Phase I: September 2024
A ‘case for investment for accelerating change to end CEFMU in Malawi’.
The aim of this document is to make the case for why Girls Not Brides and key stakeholders and donors should invest in this country, and what the accelerator approach for national change is. It will explain what we mean by accelerating change at the national level, and how we will see this happen through an ecosystem approach (where there is opportunity for both national and local actors to contribute).
This document will be used as a case for investment to continue discussions with different strategic partners and donors to mobilise them around this initiative, as well as to guide the co-creation work in Malawi. It will be an evolving document that will be constantly improved with stage 2 and 3 inputs (see 2 following points).
Consultancy deliverables:
Develop a compelling case for investment for partners, including government to shift the levers of change.
Phase II: September 2024
A conceptual framework for accelerated change for Malawi.
Stage two of this work is to build a framework for accelerated change in Malawi. This piece of work will illustrate how change happens in this country context and what the main entry points for accelerated change are. It will start with a power analysis, mapping key stakeholders and initiatives that are being done in the country, as well as consolidating global and country specific desk top research and evidence on child marriage and what works to end CEFMU (including consulting with experts and key national stakeholders, community-based organisations, existing networks, and girl and young women led organisations) and developing analytical tools to adapt our global theory of change to the Malawian context. The result will be a comprehensive context analysis, a theory of change and accelerator framework for the Malawian context. This will be done amongst other thorough literature review, interviews/focus groups, workshop etc.
Consultancy deliverables:
Conceptual framework presenting what needs to be done in Malawi to accelerate change. This should include:
Literature review on what works to address CEFMU in the Malawi context. This should include a problem analysis to understand the drivers of child marriage in Malawi and possible barriers, systemic (structural, legal and policy), people (cultural, mindsets, access etc) and opportunities for addressing it.
Context analysis and mapping of key stakeholders and initiatives to ensure clarity and coordination among all parties to define a winning coalition for change.
Power analysis and Theory of Change (TOC), to identify main entry points and strategies to accelerate change.
Identification of potential funding sources and strategies to secure financial support nationally and internationally.
Comprehensive list of contacts, including names, roles and responsibilities, contact information of key stakeholders involved in the initiative.
Phase III: September – mid November
A costed consortium programme: Stage three of this work will build on the framework for accelerated change and translate it into a costed consortium programme for 3-5 years. This will be done through a co-created project design process with key partners identified in phase 2 (including experts and key national stakeholders, community-based organisations, existing networks, and girl and young women led organisations. The consortium approach allows partners to contribute specific skills and areas of expertise linked to priority areas of the programme. Through this process we also aim to identify a lead organisation, based on their track record in similar programmes and previous experience managing this kind of consortium.
As part of this consultancy, we plan to hold an in-person validation and project design workshop in Malawi to bring together the relevant stakeholders who can help co-create the country programme. This workshop will also include partners from Girls First Fund, Clooney Foundation for Justice, Girls Opportunity Alliance and Gates Foundation. The consultant will be responsible for leading the organisation of the workshop, including developing an agenda, facilitation and logistics with support from Girls Not Brides staff and input from other interested organisations (e.g. Girls First Fund).
Consultancy deliverables:
Delivery of an in-person validation workshop in Malawi to design collectively the consortium programme and short summary report
Costed consortium programme co-designed document
In addition to these 3 phases of work, the consultancy will support Girls Not Brides and key partners’ work to mobilise and influence different stakeholders to join forces in Malawi to end CEFMU. In particular, the consultant will advise or provide important evidence-based content for the work we will be doing to:
Identify, engage with and mobilise relevant key national and international stakeholders needed to accelerate change in Malawi on CEFMU (and for the consortium programme in particular)
Mobilise and influence donors to attract and drive funding to Malawi
Engage and influence the government and their domestic budgeting for accelerating change.
Key principles:
Below are some key principles which will guide the process of the consultancy:
Evidence based: drawing on the Girls Not Brides ToC and currently available evidence at the global and national level to understand what is working to end child marriage.
Collaborative co-creation: working with Girls Not Brides Malawi, partners, key stakeholders and government representatives are included in the consultations and development of the Framework and programme design.
Participatory: centering the use of participatory approaches where possible to ensure our work is well informed, collaborative, non-hierarchical, values-driven and carried out in partnership with stakeholders in Malawi.
Impactful: ensuring the programme maximises impact to end CEFMU with a gender transformative approach that addresses the root causes of the problem and ensures sustainability of results.
Key experience expected from the consultant’s team:
Track record experience in multi-million programme design, development and implementation
Demonstrated experience developing consortium projects/programmes, using participatory and co-creation methodologies
In depth knowledge of child marriage, girls’ rights or related issues
Experience of facilitating multi stakeholder workshops, with participatory and co-creation approaches
Experience and in-depth knowledge of Malawi is an asset
