Consultancy for Development of Strategies to Improve Student Experiences and Outcomes — Malawi SAVE Project

Republic of Malawi

Ministry of Education

SAVE PROJECT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES– FIRM SELECTION)

NAME OF COUNTRY: Malawi

NAME OF PROJECT: Skills For A Vibrant Economy (SAVE) Project

PROJECT ID/ LOAN NO: P172627

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Consultancy to Develop Strategies for Improving Student Experiences and Outcomes

REFERENCE NO.: MW-MOE-506029-CS-CQS

DATE OF ISSUE: 26th August, 2025

• Introduction

The Government of Malawi with support from the World Bank is implementing the Skills for a Vibrant Economy Project (SAVE) at an estimated cost of US$100 million through the International Development Association (IDA) financing. The project is expected to run over a period of five years from 2021 to 2026. Key implementing agencies are the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) as lead and the Ministry of Labour (MoL).

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is “to increase equitable access to market-relevant skills in priority areas of the economy, especially for females and vulnerable youth”. This will be achieved by (a) improving access to market-relevant skills programs in priority areas of the economy; (b) enhancing equity in skills training with empowerment of women and girls and vulnerable youth through targeted skills in priority areas of the economy; and (c) creating a conducive policy environment & strengthening systems and institutional capacity for skills development. It is anticipated that the impact of the project will support Malawi’s human capital development for a vibrant economy, equitable growth, and development through improved youth skills in key areas of the economy.

The project has three main components. The first component is supporting Increased Access to Skills Development Programs in Higher Education targeting all the seven (7) public universities and two educational colleges of Domasi and Nalikule. The second component is Supporting increase in access to TEVET Skills Development targeting seven (7) public national technical colleges and the third component is Tertiary Education System Strengthening, Project Management, M&E and Communications. Through this component, the project supports central level intuitions including Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Labour, TEVETA, Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board, and National Council for Higher Education.

In its efforts to strengthen the higher education system in the country, the MoHE acknowledges the critical role played by the HEIs in enhancing the learning experiences and outcomes of their students for effective graduates capable of meeting the economic needs of the country. Much as the HEIs undertake several interventions to enhance their student’s learning experiences and academic outcomes, challenges are always faced. They include inadequate student support services, academic engagement, and transition difficulties often affect student retention and achievement. To address them, the SAVE Project wishes to engage a consultant to conduct a comprehensive study to identify evidence-based strategies for improving student experiences and outcomes.

• Objectives of the Assignment

The main objective of the consultancy is to identify evidence-based strategies for improving student experiences and outcomes in higher education in Malawi.

• Scope of the Services

In order to achieve the objectives of the consultancy, the consultant will be expected to undertake, among others, the following tasks:

(a) Assess the Existing Student Support Services;

(b) Analyse the Academic Engagement Strategies;

(c) Analyse the challenges that new students face during their transition into university in Malawi;

(d) Benchmark and identify best practices;

(e) Evidence-Based Recommendations and Implementation Framework;

(f) Evaluation and Monitoring of Impact;

(g) Collaborative and Holistic Development Framework;

(h) Advocacy for Long-Term Vision of Student Success.

• Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:-

(a) Inception Report within 2 weeks of commencement of assignment – outlining the methodology, work plan, and key research questions.

(b) Stakeholder Engagement Report within 4 weeks after acceptance of Inception Report – summarizing insights from consultations and data collection.

(c) Benchmarking Report within 4 weeks after acceptance of Inception Report – comparing institutional practices with regional and international best practices.

(d) Draft Study Report within 6 weeks after acceptance of Inception Report – detailing findings, analysis, and proposed strategies.

(e) Final Report within 4 weeks after acceptance of Draft Report – incorporating feedback from stakeholders and recommendations for implementation.

(f) Presentation of Findings within 6 weeks after acceptance of Inception Report – summary briefing for university leadership and key stakeholders.

• Reporting

The overall assignment shall be overseen by the MoHE through the SAVE Project PIU. For day-to-day execution of the assignment, the Consultant shall work under the direct supervision of an appointed officer in the MoHE. Additionally, the MoHE has constituted for the assignment an adhoc team comprising relevant high ranking experts drawn from the public universities that will work with the consultant on such matters as review of reports, guidance on standards as well as other related issues.

• Duration of the assignment

The assignment is expected to be completed within 90 calendar days.

• Professional Qualifications and Experience

This assignment requires a firm with a minimum of three experts to ensure that it covers leadership, academic engagement, and support services addressing the core components needed to enhance student success. The firm shall demonstrate that it has a minimum of 3 years of experience with at least 2 similar assignments completed over the past 5 years. The three key experts of the firm shall have the following attributes:

(a) Team Leader

The Team leader is responsible for overseeing the overall management and coordination of the project/assignment, ensuring that timelines, milestones, and deliverables are achieved, serving as the primary liaison between the consultancy team and institutional stakeholders, and monitoring the effectiveness and progress of implemented strategies. The required experience, qualifications, and expertise are as follows:

• At least a Master’s degree in any field.

• Minimum 8 years of experience in managing higher education projects.

• Strong leadership, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Familiarity with student success frameworks and strategic planning.

• At least 3 previous assignments of similar nature

(b) Academic Engagement and Pedagogy Expert

The person is tasked with investigating current academic engagement practices and recommending evidence-based strategies, boosting student participation, motivation, and academic performance, while also providing valuable insights into innovative teaching methodologies and educational technologies. The required experience, qualifications, and expertise are as follows:

• PhD in Education, Pedagogy, or any related field.

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and academic engagement.

• Expertise in active learning, flipped classrooms, and engagement-focused teaching approaches.

• Strong background in integrating technology into academic practices.

• At least 2 similar previous assignments

(c) Student Support Services Expert

The individual is entrusted with leading the evaluation of current student support services, including counseling, academic advising, and career services, identifying areas for improvement and suggesting strategies to enhance support for better retention and success, as well as providing guidance on policies and practices to effectively address the needs of diverse student populations. The required experience, qualifications, and expertise are as follows:

• At least a Master’s in any field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in evaluating and implementing student support programs.

• Expertise in retention strategies and mental health support services.

• Knowledge of best practices in academic advising and care to achieve the objectives and milestones set forth in the scope of the consultation.

• At least 2 similar previous assignments

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs,3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

• Submission of Expressions of Interest

A formal letter of Expression of Interest (EoI) for the assignment supported with updated detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) and copies of professional certificates of the key experts should be submitted to the address below preferably through e-mail by Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 by 16:00 hours, local time. Detailed Terms of Reference are available on request.

The Project Manager

SAVE Project

Paul Kagame Road

P. O Box 328

Lilongwe, Malawi

Phone: +265 1 789422

EMail: [email protected] Copy: [email protected] and [email protected]