Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist – Malawi

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist for a energy, rural development, trade consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Malawi.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently preparing a proposal for a prospective UNDP-funded assignment in Malawi focused on driving demand-side transformation and accelerating the adoption of clean cooking solutions. The initiative aims to shift consumer perceptions, increase awareness, and promote clean cooking as an aspirational lifestyle choice associated with household health, dignity, and modern living across the country.

To support this strategic initiative, we are seeking a qualified Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist to join our expert team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in translating consumer research and market intelligence into actionable behavioral insights, tracking campaign progress, and measuring the impact of our national behavioral change and market activation strategies in the energy and rural development sectors.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Design and implement robust research, monitoring, and learning frameworks for the national clean cooking campaign.
• Translate consumer research, market intelligence, and customer feedback into practical behavioral insights.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of awareness-raising and market activation campaigns across communities.
• Establish structured pathways to track consumer progression from initial awareness to sustained adoption and normalization.

Scope of work

• Design and execute baseline, midline, and endline research activities to measure shifts in public perceptions and consumer behavior.
• Analyze factors influencing consumer decision-making, including affordability, accessibility, safety perceptions, and energy stacking practices.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools to track the reach and impact of mass media, digital channels, and community outreach activities.
• Synthesize consumer feedback and market intelligence to inform adaptive management and refine campaign messaging.
• Establish clear performance indicators and learning frameworks to evaluate campaign waves focused on awareness and market activation.

Your role as Research, Monitoring and Learning Specialist

• Lead all research, monitoring, and learning activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Design methodologies for gathering quantitative and qualitative data on consumer behavior and clean cooking adoption rates.
• Analyze complex datasets related to market activation, consumer trust, and behavioral change pathways.
• Collaborate with team members to integrate behavioral insights into campaign strategies and community engagement plans.
• Prepare comprehensive monitoring and evaluation reports, documentation of lessons learned, and progress updates for stakeholders.
• Ensure data quality, accuracy, and adherence to established research standards across all project interventions.

Requirements

• Education: Degree in Statistics, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, Research Methods or related field
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in research, monitoring and evaluation

Desirable

• Previous professional experience working on UNDP or similar international donor-funded projects.
• Familiarity with the clean cooking, renewable energy, or rural development sectors in Malawi or the broader region.

An analytical researcher with extensive monitoring and evaluation expertise in Malawi, adept at transforming complex data and consumer research into actionable behavioral insights for sustainable energy initiatives.

Assignment details

• Location: Malawi
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Energy, rural development, trade
• Estimated duration: 10 months
• Expected input: 80 days
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNDP-financed project in Malawi.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.