| Overview : The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is a body created under Section 75 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi to supervise and direct the conduct of all elections in Malawi i.e. Parliamentary, Presidential, By-elections, Local Government and Referenda. The Commission conducts these elections in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act No.31 of 1993 (PPEA), Local Government Elections Act No.24 of 1996 and Electoral Commission Act No.11 of 1998 (ECA). The Commission is developing a new Strategic Plan (2018 to 2022) which is taking the electoral cycle approach to implementing election activities focusing on the Pre, During and Post elections. In view of the new strategic plan, the electoral cycle philosophy and the enactment of the Access to Information Act, the Commission is planning to review its communication strategy to develop a new one that will run from April 2018 to March 2022 to ensure strategic direction to its communication activities especially in preparation for the 2019 Tripartite Elections. The new communication strategy will also provide strategic direction on how the Commission will respond to requests for information in view of the Access to Information Act which was passed by Malawi Parliament on 14th December, 2016 and assented to by the State President on 15th February, 2017. The Commission, therefore, seeks to engage ONE local consultant who will work with the Commissioners and staff to review and develop a new communication strategy that will guide in the implementation of activities with a focus on the above-mentioned areas. This activity will be implemented under the Malawi Electoral Cycle Support (MECS) Programme 2017-2019 which is a basket fund pooling resources from various development partners and is managed by UNDP. The MECS Project contributes directly to the SDG 16 goal of ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The Project is structured around four outputs: (1) The MEC is trusted by the public and political parties as an impartial entity possessing the capacity to administer and manage elections in accordance with regional and international obligations; (2) Women’s political empowerment throughout the electoral cycle is strengthened; (3) Enhanced ability of key stakeholders, including political parties, to contribute to orderly and inclusive elections; and (4) Effective and efficient management, partnership formation and monitoring and evaluation of the Project. | 
