Village Project Cost Analysis Consultant

About the role

Spark Microgrants is looking for a consultant to conduct a cost verification study for village‑level investments in Malawi. The study will assess whether the proposed block grant and tranche amounts are appropriate for the range of sub‑projects villages plan to implement.

Key responsibilities

• Collect recent, reliable cost data for priority sub‑project types such as irrigation schemes, greenhouses, micro‑enterprises, and water points.
• Triangulate information from multiple sources, including NGOs, community interviews, Spark’s historical project cost data, and market quotations.
• Analyze material, labor, and transport costs to produce realistic village‑level implementation estimates.
• Validate the adequacy of the total block grant and the 60/40 tranche split, and recommend adjustments if needed.
• Prepare a concise report summarizing findings, cost benchmarks, and recommendations for grant sizing.

Required profile

• Proven experience in cost analysis, project evaluation, or related research, preferably in rural development contexts.
• Familiarity with low‑income community projects and the ability to work independently in field settings.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder‑engagement skills.

Required skills

• Data collection and validation
• Cost modeling and estimation
• Report writing
• Stakeholder interviewing