National Consultancy: Development of the National Action Plan for Women Economic Empowerment (NAPWEE_2025-2029) (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

The objective of the assignment is to review and evaluate the impact of the National Plan of Action for Women Economic Empowerment (NAPWEE) 2016-2021 and develop a successor NAPWEE (2025-2029).

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Protection…

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

The Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme (MSCTP), a key social protection initiative, is designed to mitigate poverty, and malnutrition, and improve school attendance by offering cash transfers to the ultra-poor and labour-constrained households. However, the programme’s effectiveness is hindered by the households’ vulnerability to climatic shocks, like droughts and floods, indicating a need for further support to bolster their resilience and facilitate their progression out of extreme poverty.

Despite various programmes targeting the most vulnerable, over 20% of Malawi’s 19.6 million population still live in extreme poverty. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing disproportionate levels of poverty and inequality to men. This disparity significantly restricts their access to essential social services and economic opportunities. Notably, women head more than 75% of impoverished households, and approximately 42% of girls endure physical violence before reaching 18 years. Such violence, alongside other harmful social practices and norms, severely hampers the empowerment and active participation of women and girls in the nation’s development.

The resilience of poor households to periodic shocks is compromised due to their inability to accumulate savings, a result of limited financial literacy, absence of a savings culture, inadequate business management skills, and restricted access to diversified income sources, formal financial institutions, and markets. However, the establishment of informal Savings and Loans Groups (SLGs) in rural areas has shown significant positive impacts on the rural poor. In response, UNICEF under the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) programme, aims to empower the most vulnerable women and girls in Malawi by integrating complementary services into the social protection system to enhance resilience to shocks and encourage livelihood diversification for those under the SCTP or in similar circumstances through customized training in business skills and financial inclusion, and provision of tailor-made support for business management, entrepreneurship, and skills development across ten districts.

Fundamentally, the programme aims at transforming behaviour and social norms change at individual, immediate interpersonal relationships at the household and family level to create gender-equal relationships. This programme provides space and opportunities for men and boys to reflect on their individual experiences, attitudes, and beliefs, as well as their interpersonal relationships and dynamics to adopt gender-equal values and take action to challenge harmful social and gender norms and practices at household and community levels.

The SP-GEAR programme aligns with the government of Malawi’s Vision 2063 which reinforces gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and the UNICEF’s Global Social Protection framework (2022-2025) which advocates for the prevention and/or protection of all people against poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion with a particular emphasis on vulnerable group such as women and children. In addition, the SP-GEAR aligns with  UNICEF’s mandate on the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment which is a critical element for fostering resilience and achieving results for children. To increase women’s economic empowerment, the 2024 World Bank Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) report notes that a holistic approach is required including encouraging policies to promote women’s increased use of savings and better administration of personal finances and opportunities for diversified livelihoods.

In 2016, the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW) developed the National Plan of Action for Women Economic Empowerment (NAPWEE) 2016-2021 as a strategic road map to support women’s meaningful and sustainable economic empowerment, self-independence, and the achievement of economic wellbeing. The NAPWEE provides a comprehensive, multi-sectoral and sustained blueprint for economic empowerment of all gender groups with a specific focus on vulnerable women and girls. The NAPWEE further guides the efforts of all stakeholders in the economic empowerment of women in Malawi.

How can you make a difference? 

The scope of this consultancy is task-specific and focuses the evaluation the NAPWEE (2016-2021) and on the facilitation of the development the successor NAPWEE (2025-2029). The consultant must ensure active interaction and partcipation of representatives from the Government and Non-Governmental Organizations, and all key stakeholders to absorb knowledge and key information to support the review process, and inform operational details for the  development of the  successor NAPWEE (2025-2029).  

