ActionAid Malawi (AAM)
Terms of References (ToRs)
for COVID 19 Response Mechanism-Production of Media Materials
Call for Expression of Interest – Production of COVID 19 Response Mechanism Project Media Materials.
About ActionAid Malawi
ActionAid Malawi (AAM) is an affiliate member of ActionAid Federation. ActionAid Malawi was established in 1990 and started working in 1991 with a secretariat located in Lilongwe. It registered locally (Reg. No. 8289) under the Companies Limited by Guarantee Act (Cap 46:03) of the laws of Malawi in April 2007 as a company limited by guarantee. AAM has therefore a “dual of citizenship” being a local organization as well as a member of an international organization. AAM has a local board, and a local General Assembly, which is the supreme decision-making authority. As a local non-governmental organization, the General Assembly mostly comprises indigenous Malawians living in poverty.
AAM’s vision is “A just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression. Its mission is to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication by working with people living in poverty and exclusion, their communities, people’s organizations, activists, social movements and supporters.
AA Malawi is deeply engaged in the community, national and global social justice movements and is a member of various civil society networks, alliances, and coalitions. Through a human rights-based approach and feminist transformative leadership, AAM empowers marginalized communities, particularly women, to assert their rights and address the underlying causes of poverty and injustice. As a proud member of the ActionAid International federation, AAM collaborates with like-minded organizations worldwide to advance its mission of promoting social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication.
ActionAid Malawi is currently implementing its sixth Country Strategy Paper (CSP VI) for the period 2024–2028, titled “Transforming Systems for Social Justice.” This strategy builds on key lessons learned from the previous CSP V (2018–2023) and reinforces ActionAid’s unwavering commitment to driving systemic change across all priority areas including women’s rights, economic and climate justice, resilience, and humanitarian response.
Background of the project.
The COVID-19 pandemic which was first discovered in Wuhan China in December 2019 has affected many people in Malawi and the entire world. The socio-economic burden of the disease has been enormous on the majority of Malawians. Those with chronic diseases have suffered a double burden once affected by the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health concern in the nations of the earth including Malawi.
By 26 September 2022, Malawi had recorded 87,981 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 84,860 recoveries, and 2,680 deaths. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic presented a dual challenge to global health systems: responding to the novel virus while safeguarding the progress made in the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria. In Malawi, these challenges were particularly acute, as the pandemic placed considerable strain on an already burdened health system and threatened to reverse key health gains.
In response, the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health and with funding support from the Global Fund, initiated the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) under the New Funding Model 3 (NFM3). The primary objective of this mechanism is to strengthen health and community systems by employing a community-led monitoring approach, utilizing advocacy, research, and capacity building to prepare for future pandemics.
The C19RM’s strategies include mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on essential HIV, TB, and Malaria programs by ensuring continuity of care and sustained access to life-saving interventions during and beyond the pandemic. In addition, it aims to reinforce the COVID-19 response by making urgent improvements in health and community systems, including laboratory networks, supply chains, and engagement with vulnerable populations. Against this backdrop, the project also addresses the pandemic’s indirect effects, such as service disruptions, stigma, and misinformation, which threaten to undermine the continuum of care for people living with HIV, TB patients, and malaria-affected communities.
The project focuses on key pillars: Social Mobilization, Community-Led Monitoring, Community-Led Advocacy and Research, and Institutional Capacity Building of CBO-Led Entities all geared toward strengthening accountability, enhancing service delivery, and improving health outcomes in HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, and Pandemic Preparedness.
To implement non-biomedical interventions at the community level, the Ministry of Health partnered with ActionAid Malawi as the Sub-Recipient (SR), who in turn worked with several Sub-Sub Recipients (SSRs) including CRECCOM, MANET+ and Lilongwe Catholic Health Commission. These partners have been instrumental in executing the project. The CLM project focuses on strengthening community engagement, promoting accountability, and identifying service delivery gaps through real-time data collection, participatory monitoring, and feedback mechanisms.
The project is implementing a series of key activities across 36 health facilities, facilitated by AAM, MANET+, CRECCOM, and LL CHC in Twelve (12) districts: Northern Region (Rumphi, Likoma, and Mzimba and Nkhotakota), Central Region (Mchinji, Dowa, Ntchisi, and Salima), and Southern Region (Phalombe, Mwanza, Nsanje and Zomba). The project targets a population of 1,147,219, including People Living with HIV, TB patients, Adolescent Girls and Young Women, members of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), support group members, volunteers, community leaders, faith and religious leaders, health facility and health advisory committee members, judiciary, men in uniform, journalists, and peer educators.
Proposed Media Outputs
- A 15-minute documentary film
- A project booklet detailing methodology, achievements, and lessons
- A training manual on CLM
- Feature stories and articles for publication in mainstream media outlets
2. Objective of the Assignment
The overall objective is to document, produce, and publish high-impact multimedia materials that showcase the C19RM project’s contributions to strengthening health and community systems through the CLM approach.
Specific Objectives
The documentation will focus on:
- The CLM methodology and its contribution to strengthening health and community systems.
- The role of CLM in enhancing timely access to health services.
- Community-led innovations and solutions addressing health service delivery gaps.
- The impact of health co-financing initiatives in expanding community health access.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant/firm will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Design and package the CLM Training Manual.
- Conduct field visits to selected health facilities and communities for story collection and filming.
- Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including health workers, project beneficiaries, and community representatives.
- Develop compelling, human-centered stories that highlight the project’s impact and sustainability.
- Produce a 15-minute high-quality video documentary showcasing project results and lessons learned.
4. Locations for Documentation
Content will be collected from at least six (6) selected project districts, to be identified in consultation with ActionAid Malawi and implementing partners.
5. Deliverables
The consultant/firm will be expected to deliver the following outputs:
- A 15-minute professionally edited video documentary summarizing project achievements, lessons, and sustainability actions.
- A 12-page project booklet highlighting the CLM methodology, outcomes, and success stories.
- A 12-page Training Manual on Community-Led Monitoring.
- Five (5) feature stories of change published in mainstream print media as a special pull-out or feature series.
6. Duration and Timelines
The entire assignment will be completed within 24 working days, including:
- 14 days for fieldwork, interviews, and data collection
- 10 days for story development, editing, design, and publication
7. Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced visibility and awareness of CLM’s contribution to improving healthcare access and outcomes.
- Strengthened advocacy for community-led health solutions.
- Increased dissemination of success stories to influence future health policy and programming.
8. Coordination and Support
ActionAid Malawi will:
- Facilitate access to key informants through its implementing partners (CRECCOM, MANET+, and Lilongwe Health Commission).
- Provide necessary logistical and administrative support during field visits.
- Ensure close collaboration between the consultant and the ActionAid Malawi Communications Officer for content accuracy, branding, and alignment with project objectives.
9. Submissions
Those interested shall submit the following:
- Technical proposal detailing methodology and other key processes
- Detailed budget which must include consultancy fees and all travel related costs
10. Application procedures
All applications should be submitted before 22nd of October 2025 to the following:
The Chairperson
Internal Procurement Committee
ActionAid Malawi
P.O. Box 30735
Area 9, Plot No.5/350
Lilongwe 3.
Email: Procurement.Malawi@actionaid.org
Note: Only successful applicants will be contacted.