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. WRIโs 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 Malawiโs 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:
- Map the legal and policy architecture of forest landscape restoration (FLR) in Malawi including key laws, regulations, policies, and institutional frameworks
- 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.
- 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:
- Conduct a desk-based legal and policy review of Malawiโs frameworks related to forest and landscape restoration
- 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
- Assess policy coherence, contradictions, and enforcement mechanisms, highlighting how these enable or constrain equitable restoration outcomes.
- Synthesize evidence on the practice of gender and social equity in Malawiโs forest and landscape a restoration governance system.
- 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 countryโs 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 (8โ10 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 โ December 2025 with the following timeline:
- September 2025 โ Inception report
- SeptemberโNovember 2025 โ Desk-based review, draft report and validation with stakeholders
- December 2025 โ 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 (