Consultancy Services for Independent Verification Agent in Malawi Energy Project

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINING DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AFFAIRS REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES –FIRM SELECTION) COUNTRY MALAWI NAME OF PROJECT ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS TRANSFORMATION IN MALAWI (ASCENT MALAWI) PROJECT PROJECT ID P502464 ASSIGNMENT TITLE CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION AGENT (IVA) OF COMPONENT 2, OFF-GRID CONNECTION THROUGH SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS AND COMPONENT 4, CLEAN COOKING SOLUTIONS, OF THE ASCENT MALAWI PROJECT DATE OF ISSUE 18TH FEBRUARY 2026 This request for expression of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared in the United Nations Development Business (UNDB) on 31st January 2025. The Government of the Republic of Malawi through the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MoEM) has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) towards the cost of implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Malawi (ASCENT Malawi) Project. It is intended that part of the proceeds of the financing will be used to cover eligible payments under the contracts for Consultancy services. The consulting services (“the Services”) intent is to procure an Independent Verification Agent (IVA) who shall provide consultancy services for independent verification of solar home systems and clean cooking solutions procured and installed with support from the Off-grid Market Development Fund (OGMDF) which is locally branded as the Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund (NNNF) . The objective of the assignment is to verify that recipients of the RBF and Debt Facility from the NNNF are complying with the stipulated uses of funds, eligibility conditions, and contractual obligations as defined in the Project Operations Manual (POM). This, among others, includes verification that the SHS and clean cooking solutions financed by the Project meet product, service, price, and customer (household) eligibility conditions. The verification will be conducted in all project areas where Participating Organisations (POs) will be operating under Components 2 and 4. The scope of work under this assignment is the independent verification of:

• RBF claims by POs under Component 2.
• Compliance with loan eligibility, performance, and contractual conditions under Components 2 and 4.

POs are required to submit periodic (quarterly) reports of eligible SHS and clean cookstove sales made within the period to support their claims under the relevant financing windows. The IVA will play a critical role in ensuring that the POs meet their obligations in the manner specified in the Fund’s POM which will be made available to shortlisted firms to inform their preparation of detailed technical and financial proposals. The detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) for the assignment can be found at the following websites: Ministry of Energy and Mining (https://energy.gov.mw/resources/) and ASCENT Project (https://www.ascent.mw/resources/) or upon request through the following email address amopiha@ascent.mw/amopiha@gmail.com copy to info@ascent.mw. All requests for clarification should be sent through above emails, and the Client will respond to the requested clarifications. The MoEM now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are as follows:

• Core business of the firm(s) and years in business
• Relevant similar experience, which should specifically include the below:
• Experience in assignments of similar nature, complexity and size. Information to be provided should include name of assignment, name and full contact address of the client, contract value (in equivalent US dollars) and period (dates) of execution of assignment.
• Experience in undertaking similar assignments in Africa or developing countries
• Experience in field data collection and analysis using qualitative and quantitative methods, and report writing.
• The consultant shall have expertise in monitoring, reporting, evaluation and independent verification of development projects or energy related services.
• Capacity to organize logistics in remote parts of Malawi is a must.
• Technical and managerial capability of the firm (provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications, and number of key staff. Do not provide CVs of the staff. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage).

The attention of consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14, 3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" February, 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. Therefore, each member of JV shall independently meet the requirements of the evaluation criteria. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00 hour’s local time Monday to Friday, Except National Holidays. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail and by e-mail to amopiha@ascent.mw/amopiha@gmail.com copy to info@ascent.mw by 14:00 Hrs. Local Time, on 11th March 2026. Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful Consultant’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the Request for Proposals. The firms that will submit their EOI via e-mail must get confirmation of the receipt of their documents. In case the firm does not receive acknowledgement within two days of after sending the documents via email, they should call +265 888 870 806 or +265 999 138 270 for follow-up. The Chairperson of Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee Ministry of Energy and Mining ASCENT Malawi Project Area 47, Sector 5, House No. 66 Private Bag 309, Lilongwe 3 Malawi E-mail: amopiha@ascent.mw/amopiha@gmail.com/info@ascent.mw Agency: Ministry of Energy Procurement method: Quality And Cost-Based Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 1000000.0 USD