1.0. Introduction
Malawi Community Hubs (MCH) is a UK-registered charity, founded in 2020, dedicated to helping people in Malawi fulfil their dreams of a better future, through creating communities of people working together to overcome poverty. MCH works with communities, partners and government representatives near national parks to co-design programmes in education, health, youth and community empowerment. In 2020 MCH partnered with YODEP (Youth Development and Educational Programmes) to implement the Majawa project, which currently benefits over 6,000 learners in Machinga. Grounded in principles of community ownership, participation, scalability and sustainability, we envision self-reliant communities leading local development through evidence-based, locally led solutions.
MCH three year strategic plan for Nkhotakota prioritises Early childhood development, Youth economic empowerment and Women economic empowerment as key focus areas. A baseline study is a key component to ensuring MCH programmes are evidence based, establishing baseline values, defining priority indicators. MCH therefore requests submissions to carry out a qualitative and quantitative study in Nkhotakota on Youth, women and Early childhood development (ECD) status in Nkhotakota
2.0. Objectives
The primary objective of the assignment is to prepare a baseline report through collection of primary data on the pre-program situation. The baseline is expected to inform project planning and establish benchmarks for assessing the program impact and outcomes at different stages of program implementation. The study will establish a current situation for ECD status, Youth and Women empowerment. The consultant is expected to provide and /or confirm the baseline information for each of the indicators in the MCH results framework. The information collected should be able to provide a clear picture of the current status ESC, Youth and women status, as well as status of sanitation and nutrition in the program focus area. Data should be disaggregated by age, gender and location. The specific objectives of the study are;
- Assess the current situation with respect to Youth, Women and ECD status in Nkhotakota, including population of youth employed, number of ECD going children and women owning income generating activities.
- Establish baseline values indicators related to Youth empowerment, Women’s economic empowerment and Early childhood programming
- Assess functionality and reach of existing youth structures, women cooperatives and CBCC centres
- Assess health and nutrition needs of under five children and women in the focus areas.
- Identify priority local values chains and barriers for youth and women to access skill, finance and markets
- Recommend priority interventions and develop an M&E framework (indicator definitions and disaggregation and data collection tools suitable for MCH and implementing partners.
3.0. Scope and coverage
The baseline will be conducted in Nkhotakota specifically TA Malengachanzi, Mwadzama, Phonde, Kanyenda and Kalimanjira. The study will assess ECD, Youth and women Status in Nkhotakota and demand for preschool services and economic empowerment services for youth and women, including community perceptions and preferences. In order to carry out the assignment, the consultant is expected to carry out a variety of methodologies, including reviewing existing data from national and local authorities, reviewing recent poverty analysis, reviewing Nkhotakota district council information, reviewing DYO, Social welfare, Education and Health health information systems data, conducting household surveys, conducting focus groups and key informant interviews (including with local authorities, youth, women and parents), and direct field observations. Scope of the assignment shall include but not limited to the following;
3.1. Demographic, socio and health baseline
Population and demographic characteristics of residents, including but not limited to:
- Population distribution
- Population, disaggregated by gender and economic status
- Income streams for households
- Average household income/month
- Number of sources of income.
- Employment status
- Education profile
Water Sanitation and hygiene characteristics of households in the target areas:
- Incidence of water borne and water related diseases in the community Perceptions of the importance of water and sanitation in the community.
- Incidence and prevalence of diarrhea in children under five years in the last thirty days.
- Knowledge of community/community leaders on causes of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases.
- Barriers to accessing water supply services and improved sanitation
3.2. Youth Economic and Social Status
Youth status will be assessed to understand employment, education, health, and empowerment opportunities, as well as barriers to economic participation.
Assess youth status in the focus areas
- Youth living in the focus areas
- Employed youth
- Type of employment
- Youth into business that survive after one year, types of business
- Education levels
- Number of youth clubs
- Services offered through youth clubs
- Number Youth benefiting from government sponsored programmes offered through youth clubs.
- Youth into cooperatives, nature of cooperatives.
- Youth with financial literacy knowledge.
