Background

Malawi’s agricultural transformation relies on an enabling policy environment that supports private sector export growth. To contribute to this agenda, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is conducting an analysis of the major constraints faced by agribusiness export firms operating in Malawi. The study seeks to identify the economic, regulatory and operational factors shape firms’ investment decisions, planning and ability to compete in international markets. The objective is to provide recommendations to the Government of Malawi about priority interventions to better support private sector exporters and strengthen the country’s export performance.

IFPRI is therefore seeking a qualified consultant to collaborate with the IFPRI research team on testing and implementing a set of structured interviews with approximately 20-30 agribusiness export companies in Malawi, interpreting the results, and conveying the findings to high-level decision makers.

Scope of work:

• Survey Design and Instrument Development: Refine the existing draft questionnaire and organize questionnaire piloting.
• Technical Inputs and Expert Engagement: Identify relevant national and international experts and manage a series of technical consultations or meetings to source expert inputs into the survey design.
• Sampling and Fieldwork Implementation: Collaborate with the IFPRI team to identify an appropriate list of enterprises as a sampling frame, in line with the study objectives.
• Interviews: Set up and manage fieldwork, including scheduling and conducting interviews face-to-face and virtually with sampled enterprises.
• Data Management and Documentation: Ensure that all data are accurately captured, digitized, cleaned, and prepared for analysis. Produce a basic information document describing the survey design, sampling strategy, data collection procedures, and any limitations.
• Analytical Inputs: Document key insights emerging from the survey with respect to the main research questions on export constraints.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Identify and engage potential research and implementation partners, such as the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), or other relevant organizations, and bring them together to validate the results.

Required qualifications of the consultant:

• Masters degree in Economics, Public Administration, Public Finance, Development Policy, or Agricultural Policy, plus at least 15 years of professional experience in these fields.
• Demonstrated proficiency conducting semi-structured interviews.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural and economic policies in Malawi.
• Excellent relationships and demonstrated expertise engaging with Malawi’s private sector community.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including through high-level convenings with policymakers.

Preferred qualifications:

• Complementary experience with public sector policymaking in Malawi.
• Expertise publishing academic research papers on development or agricultural policy.

Deliverables:

• Refine the existing draft questionnaire and organize questionnaire piloting.
• Identify relevant national and international experts and manage a series of technical consultations or meetings to source expert inputs into the survey design.
• Collaborate with the IFPRI team to identify an appropriate list of enterprises as a sampling frame, in line with the study objectives.
• Set up and manage fieldwork, including scheduling and conducting interviews face-to-face and virtually with sampled enterprises.
• Ensure that all data are accurately captured, digitized, cleaned, and prepared for analysis. Produce a basic information document describing the survey design, sampling strategy, data collection procedures, and any limitations.
• Document key insights emerging from the survey with respect to the main research questions on export constraints.
• Identify and engage potential research and implementation partners, such as the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), or other relevant organizations, and bring them together to validate the results.

• Proficiency conducting semi-structured interviews.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural and economic policies in Malawi.
• Excellent relationships and demonstrated expertise engaging with Malawi’s private sector community.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including through high-level convenings with policymakers.

• Masters degree in Economics, Public Administration, Public Finance, Development Policy, or Agricultural Policy.
• At least 15 years of professional experience in these fields.
• Complementary experience with public sector policymaking in Malawi (preferred).
• Expertise publishing academic research papers on development or agricultural policy (preferred).