RFP: Compliance Audit of Environmental and Social Management Practices for Project Interventions Undertaken Through the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project

GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, IRRIGATION AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

MALAWI WATERSHED SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (MWASIP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REoI)

 (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

CONSULTANT QUALIFICATION SELECTION (CQS)

The Government of Malawi (GoM) through the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) is to carry out compliance audit of environmental and social Management practices for project interventions undertaken through the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project. The consultant will fully document and assess the environmental and social management practices and determine compliance against the commitments in the project-level environmental and social instruments and subproject-level environmental and social plans. The main scope of the assignment will be to determine the extent to which environmental and social commitments for the MWASIP are adhered to. The consultant will be expected to bring out the extent to which commitments from the aforementioned documents have been met, and measures complied with. In achieving this, the consultant should cover (but not be limited to) the following tasks:

1. Determine environmental and social issues associated with the existing project activities by reviewing all environmental and social key instruments and documents prepared to support the implementation of MWASIP;
2. Evaluate of the effectiveness and adequacy of institutional capacity for environmental and social management to oversee implementation of environmental and social management measures during project implementation and beyond the project closure at the community, district, and national levels;
3. Compile Audit Report and Corrective Action Plan for all the observed gaps and shortfalls and associated cost implications of the corrective measures;
4. Prepare a presentation and present findings which should include activities undertaken and methodology, findings, recommendations and a corrective action plan for implementation of audit corrective actions.

It is expected that the assignment shall take a maximum of four (4) months (120 calendar days) and will require fifteen (15) person-months input by five (5) Key-Experts to complete. The detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) for this assignment can be obtained upon request at the address provided below.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development now invites qualified and eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information  demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, and 3.17 of The World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The best qualified firm to carry out the services will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations, and based on the following criteria:

1. Proven experience in providing environmental and social safeguards management services to International Financial Institutions funded development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa Region or any other region with similar environment for a minimum of ten (10) years.
2. Experience and solid proficiency in conducting environmental and social audits and assisting implementers achieve or re-establish compliance with environmental and social safeguards regulations and other requirements
3. Proven track record of undertaking assignments of similar nature resulting in successful delivery of at least three (3) environmental and social audit assignments over the past ten (10) years.
4. Proof of technical, managerial, and financial capacity of the firm having qualified and experienced team of experts as per defined requirements in the Terms of Reference. (Provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications, and number of key experts. Do not provide CV of the experts. Experts will not be evaluated at this stage).
5. At least five (5) years of relevant experience of working with/on World Bank and/or other International Financial Institutions funded projects covering environmental and social audits.

Consultants should provide only project references which are responding to the shortlisting criteria.

Further information can be obtained at the address provided below during office hours from 8:00 to 12:00; then 13:00 to 16:00 Hours Malawi Time (Monday to Friday, except national public holidays).

Expressions of Interest clearly marked: “Compliance Audit of Environmental and Social Management Practices for Project Interventions Undertaken Through the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project” must be delivered in a written form to the address provided below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 4:30 p.m. (16:30 Hours) Malawi Time by Monday, 24th November 2025.

The Project Coordinator

Attention: Procurement Management Specialist

Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP)

Veterinary Campus – Area 3

Lilongwe Old Town, Off Kamuzu Procession Road

Opposite Lilongwe Town Hall (at the Four-ways)

Procurement Office, Room No. 04

Private Bag A192

Lilongwe

MALAWI

Phone: +265 111 759 450

E–mail: Stevie.Kazembe@mwasip.mw;  skazembe@gmail.com