Assess youth health status
- Youth knowledge and perceptions of mental health
- Knowledge on HIV and AIDS
- Family planning methods access and knowledge
- Youth friendly health services available to youth and access
- Number of youth accessing SRHR services
Perceptions of youth on viable economic empowerment initiatives
- Knowledge of existing youth economic empowerment initiatives in the community/district
- Understanding of gaps any gaps in the existing programms
- suggestions on improvements to existing programmes
- Suggestions on youth economic empowerment programmes viable in the community
- Vocational trades that are viable in the community and viable placements
3.3. Early Childhood development status
The baseline will assess access, access and functionality of Early childhood development programme in the catchment areas
Assess the distribution and availability of CBCC in the focus areas
- Number of CBCC in the area
- Services offered at the CBCC
- Nature of the CBCC
- Facilities available at the CBCC
- Qualification of Caregivers
- Qualified caregivers against number of caregivers
- Caregiver incentives provided by government or community
- Caregiver attrition in the last 5 years
- CBCC going children in the area
- Children enrolled in the CBCC
- Community involvement in CBCC operations
- Presence of CBCC committees, functionality and capacity
Community perceptions towards Early Childhood Development
- Knowledge of community on CBCC services
- Role played by local leaders in supporting CBCC
- Gaps identified by the community in functionality of CBCC
- Suggestions from community in improving the CBCC programmes
3.4. Women’s Economic and Social Status
The baseline will assess women’s roles in households, access to resources, and participation in markets. Areas of inquiry include
Household and decision making
- Assess women’s contribution to household income generation
- Document decision making power of women within households including financial, agricultural, education, health
- Capture women’s participation in community leadership structures including committees, producer groups, local governance
Access to resources and trainings
- Income streams and average earnings among women
- Capture women’s perceptions on access to capital and formal markets
- Assess access to land ownership and usage rights
- Assess access to financial services (loans, savings groups, mobile money)
- Assess access to extension services, training, and capacity-building opportunities
- Assess access to technology and tools for farming, fishing, or processing
Market engagement
- Number women’s groups linked to formal and informal markets
- Assess women’s participation in value chains beyond primary production
- Identify barriers to women’s market entry
- Document the number of women accessing programme linked financial or technical support
- Capture satisfaction levels of women with economic empowerment interventions
- Assess evidence of behavior change in household or community attitudes toward women.
5.0. Indicative timeline
The total number of days for the study is 20 days. During which the consultant will conduct the following
- Days 1-3: Inception report, methodology, sampling criteria, draft tools, workplan.
- Days 4-10: Field data collection.
- Days 11-14: Data cleaning, analysis, and preliminary findings.
- Day 15: Validation workshop with stakeholders.
- Days 16-20: Final report drafting and submission and changes in the community?
6.0. Expected outputs
- Approved inception report and data collection tools.
- Cleaned quantitative datasets and qualitative transcripts/notes.
- Indicator baseline table with definitions, data sources and disaggregation.
- Preliminary findings report and validation workshop minutes.
- Final baseline report at least 15-20 pages with an executive summary, recommendations and annexe
7.0. Consultant qualifications
- Minimum 5 years’ experience conducting baseline studies and designing M&E systems, preferably in Malawi.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting youth, women or ECD evaluations
- Strong research skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis.
- Previous experience working in Nkhotakota would be an added advantage
8.0. Budget
Applicants must submit a detailed financial proposal covering professional fees, travel, per diems, data collection and processing costs, and report production. MCH will negotiate and finalize contract terms with the selected consultant/agency.
9.0. Submission requirements
- Submit Technical and Financial proposal to forecruitmentmch@gmail.com before 1 May 2026. The technical proposal should detail methodology, detailed workplan, data collection approach and sample size justification
- Team composition and CVs (Lead), demonstrating relevant experience.
- At least two references from similar assignments and one sample final report from a comparable baseline study.
- Financial proposal: detailed budget and budget narrative.
- MCH will review submissions on a rolling basis and close the vacancy when a suitable candidate is found.
- Anticipated start date is 11 May 2026
Post expires at 11:59pm on Friday May 1st, 2026