidence in a variety of agreed formats that will help ensure wide and effective dissemination of the research.

Based on clear evidence and a compelling narrative, the research and report will give the British Council and the five countries researched the opportunity to reflect individually or together on defining their ambitions and agreeing objectives for English to respond to the defined needs of employers and industries for more and better English.

Evidence will be gathered through desk research as well as through extensive field research using a hub and spoke model (coordinating with selected national experts in each target country).

This Request for Proposals suggests a broad approach to the research but is open to alternative suggestions.

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