Malawi is currently grappling with a significant challenge in learning outcomes; as evidenced by the high rate of learning poverty; with 87 percent of 10-year-olds unable to comprehend a simple passage. In response; the Malawian government has implemented various educational reforms outlined in the National Education Sector Investment Plan (NESIP) 2020-2030; with support from development partners. As part of these efforts; the government periodically assesses children’s foundational skills through initiatives such as the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SEACMEQ); Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA); Early Grade Mathematics Assessments (EGMA); and nationally developed sample assessments. More recently; standardized Common Zonal Tests (CZT) have been introduced in key subjects for Standard 3 and 4 and are in the process of being scaled up to all schools. However; there has been minimal reporting on SDG4.1.1.a and b; with the latest reporting for SDG4.1.1.b dating back to 2013 and no reporting on SDG4.1.1.a. This highlights the need to enhance the government's capacity to utilize data; including the establishment of Minimum Proficiency Levels (MPL) that are comparable across years and benchmarked against other countries. There is a critical need to establish MPLs and mechanisms for assessing them; to enhance capacity for analyzing assessment results; disseminating findings to stakeholders; and utilizing the data to inform future policy decisions. Malawi has participated in SEACMEQ since 1999. This participation enables Malawi to benchmark its educational outcomes with other countries in the region. The Malawian government used data from previous round of SEACMEQ (IV) to report on SDG4.1.1.b. However; the results from the latest round of SEACMEQ (V) have not yet been fully utilized or reported to the SDG. The World Bank has been supporting the Government of Malawi in improving foundational learning through various projects and technical assistance; including the Malawi Education Sector Improvement Project (MESIP) and the Malawi Education Reform Project (MERP). As part of the Malawi Foundational Learning Program for Results (MLFP) currently under preparation; the World Bank will provide technical assistance to strengthen the system of national learning assessments. In this context; the World Bank task team for Malawi is seeking a firm consultant to provide technical and strategic guidance to the World Bank in its technical advice and analytical work related to the learning data from the SEACMEQ regional study of student achievement.The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the World Bank task team in its strategic dialogue with the government regarding learning assessments. The specific objectives are to offer technical and strategic guidance to the World Bank team on the following:1.Learning Assessment Data Management and Analysis: This involves conducting psychometric analysis and summarizing the results in a manner that is useful for policymakers and other stakeholders.2.Effective Dissemination of SEACMEQ Assessment Results: This includes preparing reports and other information products; as well as organizing events tailored to different stakeholder groups. The results in the reports are expected to be used for reporting on SDG4.1.1.b.3.Capacity Development of Relevant Departments and Units: This entails providing training workshops and coaching to relevant departments and units within the ministry and agencies (e.g.; national assessment unit). The goal is to enable staff to develop the necessary analytical skills to explore SEACMEQ data and maximize the use of SEACMEQ results for policy and system improvement. This also includes assisting in the development of the government’s medium-term plan to incorporate these activities into their regular mandate and budget; ensuring the government continues to analyze; disseminate; and report learning data independently.Details of expected Activities and Outputs; and deliverables are provided in the TORs. The firm will work with the World Bank team for a period of approximately 13 months from June 2025 to June 2026 to complete the planned activities and output described in section IV.The firm selected must meet the following skills requirements and qualifications:Required:*Proven track records in the relevant field (e.g.; educational development) *Substantive experience working with the government entities; especially ministry in charge of education; and relevant authorities; and in similar settings (e.g.; sub-Saharan Africa; low or lower-middle-income countries)*Demonstrated capacity to manage and handle quality assurance mechanisms; including rigorous data security and confidentiality standards; well-defined data retention protocols; and secure disposal strategies to protect sensitive information collected for desk review.*Ability and commitment to uphold high ethical standards; includi