To achieve the task the consultant will deliver the following tasks;

1. Conduct a desk review to evaluate the performance of the National Plan of Action for Women Economic Empowerment (NAPWEE) 2016-2021 and related literature, policies and best practices from other programmes, to identify key interventions, and to prioritize interventions in the new action plan.
2. Conduct qualitative and quantitaive field research including developement of survey tools, data collection, analysis and preparation of reports in selected districts in each region to support the sytematic evaluation and the development of the new action paln. The districts will be purposively selected based on the outcomes of the desk review and areas of focus.
3. Based on the review and prioritisation, lead the design and development of the successor NAPWEE.
4. Lead and oversee implementation of the key meetings and workshops for the review and development of the NAPWEE, including;
   1. Provide input to the concept design and execution plans of all key workshops 
   2. Foster collaboration and communication of involved stakeholders in the gender and women economic empowerment sub-sectors
   3. Participate in preparations and debriefing meetings before and after key workshops
   4. Support the review of documentation following key processes, such as official stakeholders’ agreement/consensus 
5. Quality management and monitoring of the NAPWEE review and development process.

This assignment will be done in five phases as follows:

Phase I: Develop an Inception Report

• Conduct a detailed literature review to identify gaps, challenges and lessons learnt during the NAPWEE implementation and rapidly assess the continuing relevance of the selected strategies in the context of the changing development landscape and emerging risks. Key aspects include (but are not limited to): effectiveness of the synergies and linkages with other programmes relevant to the NAPWEE; governance and coordination structures; the extent to which the NAPWEE has supported the development of a sustainable social protection system and other relevant sectors.
• Based on well-articulated objectives of the assignment, develop an appropriate methodology and strategy to support the drafting of the NAPWEE, including clear deliverables and related timelines. The process needs to be highly participatory and stakeholder-driven, with involvement of both national and sub-national actors.

• Conduct a stakeholder consultation meeting to present the draft inception report and collet critical feedback and comments on the approach and methodology.

Phase II: Field Data Collection

• • Collect data from purposively selected districts based on outcomes of the desk review to support the identification of pillars/themes of focus in the successor NAPWEE at National districts and community levels.
  • Conduct consultative meetings and in-person interviews with staff from MoGCDSW, other relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), UNICEF, and Civil Society Organizations, Development partners including (but not limited to) to the European, Embassy of Ireland, GIZ and the World Bank to identify key strategic barriers which need to be addressed to promote economic empowerment of women.

Phase III: Draft Successor NAPWEE

• Define and validate the scope and boundaries of the new NAPWEE, as well as key themes/pillars (e.g. via a SWOT analysis), in alignment with key national policies, sectoral strategies and plans.
• Draft successor NAPWEE which outlines the vision, mission and goals together with Key Performance Area (KPAs), corresponding activities, and expected outputs and outcomes.

Phase IV: Conduct a validation with key stakeholders

• Facilitate a consultative workshop to present and validate the draft NAPWEE to key stakeholders

• Incorporate inputs from stakeholders and make necessary adjustments to finalize the NAPWEE

Phase V: Finalize NAPWEE

• Facilitate a high-level, multi-stakeholder result-oriented dialogue to build consensus on the NAPWEE framework, structures, coordination mechanisms, areas of focus, strategic activities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Academic qualification:

• A master’s degree or PhD in the following areas, development studies, Gender Studies, Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology, with specialization in gender and development. 

Work experience:

• 10 years experience of professional work in the gender and social protection sector at both national and international levels, with proven experience in development sectoral policy analysis for central government, in any relevant sector.
• Proven experience in conducting women’s economic empowerment and/or livelihood-related research, evalutations, and assessments, for national programmes.
• Track record in evaluation processes and assessment of national policies and strategies involving government personnel is a distinct advantage.

Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

• Essential: Knowledge of gender issues and the prevailing social and economic challenges faced by women in Malawi, specifically in social protection, including social cash transfer programmes..

• Essential: Strong knowledge of child rights and women’s rights, about developmental and humanitarian programming, with a focus on social protection in general, and social cash transfer programmes in particular.
• An in-depth understanding of the development context of Malawi and/or the region and experience in working with the government at national and sub-national levels is required.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in conducting sectoral gender and policy analysis and related capacity building at different levels. Knowledge of the MNSSP II and Malawi social protection sector is essential.

• Familiarity with social protection and poverty reduction approaches and proven excellent communication, analytical and reporting skill is required.

• Excellent computer skills – MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required.

Language

• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Chichewa is essential.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference_Development of the National Action Plan for Women Economic Empowerment .pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).   

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.   

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

HOW TO APPLY…

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs).  Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details from three most recent supervisors.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.