Consultancy Opportunity: Review of Community-Based Social Protection Systems in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique
Organization: HelpAge International
Posted: 21 November 2025
Closing Date: 10 December 2025
HelpAge International is inviting qualified consultants to conduct a multi-country review of community-based social protection systems across Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
This assignment aims to generate critical evidence on how informal community support structures contribute to the wellbeing, resilience, and income security of older women and men—particularly in settings where formal state-led social protection remains limited.
About HelpAge International
HelpAge International serves as the secretariat of the global HelpAge Network, a broad coalition committed to ensuring that older people everywhere can lead active, healthy, secure, and dignified lives. The organization champions inclusive policies, evidence-based programming, and strong community structures that support older persons.
Background and Rationale
Across the four study countries, older people face mounting vulnerabilities due to:
- Persistent poverty and food insecurity
- High inflation and limited household purchasing power
- Weak and low-coverage formal pension and social protection systems
- Climate shocks, disasters, and conflict
- Lifelong gender inequalities disproportionately affecting older women
Formal social protection coverage remains extremely low—for example, only 3.9% of older people in Ethiopia and 2.3% in Malawi receive at least one social protection benefit.
In this context, community-based social protection systems—including solidarity networks, burial societies, and savings groups—play a significant role. These groups provide:
- Access to credit and emergency loans
- Savings mechanisms
- Emotional support and solidarity
- Labour-sharing and informal employment networks
However, their full impact, inclusiveness, and relationship with formal systems remain poorly understood.
Study Objectives
The consultancy seeks to generate evidence on:
- How community-based approaches support older people’s income security, wellbeing, and dignity
- How these approaches strengthen the sustainability of Older Persons Associations
- How community-based and formal social protection systems can be better integrated to improve outcomes for older populations
Research Methodology
The study will adopt a collaborative, mixed-methods, participatory, and gender-sensitive approach.
Work will be led by the consultant, in partnership with HelpAge International and project partners in all four countries.
Key Methodological Elements
- Mixed methods: both quantitative and qualitative data
- Participatory engagement of older women and men
- Development of research tools by the consultant
- Field data collection undertaken by in-country HelpAge partners
- Joint data analysis and validation sessions
Roles and Responsibilities
Consultant
- Develop user-friendly data collection tools
- Train data collectors
- Conduct primary data analysis
- Review literature and secondary data
- Present findings in a validation workshop
- Prepare draft and final reports
- Ensure quality, accuracy, and adherence to timelines
HelpAge International
- Manage contracting and oversight
- Approve methodology, tools, and reports
- Coordinate partners and logistics
- Ensure research quality and timely delivery
Country Partners
- Mobilize participants for FGDs and KIIs
- Collect field data using approved tools
Deliverables & Timelines
Estimated research duration: January–March 2026 (approx. 3 months)
Proposed Work Plan
- Literature review: 2 days
- Tool development: 2 days
- Data collection: 14 days
- Data analysis: 5 days
- Draft report: 10 days
- Validation workshop: 0.5 day
- Final report completion: 2 days
Final Output
A research report (max. 35 pages) including:
- Executive summary
- Introduction & context
- Methodology
- Findings & analysis
- Conclusions & recommendations
Payment Structure
Payments will be released based on deliverables:
- 30% upon approval of the inception report
- 30% after acceptance of the draft report
- 40% upon approval of the final report
Local taxation laws will apply.
Ethics, Safeguarding & Conduct
The consultant must:
- Sign and comply with HelpAge’s Safeguarding Policy
- Obtain informed consent from all participants
- Ensure ethical use of visual materials
- Uphold data protection standards
- Recognize that all intellectual property belongs to HelpAge International
Required Qualifications
- Strong expertise in social protection systems, especially community-based mechanisms
- Experience in community development and participatory research
- Mixed-methods research capability
- Understanding of older people’s wellbeing and community networks
- Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
- Advanced degree in Social Policy, Development Studies, Sociology, or related field
OR minimum 7 years’ relevant professional experience
How to Apply
Interested consultants should review the full Terms of Reference at www.helpage.org and submit an Expression of Interest to jobs@helpage.org no later than 10 December 2025.
Applications must include:
1. Technical Proposal (max. 3 pages)
- Understanding of the assignment
- Relevant experience
- Proposed methodology
- Work plan
- Annexed CV(s) of all involved
2. Financial Proposal
- Total cost not exceeding USD 5,500
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
