Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC)
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPING THE MALAWI 2025–2029 CITIZEN EDUCATION AGENDA
1. Background
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) is an alliance of presently 84 diverse independent and voluntary organizations such as non – governmental organizations, community-based organizations, trade unions and faith-based organizations which promote quality education in Malawi. As a collective voice, CSEC was set up to complement government’s efforts in piloting innovations, coordinating non-state actors, shaping policy discourse, lobbying for increased budget allocation, as well as tracking the utilization of resources committed to the education sector. CSEC envisions “a society where all people enjoy the right to access quality and relevant education that promotes equity and critical thinking.” The Coalition is fully registered with the Malawi Government under the Trustees Incorporation Act (CAP 5:03). The Coalition is also a member of the Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi and the NonGovernmental Organization Board of Malawi. Regionally and globally, CSEC is a member of the African Campaign on Education for All (NACEFA) and Global Campaign on Education (GCE).
As Malawi gears up for the 2025 tripartite elections, the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) is committed to placing inclusive education—particularly for girls, children with disabilities, and other marginalized groups—at the heart of the national political discourse. This initiative seeks to shape political party manifestos by grounding policy demands in a Malawi Citizen Education Agenda (2025–2029), a consultative framework that captures the voices, needs, and aspirations of citizens across the country. The Agenda will serve as a powerful advocacy tool, equipping CSEC with clear, evidence-based priorities to engage political parties, influence campaign platforms, and hold leaders accountable throughout and beyond the 2025 electoral cycle.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) seeks to engage a qualified and experienced consultant to develop the Malawi Citizen Education Agenda (2025–2029). The Agenda will capture and articulate the education priorities of Malawians, with a strong emphasis on inclusive education. particularly for girls and children with disabilities—enhanced public investment in the sector, and strengthened institutional accountability. The assignment aims to generate a citizendriven policy framework that will inform political party manifestos and broader education sector planning, ensuring that the right to quality, equitable, and inclusive education is meaningfully addressed in the lead-up to and beyond the 2025 elections.
3. Objectives
- To identify education priorities for the period 2025–2029 through broad-based citizen engagement, with a focus on the voices of marginalized groups including girls, children with disabilities, and rural communities.
- To develop a comprehensive and evidence-based Citizen Education Agenda that reflects the aspirations of Malawians and aligns with national and global education commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), the Education 2030 Framework for Action, and Malawi’s Vision 2063.
- To propose clear policy and programmatic priorities that will serve as the basis for advocacy and dialogue with political parties, ensuring that education is a central issue in their 2025 election manifestos and beyond.
4. Scope of Work
The consultant will be expected to undertake the following key tasks:
- Document Review
- Analyze national education policies and strategies, including the National Inclusive Education Policy, National Strategy on Inclusive Education, Education Sector Investment Plan (ESIP), and Vision 2063.
- Review relevant international instruments (e.g., SDG 4, CRPD, CEDAW).
- Stakeholder Consultations o Conduct consultative meetings with key stakeholders including:
- Civil society organizations under CSEC.
- Learners (with a focus on girls and children with disabilities).
- Education authorities and policymakers.
- Political party representatives and manifesto drafters.
- Agenda Development o Synthesize evidence and consultations into thematic priority areas.
- Draft the 2025–2029 Citizen Education Agenda with proposed commitments and targets.
- Ensure the Agenda is gender-sensitive, inclusive, and regionally balanced.
- Finalization o Submit the draft agenda for CSEC membership input o Incorporate feedback and finalize the document for dissemination.
5. Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to produce the following outputs:
- Inception Report: Including methodology, work plan, consultation tools, and timelines.
- Draft Citizen Education Agenda (2025–2029): Structured around key priority areas, proposed commitments, and justifications.
- Presentation: PowerPoint summary of the draft Agenda for stakeholder validation.
- Final Citizen Education Agenda Document: Designed for wide public use and advocacy (max 30 pages).
- Policy Brief: A 2-page summary highlighting topcitizen demands to be used for manifesto engagement.
- Activity Report: Detailing the process undertaken, stakeholders engaged, and recommendations for use of the Agenda.
6. Duration
The assignment shall be carried out over a period of 15 working days, starting immediately after the signing of the contract.
7. Required Qualifications and Experience
- Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Education, Public Policy, Development Studies, or related field.
- At least 15 years’ experience in education policy analysis, agenda-setting, and stakeholder consultations. Strong knowledge of Malawi’s education sector and inclusive education frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience in participatory consultation and advocacy-driven research.
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English and Chichewa.
8. Application Requirements
Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A detailed technical and financial proposal demonstrating understanding of the assignment, approach, and methodology.
- A proposed work plan with clear timelines.
- A CV/Profile highlighting relevant experience.
- At least one samples of similar assignments previously conducted.
- References from at least two past clients.
- Submission Deadline
All applications should be submitted by 16th May 2025 to:
The Executive Director
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC)
Chitukula Road, Area 47/4/719,
P.O. Box 30736, Lilongwe 3, Malawi Phone No: +265 999 61 37 51
Email: csecjobs905@gmail.com and copy kkumwenda04@gmail.com and marthakamangamhone@gmail.com