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Malawi Consultant - Education, Gender Equality, and Book Publishing Context

Remote: 
Full Remote
Contract: 
Fixed term
Work from: 
Malawi

Offer summary

Qualifications:

A degree in education or a related field (Master's preferred)., Proven experience in conducting independent research through online investigations and interviews., Knowledge of teaching methodologies and gender analysis in education, particularly in Malawi., Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English..

Key responsibilities:

  • Conduct a qualitative desk review on education, gender equality, and book publishing in Malawi.
  • Gather and analyze data from local sources, reports, and interviews with stakeholders.
  • Produce a comprehensive report summarizing findings and recommendations for Room to Read.
  • Develop a gender-transformative data collection plan and provide updates throughout the research process.

Room to Read logo
Room to Read http://www.roomtoread.org
1001 - 5000 Employees
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Job description

World Change Starts with Educated Children® 

 ROOM TO READ TERMS OF REFERENCE  

  

Consultancy: Desk review of the Education,  Gender Equality, and Book Publishing Context in Malawi 

MUST have experience living and/or working in Malawi

  

Timeline: 1 June– 18 July 2025 (7 weeks)  

 

Room to Read seeks a qualified consultant to conduct a qualitative desk review on the education, gender equality, and book publishing context in Malawi. The deliverable is producing a report that analyzes and summarizes results and findings obtained from collecting qualitative data on gender and education policies, reports, statistics and conducting informational interviews. 

 

BACKGROUND 

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education. We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build life skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefited more than 45 million children and has worked in 24 countries and in more than 213,000 communities, providing additional support through remote solutions that facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. 

We are now exploring the possibility of expanding Room to Read programming in Malawi. To support this work, we are conducting a feasibility study to determine the relevance of Room to Read programming in Malawi. The feasibility study will take place in two parts: 1) a desk review to gather high-level information about the gender and education, book publishing, and partnership context in Malawi; and 2) in-country visits by a Room to Read team to further our understanding of the context and meet potential partners.  

The research aims to identify key education policies and systems as well as a macro-level understanding of how Room to Read could potentially add value to the quality education agenda in Malawi in primary school literacy, children’s book publishing, and girls’ education. Findings from the desk review will be used to recommend a high-level strategy for Room to Read in Malawi and provide a basis for a follow-up visit by a Room to Read team to meet with local stakeholders and structure an initial workplan for project proposals. 

 

 

DESK REVIEW 

The desk review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the gender and education policies, systems and challenges in Malawi as well as potential partners working in the field of early literacy, children’s book publishing, and girls’ education.  

DELIVERABLES 

A report that gathers, analyzes and presents the following information: 

  • Macro level demographics, gender, education and literacy statistics; 

  • National policies and gender, education, and literacy-related initiatives and studies; 

  • Information and documentation on national education systems and structures, including systems of accountability, national primary curriculum standards and subjects pre/in-service and teacher professional development, including information on life skills curriculum, guidelines, and practices; 

  • Information on the local publishing industry and the children’s book landscape; 

  • The NGO landscape;  

  • Information related to the political and social context of Malawi, including on gender norms and beliefs;  

  • Recommendations for the Room to Read team on areas for future research and potential programming strategy (see desk review guidelines for details).  

 

METHODOLOGY 

Data and information for the assignment will be collected through the following methodologies: 

  • Information gathering from local sources; 

  • Online research; 

  • Meetings/interviews with the stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education and Commission on Women (as needed); 

  • Meetings/interviews with publishers, local writers, and illustrators on standard procedures of children’s book development in Malawi (as needed); 

  • Meetings/interviews with local NGOs including organizations that support women and girls and organizations supporting literacy (as needed); 

 

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES 

Develop a gender-transformative data collection plan (gender-balanced research team and sampling) that includes a description of methods and timeline for gathering information 

Week 1  -    Data collection plan; Information gathering 

Weeks 2-4  - Oral or written updates on data collection; written report on the findings from the data collection. 

Weeks 5-6 - Final Report (between 15 and 20 pages); respond to Room to Read’s questions and update report; connect Room to Read to relevant stakeholders identified in the report.   

Week 7 - Oral or written responses to questions; email introductions to relevant stakeholders. 

*Communication with Room to Read on an ongoing basis. 

  

TERMS OF CONTRACT 

The contract between Room to Read and the consultant selected for this study will be a fixed fee of up to US$7,500. The consultant entering into a contract with Room to Read must ensure that the entire scope of work can be completed with the available resources. 

 

QUALIFICATIONS  

The ideal candidate for this consultancy will have the following qualifications: 

  • A degree in education or a related field of study (Masters degree preferred);  

  • Proven experience in conducting independent research through online investigations and interviews;  

  • Knowledge and understanding of teaching methodologies, curriculum and teacher training at the primary school and secondary school levels in Malawi;  

  • Knowledge or experience in gender analysis, understanding of gender norms in education, and gender mainstreaming and gender transformative education programs, preferred; 

  • Understanding of gender-transformative and inclusive research methodologies, tools, and practices; 

  • Background in working with literacy, and/or teaching reading, gender mainstreaming and transformative education programs, preferred;  

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including the ability to write reports and present information;  

  • Ability to work independently, objectivity and pay attention to detail;  

  • The candidate is currently living or residing in Malawi, preferred.  

 

Location(s)

Global Office - Remote - United States

To be successful at Room to Read, you will also: 

  • Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization 

  • Be a proactive and innovative thinker who achieves results and creates positive change

  • Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness  

  • Embrace diversity and a commitment to collaboration 

  • Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment 

Room to Read is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled

About Room to Read:   

  

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education.

We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build life skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions.

We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.

Room to Read has benefited more than 45 million children and has worked in 24 countries and in more than 213,000 communities, providing additional support through remote solutions that facilitate learning beyond the classroom.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.  

Required profile

Experience

Spoken language(s):
English
Check out the description to know which languages are mandatory.

Hard Skills

Gender StudiesEducation PolicyEducation TheoriesPhone InterviewsData CollectionCurriculum DevelopmentGender Studies

Other Skills

  • Literacy
  • Research
  • Communication
  • Detail Oriented
  • Proactivity
  • Personal Integrity
Are you interested?

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