| Overview : Malawi’s Multi-Party Liaison Committees (MPLCs) are established as a forum for the resolution of political disputes in connection with the electoral process. MPLCs are administered in accordance with guidelines issued by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in 2005. Chaired by the local District Commissioner and composed of local representatives, civil society and political parties, MPLCs provide a channel of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for election related matters. The recent introduction of a National Peace Architecture (NPA) and local Peace Committees (presently being piloted) in Malawi adds a new dimension to ADR, and by extension, the role of MPLCs. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Malawi’s electoral process through the Malawi Electoral Cycle Support Project with the objective to strengthen the capacity of the MEC to effectively organize elections and enhance confidence in the electoral process. A key aspect of this support is the resolution of election disputes through both ADR and the formal channels of complaints and petitions. The main objective of this consultancy is therefore to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the functioning and performance of MPLCs with a view to providing recommendations to enhance their efficiency, cost-effectiveness and performance that also takes into account the evolution of the NPA. | 
