REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

Legal analysis of key restoration policies from an equity perspective in Malawi

SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT

WRI intends to award a fixed price contract for the proposed equity legal analysis consultancy in Malawi, aimed at understanding how rights, responsibilities, benefits, and participation are defined and operationalized for diverse stakeholders. The expected outcomes of the analysis include an inception report and an equity analysis report providing findings and recommendations on how to integrate equity into restoration policies and programs in Malawi. Further, the consultant will examine coherence, alignment, and enforceability and practical application of GSE-related provisions across statutes, regulations, policies, and strategies The consultancy shall be implemented in 4 months beginning September and ending in December 2025.

About the World Resources Institute

Founded in 1982, The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future.

About the Equity Legal Analysis Consultancy in Malawi

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

Objectives of the Study

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive legal and policy review of Malawi’s forest and landscape restoration, frameworks, with a focus on understanding how rights, responsibilities, benefits, and participation are defined and operationalized for diverse stakeholders. The resulting evidence base will provide actionable insights for government and partners to refine restoration strategies, strengthen safeguards, and prepare for more inclusive and effective PES/OBF mechanisms and other emerging climate finance initiatives.

Specifically, the study will:

1. Map the legal and policy architecture of forest landscape restoration (FLR) in Malawi including key laws, regulations, policies, and institutional frameworks
2. Assess and synthesize evidence on the extent of integration of provisions related to gender and social equity (GSE), including access, control, and participation, benefit distribution, recognition of customary tenure and legal pluralism, and accountability or grievance mechanisms.
3. Examine coherence, alignment, and enforceability and practical application of GSE-related provisions across statutes, regulations, policies, and strategies,

World Resources Institute (WRI) expects the consultant to execute and complete the following tasks and outcomes:

1. Conduct a desk-based legal and policy review of Malawi’s frameworks related to forest and landscape restoration
2. Apply an equity-focused analysis framework, examining:

• Access to and control over land and natural resources
• Participation, representation, and decision-making
• Distribution of benefits (monetary and non-monetary)
• Recognition of customary tenure and rights
• Accountability, transparency, and grievance mechanisms

1. Assess policy coherence, contradictions, and enforcement mechanisms, highlighting how these enable or constrain equitable restoration outcomes.
2. Synthesize evidence on the practice of gender and social equity in Malawi’s forest and landscape a restoration governance system.
3. Conduct a stakeholder validation workshop with national and other institutional stakeholders in Malawi to draw insights on practical application and use these insights to develop actionable recommendations for strengthening equity considerations in the country’s restoration and climate legal frameworks.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will provide:

• An inception report (5 pages Max) outlining methodology, workplan, and analytical framework (within 2 weeks of contract signing).
• Comprehensive Legal and Policy Analysis Report (approx. 25 pages) covering the areas outlined in the scope of work, with an equity lens.
• Synthesis brief (8–10 pages) summarizing key findings and recommendations in an accessible format for internal WRI reference, other policymakers and practitioners.
• Slide deck highlighting findings and recommendations for internal and external presentations.

TIMING

The consultancy is expected to run from September – December 2025 with the following timeline:

• September 2025 – Inception report
• September–November 2025 – Desk-based review, draft report and validation with stakeholders
• December 2025 – Final report, synthesis brief, and slide deck

BUDGET

The successful consultant will work with a budget ranging between $10,000 - $13,000, inclusive of everything. WRI expects the consultant to submit the financial proposal with full information on the budgeted items. An estimate of the number of days required to carry out the activities is to be provided by the vendors in their proposal and must be reflected in the estimate. However, once the budget has been validated, the payment of the service will be conditional on the delivery of the deliverables and not on the number of days worked. All expenses (equipment, vehicles, materials, supplies, consumables, means of communication, insurance, travel expenses, etc.) necessary for the performance of the service, including travel expenses, mission expenses, etc., are the sole responsibility of the vendor and must be quantified in the budget proposal.

Please note that WRI is a United States IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable.

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Requirements

The selected vendor will be able to demonstrate capacity in similar work, particularly:

• Advanced degree in law, environmental policy, natural resource governance, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in legal and policy analysis, particularly in restoration, conservation, climate change, or natural resource governance.
• Strong knowledge of gender equality, social inclusion, and equity frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience working in Malawi, with familiarity with national legal and policy contexts.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.

Proposal content

Prospective consultants should submit the following complete documents to the address listed below

• A completed conflict of interest declaration (Annex 1)
• A statement of interest describing the proposed team and their CVs and how each meets the above requirements.
• Examples of and references for similar previous work.
• A technical proposal outlining methodology and workplan and general understanding of the assignment.
• A proposed budget with a breakdown of costs sufficient to assess reasonableness and compliance with our funder requirements. Please also include a competitive payment schedule associating amounts with work milestones.

Expression of Interest, Deadline for Questions, and Proposal

All expressions of interest and questions about this RFP must be received via email to the contact below by 10 September 2025 at 11:59 PM (CAT). For all questions and queries relating to the consultancy, send them to Mercy Mulanga (Mercy.Mulanga@wri.org) or Spencer Ng’oma (spencer.ngoma@wri.org). The responses to the questions and queries will be shared with all parties who have asked questions or otherwise expressed interest. All proposals must be sent by 10 September 2025 at 11:59 PM (CAT) in electronic format to Mercy Mulanga (Mercy.Mulanga@wri.org), with a copy to Spencer Ng’oma (spencer.ngoma@wri.org) and Edwin Mkabane (Edwin.Mkabane@wri.org).

EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Evaluation Criteria

The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all proposals submitted in response to this RFP: Completion of all required elements.

• Consultant’s technical understanding and how the proposal fulfills WRI’s stated requirements as set out in the RFP;
• Consultant’s experience with similar assignments
• Overall cost of the consultant’s financial proposal.
• Debarment and sanctions – WRI will not consider proposals from vendors/organizations/consultants, etc. that are presently debarred by the U.S. government or named on any restricted parties lists.
• Sustainability – WRI values sustainability and, all other factors being equal, will favor a proposal to more sustainably performs the work.
• At the World Resources Institute, we strive to have an inclusive delivery chain. We believe the environmental and international development communities are strengthened by providing equality of opportunity to businesses owned by LGBTQ+ communities, women, indigenous peoples, racialized groups, and people with disabilities - and it is important to WRI that we partner with organizations that share these values. Please describe both how your organization would take an equity-centered approach to the need you are proposing to help us fill and how you incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion into your staffing, board leadership, and programs.

The bidder offering the best overall value will be selected. Nevertheless, for this procurement, non-price aspects (technical competence and experience to deliver on this assignment) are particularly important. Proposal content and grading will consider these aspects and shall be evaluated using the weighted mechanism of 70% technical proposal and 30% financial proposal

Selection Process

No proposal development costs shall be charged to WRI / all expenses are to be borne by the bidders. WRI may award the bidder offering the best value without discussion. However, WRI reserves the right to seek bidder clarifications and to negotiate with those bidders deemed to be within a competitive range.

WRI may, at its discretion and without explanation to the prospective vendors/organizations/consultants, etc., choose to discontinue this RFP without obligation to such prospective vendors/organizations/consultants, etc., or make multiple awards under this RFP. Contracts will not be awarded to vendors/organizations/consultants, etc., debarred by the US government or named on restricted parties lists.