Trócaire
Terms of Reference for the Mid Term Review of the “Community-led Planning and Management for Biodiversity Protection and Resilient Communities in the Lake Chilwa Basin” programme February 2025
About Trócaire
Trócaire is an Irish NGO who is currently working with 16 national NGOs in Malawi. Trócaire envisages a just and peaceful world where; people’s dignity is ensured, and rights are respected; basic needs are met, and resources are shared equitably; and people have control over their own lives. Globally, Trócaire provides humanitarian assistance and long-term support to communities in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Trócaire has worked in Malawi since 1976 and established its country office in Lilongwe in 2007. In Malawi, we work across three thematic areas namely Preventing and Responding to Gender Based Violence; Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods; and Humanitarian Response.
Background to the Programme
Trócaire Malawi, through SCIAF and funding from Jersey Overseas Aid, implements the four-year, £1.35 million project: “Community-led Planning and Management for Biodiversity Protection and Resilient Communities in the Lake Chilwa Basin.” Implemented in partnership with Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), and World Agroforestry (ICRAF), the project was designed through a participatory approach to ensure strong community engagement. Since its launch in February 2022, the programme has supported 7,876 households across 48 Group Village Heads in 12 Traditional Authorities in Machinga, Zomba, and Phalombe. It aims to enhance environmental and economic resilience by promoting sustainable natural resource management, agroecology, catchment restoration, advocacy, and fisheries monitoring.
In line with the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan, a Mid-Term Review (MTR) will assess progress against targets, document achievements, and inform implementation for the final two years. The review will gather insights from communities, stakeholders, and government representatives on the adoption of agroecology, natural resource management, economic status, and livelihood activities in the Lake Chilwa Basin. The programmes goals and objectives are as follows:
Overall Goal: Rural communities living in poverty around Lake Chilwa Basin are more environmentally and economically sustainable and resilient due to a rehabilitated, sustainably managed and protected Lake Chilwa Basin
Objective 1: Targeted communities, especially vulnerable and marginalised women, youths and PWD are empowered to protect and manage the Lake Chilwa Basin area.
Objective 2: Targeted communities’ poverty levels, especially vulnerable and marginalised women, youths and PWD, are reduced through enhanced and more resilient livelihoods which complement the natural environment.
Objective 3: Collaboration between conservation and development actors is strengthened leading to increased peer learning and better outcomes for targeted communities.
Objectives of Evaluation
The MTR aims to:
- Evaluate progress against programme objectives and targets.
- Review progress on the integration of gender and disability into programme strategies.
- Assess effectiveness and identify lessons learned.
- Document programme impact and community perspectives.
- Inform adaptive programming for the final two years.
The findings will guide consortium partners, communities, and government stakeholders in refining programme approaches.
Evaluation Methodology
This exercise will take 22 working days between March and April 2025, with the final report due by April 18, 2025.The MTR will use a participatory, multi-disciplinary approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies for comprehensive data collection, analysis, and interpretation. This approach will provide a holistic assessment of programme achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, supporting evidence-based decision-making for the remainder of the programme. Prospective consultants should propose a methodology aligned with this guidance in their technical proposals. The successful applicant will finalise the methodology during the development of the MTR inception report.
Roles and Responsibilities
Trócaire will establish an Evaluation Steering Committee (ESC) to oversee the implementation of this assignment. The committee will be accountable for ensuring that the overall review process is completed in time and in line with the ToR and inception report, and for overall management of the MTR process. The consultant will submit agreed deliverables to this committee for their approval. Trócaire’s MEL Advisor will be the person responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the assignment and will be the consultant’s primary focal point.
Key Deliverables
The consultant is expected to submit following deliverables within an agreed timeframe and budget:
- An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and the tools to be used.
- PowerPoint presentation of preliminary findings to the ESC and partners.
- A draft evaluation report for review by the evaluation steering committee and partners
- Finalised report having incorporated the final feedback from partners and Trócaire
- Submission of soft copies of data collected and of analysis completed
Expertise and Skills Required
The ‘Community-led Planning and Management for Biodiversity Protection and Resilient Communities in the Lake Chilwa Basin’ programme covers conservation, agriculture, natural resource management, agroecology, functional landscape approaches, and forestry. As such, the successful candidate will need a broad knowledge of these key concepts. In terms of experience and skills, the consultant(s) should possess the following attributes:
Essential
- Proven experience conducting similar reviews in Malawi over the past three years.
- A Master’s degree in natural resource management or a related field, with expertise in research, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated experience in qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Strong knowledge of conservation programming, including gender and disability mainstreaming principles.
- Ability to conduct high-quality research, meet deadlines, and respond to feedback promptly and effectively.
- Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to synthesise findings, draw conclusions, and prepare well-structured reports.
- Strong facilitation, coordination, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English, with fluency in spoken Chichewa.
Desirable
- A good understanding of trends and current thinking in conservation programming.
- Experience of conducting similar exercises with partnership-based organisations.
Scoring Criteria
| Scoring Area | Weighing |
| Proposed Methodology | 30% |
| Clear articulation of the approach and methodology for executing the assignment. | |
| Previous Experience in Conducting Similar Assignments | 20% |
| Demonstrated relevant experience and success in similar tasks. | |
| Technical Competence of the Consultant(s) | 25% |
| Skills, expertise, and ability to handle the technical requirements of the assignment. | |
| Relevant Academic Qualifications | 10% |
| Academic background and qualifications that directly support the proposed task. | |
| Timeliness and Costing of the Assignment | 15% |
| Realistic and efficient timeline, alongside cost-effectiveness in the proposed budget. |
Expression of Interest
Trócaire Malawi invites expression of interests from eligible and qualified individuals to undertake the assignment. All Expressions of Interest should be sent to infomalawi@trocaire.org with ‘JOA Lake Chilwa Basin Mid-Term Study-Expression of Interest’ in the subject line, by Tuesday 4 March 2024 1700hrs CAT. Enquiries on any element of this piece of work should also be sent to this address. Only applications from shortlisted consultants will be acknowledged. Applications received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.
In summary, the Expression of Interest should include:
Statement of Interest: The consultant/s should submit a brief document (no more than 10 pages) outlining their understanding of the assignment, relevant experience, approach, and methodology.
Summary of Experience: A two-page document highlighting the consultant’s experience in conducting similar assignments, along with references from relevant previous projects.
Curriculum Vitae: A 2-page CV outlining the consultant/s qualifications and work experience, demonstrating their suitability for the proposed task.
Budget Estimate: A high-level budget for the exercise (22 days in total), including all anticipated costs and expenses related to the consultancy, such as transport, food, accommodation, fees, and taxes.
Safeguarding
Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and have specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants, and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job or consultancy contract with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment/consultancy contract and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents A police background check may be part of the recruitment procedure. In addition, during COVID-19, anyone working with Trócaire will be expected to adhere to the COVID-19 specific addendum to its code of conduct considering prevention measures.