INASP – the International Network for Advancing Science and Policy – is an international organisation, established in 1992, with a mission to support tertiary education and research systems in the Global South. For over 30 years INASP has worked with universities, research organizations, think tanks and governments across Africa, Asia and Latin America to strengthen research, teaching and learning, and to ensure that Global South researchers and educators can produce the knowledge that their countries and communities need.
We work to achieve impact in three areas:
- Enabling researchers to generate critical knowledge for policy, practice and their communities, by supporting early career researchers and their institutions to work with stakeholders to undertake research that addresses priority problems.
- Enabling youth to secure meaningful and dignified work, by working with tertiary institutions and their staff to ensure that degree programmes give graduates the skills, confidence and resilience to thrive.
- Enabling women educators and researchers to lead change, by working with research systems and institutions to ensure curricula and classrooms are inclusive and enable women to succeed in their studies and research.
With a base in Oxford, UK, we are a virtual team which spans 13 countries.
Science Diplomacy and Global Research Publishing Reform Project
Research and innovation underpin almost every imaginable form of social and economic advancement. Yet publicly funded research too often remains inaccessible due to paywalls and costly publishing locks out talented researchers from resource poor institutions. This is an under-recognised foundational global challenge and better science diplomacy could help to help to provide the leadership necessary for real reform.
To support more effective science diplomacy on these critical issues, and working closely with partners and stakeholders in Africa, the project is currently:
- exploring the barriers that African researchers face, and quantifying the impact of this on research use
- conducting a review of African research publishing platforms to understand the 'state of the art' and identify opportunities for investment
- conducting an analysis of the Open Access policies of development research funders, to identify the policy options available and the potential risks and benefits
For more information on the project, see here.
What you’ll be doing:
A key part of this initiative involves engaging policymakers and political leaders across the globe but more particularly in the African continent. To enhance our outreach and engagement, we seek to refine the project’s engagement tools which include the project’s webpage, slide decks as well as developing visually compelling infographics that effectively communicate project’s key messages with science diplomacy stakeholders.
INASP is looking to engage a graphic designer or a freelancer on an assignment basis to:
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Refine and enhance the visual appeal of the project’s engagement tools for a science diplomacy audience.
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Ensure that the design aligns with the needs of policymakers and political stakeholders, making complex concepts more accessible and engaging.
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Develop infographics and other visual materials that effectively communicate key aspects of the project.
While the initial engagement will focus on a specific assignment, there is potential for future assignments depending on project needs and performance.
Scope of Work
The selected designer will be responsible for:
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Overall slide deck enhancement
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Improve the layout, readability, and visual impact of the project’s slide deck.
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Ensure consistency in fonts, colour schemes, and branding.
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Incorporate engaging visuals, icons, and illustrations where needed.
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Infographic development
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Create high-quality infographics that summarize key elements of the project. These will initially draw on existing project outputs and publicly available data. Subsequent deliverables will draw on new outputs as they are generated from active workstreams.
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Develop visuals tailored for policymakers, government officials and stakeholders.
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Ensure that infographics are adaptable for presentations, reports, and digital platforms.
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Branding & design alignment
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Align all designs with INASP’s branding guidelines.
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Ensure clarity, simplicity and effectiveness in communication.
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Deliver print-ready and web-friendly formats for all materials.
Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
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A refined and polished version of the slide deck to support science diplomacy engagements.
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At least 3–5 infographics that effectively communicate key project themes. We anticipate a flexible contract that can be responsive to needs for new visuals.
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Source files and final designs in editable formats (e.g., PPT, PNG, PDF, AI).
If you are interested in working with us, please submit the following:
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One-page expression of interest
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A brief summary of relevant experience.
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Proposed rate (inclusive of tax).
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An indicative cost estimate for the initial assignment.
To apply, please submit online (click here) by 3rd April 2025.
Data Protection
We are committed to ensuring that your personal details are protected and that we are fully compliant with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
As part of your application to work for INASP you will share some personal information with us, like your name, address, telephone number and email address. We will only use that information to process your application and to monitor recruitment statistics. We will not share it with any third parties without your permission.
Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held securely for 6 months after the recruitment exercise has been completed, it will then be destroyed or deleted. We retain de-personalized statistical information about applicants to help inform our recruitment activities, but no individuals are identifiable from that data.
Safeguarding
INASP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.