Background
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM-MZUZU) is one of the development arms of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu. CADECOM operations hover around the Diocese’s main strategic goal of “Ensuring spiritual, social and economic transformation and development of individuals, families and communities.” With funding support from St Patrick’s Missionary Society (SPMS), CADECOM is implementing Improved Sustainable Management of Land and Forest Resources Project.
The project is targeting 19 Parishes for the period of 3 years (2024-2027). In the first year July 2024- June 2025, the 6 parishes where interventions have been implemented are; St. Paul’s, St. Padro Pio, St. Denis, St. Joseph Mkasa, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Albert the Great.
In the second year (July 2025- June 2026) Parishes are St. Theresa, Holy cross, Holy Family, St. Augustine, St. Cecilia, St. Johns and St Joseph. The third year (July 2026-June 2027) last parishes will be St. Peters, St. Bernadette, St. Francis de Sales, St. Monica, Holy Trinity and St. Mary.
The core objective of the project is to improve livelihoods of the most marginalized communities and promote adoption of ecologically sound natural resource management practices among community members.
Purpose of the Evaluation
The purpose of the evaluation is to independently assess the overall performance of the Improved Sustainable Management of Land and Forest Resources Project and determine the extent to which it achieved its intended outcomes and impact from July 2024 to June 2026.
The evaluation will generate evidence for:
Accountability to St Patrick’s Missionary Society (SPMS) and other stakeholders.
Learning for future programming.
Documentation of good practices.
Identification of implementation challenges.
Informing future project interventions.
Objectives of the Evaluation
The objectives of the evaluation are as follows:
1. Determine the extent to which the project outcomes have been achieved
2. Determine the effectiveness of project implementation in achieving intended outputs and outcomes.
3. Assess project impact on livelihoods, food security and environmental restoration
4. Generate and document concrete evidence of the positive and negative changes by the project.
5. Gauge the extent of sustainability of the project interventions.
Scope of Work
The consultancy firm will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the project. This will include:
- Reviewing project documentation and relevant reports. – Project proposal- MERL frameworks- Interim and Annual reports (Narrative and Financial)- Project Needs Assessment report Endline Internal Evaluation report
- Designing and executing data collection methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions.
- Analyzing data to assess project outcomes and impact.
- Providing actionable recommendations for future interventions.
Required expertise:
The consultancy firm should possess the following expertise:
At least Master’s degree in Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning or any related field.
5yearsof experience conducting livelihoods evaluations.
Familiarity with context of Mzimba, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, Dwangwa and Kasungu North.
Experience using statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, or R.
Demonstrate knowledge of OECD-DAC evaluation criteria.
Experience in conducting project evaluations, preferably in the fields of Agroecology, climate resilience, natural resource management and livelihoods, Agriculture, nutrition, child protection and vulnerable adults
Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected;
An inception report outlining the proposed evaluation methodology and timeline.
Data collection tools and protocols.
Draft and final evaluation report, including findings, analysis and recommendations. Ethical and safeguarding requirements.
The consultant shall:
Comply with social teachings and safeguarding policies of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu.
Ensure informed consent.
Protect confidentiality of respondents.
Observe research ethics throughout the assignment. Reporting and timeline
The consultant will report directly to CADECOM Coordinator while working closely with the Diocesan Monitoring and Evaluation Office.
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 15 days from the date of contract signing.
Proposals
Interested consultancy firms are expected to submit the following in their applications;
Company profile and relevant experience.
Proposed methodology and approach.
Detailed budget breakdown.
CVs of key personnel.
Contact Information:
Applications must be submitted to the following address before close of business on Wednesday, 5th August 2026.
The Chairperson
The Internal Procurement Committee
Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu
P. O. Box 2
Mzuzu.
Email: ipc@mzuzudiocese.m