Fund Manager for Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MINISTRY OF ENERGY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION) Country Malawi

Project Name ASCENT Malawi Project

Project Number P502464

Assignment Title Consultancy for Provision of Fund Management Services for the Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund

Reference No. MW-MOE.-574017-CS-QCBS

EOI Issue Date 28th September 2026

This request for expression of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared in the United Nations Development Business (UNDB) on 31st January 2025. The Government of the Republic of Malawi through the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) towards the cost of implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Malawi (ASCENT Malawi) Project. It is intended that part of the proceeds of the financing will be used to cover eligible payments under the contract for these consultancy services. The consulting services (“the Services”) are intended to engage a qualified consulting firm or consortium to provide Fund Management Services for the Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund (NNNF). The Fund Manager will support the Ministry of Energy in delivering ASCENT Malawi Project Components 2, 3 and 4; managing legacy Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP) loan collections and residual obligations; and supporting the transition and institutionalisation of the NNNF as a sustainable standalone revolving fund. The assignment is expected to be implemented over forty-eight (48) Calendar months, from 1st January 2027 to 31st December 2030, subject to contract signature and availability of financing. The objective of the assignment is to provide specialised fund management services that enable timely, compliant and well-secured financing to eligible Participating Organisations; ensure sound portfolio, fiduciary, safeguards, data and risk management; protect the Fund’s creditor rights; support achievement of ASCENT energy-access and market-development results; and strengthen systems, national capacity and arrangements for the long-term sustainability of the NNNF. The scope of work under this assignment shall include, but not be limited to: a) Inception, portfolio takeover, reconciliation and structured handover of existing NNNF facilities, commitments, systems, records and outstanding actions; b) Cross-cutting fund administration, including drawdown and payment review, portfolio monitoring, forecasting, records management, risk management and reporting; c) Administration of Component 2 debt and Results-Based Financing (RBF) facilities for off-grid solar companies, including disbursements, repayments, verification interfaces, portfolio quality and recovery actions; d) Administration of Component 3 financing and performance-linked payments for electrification of public schools and health facilities, in coordination with the ASCENT PIU technical team; e) Administration of Component 4 clean cooking financing, including loans, repayments, security, portfolio monitoring and carbon-finance interfaces; f) Management of loan collateral, security perfection, covenant monitoring, enforcement and recoveries, subject to Ministry approvals; g) Management and collection of the legacy MEAP loan portfolio, including arrears, restructuring, recoveries and close-out actions; h) Data management, monitoring, dashboards, financial and operational reconciliation, fraud and corruption controls, cybersecurity and data protection; i) Implementation and monitoring of environmental and social requirements in accordance with the NNNF ESMS, applicable Malawi law and World Bank requirements; j) Coordination with the Independent Verification Agent, Legal Advisor, Carbon Consultant, technical specialists and other consultants engaged by the Ministry; and k) Support to institutionalisation of the NNNF, including governance arrangements, capitalisation options, sustainable business model, capacity development, systems transfer and final handover. The detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) for the assignment can be found at the following websites: Ministry of Energy (https://energy.gov.mw/resources/), Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund (https://www.nnnf.energy.gov.mw/resources/) and ASCENT Malawi Project (https://www.ascent.mw/resources/), or upon request through [contact details removed] copied to info@ascent.mw and [contact details removed]. All requests for clarification should be sent through the above email addresses. The MoE now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are as follows: 1. Core business of the firm(s) and years in business of not less than 5 years organizational capability and relevant experience in fund management, investment, lending, RBF/grant facilities or comparable financing programmes.

2. Relevant similar experience, which should specifically include the below

a) Off-grid solar and clean cooking sector expertise : experience in, and understanding of, the off-grid solar and clean cooking market in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Energy-as-a-Service and PAYGo solar business models (minimum of five years), together with specific experience in, and understanding of, the Malawi off-grid solar and clean cooking market and the success factors of for-profit businesses in this sector; b) Results-Based Financing (RBF) and grant facility management : a minimum of three years track record of structuring and managing RBF grant facilities aimed at market stimulation, ideally facilities funded by multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and/or bilateral development assistance agencies; c) Debt and consumer financing track record : a minimum of three years track