Key Development Research Involvement
Over the last decade, we have been part of a team that has conducted over 5 national sample surveys, worked with a multiplicity of in-country partners, and provided survey technical assistance in Malawi.
Worked collaboratively with Afrobarometer national partners at the Centre for Social Research (CSR) at University of Malawi in Zomba, the Institute for Policy Research (IPOR) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to complete the surveys.
During Round 4 (2008/2009) we centrally managed all Afrobarometer datasets and samples from across 20 countries including Malawi, ensuring data quality, internal consistency, item and inter-item coding, and the data dictionary. We also ensured that all data was appropriately weighted to correct for oversampling, among other criteria.
Since Round 5 (2011/2012) we have worked closely with the CSR, IPOR and CSO in Malawi, to design and draw nationally representative survey sites in Malawi. The samples are random, nationally representative, stratified, area-cluster probability sample of the adult (18 years and over) population across Region, Urban and Rural strata, with +/- 2% margin of error. The surveys were conducted in language of respondent’s choice including English, Chitumbuka and Chichewa across the provinces of Southern, Central and Northern. We worked with CSO to identify and use the most up-to-date census data, including population projections by region, urban, semi-urban and rural, to appropriately allocate the sample. We directly participated in interviewer training, in-fieldwork supervision and data management.
In 2013 and 2014 we were part of a team that conducted two pre-election surveys ahead of the Malawi May 2014 tripartite elections to especially gauge the issues, public mood and stand in the coming elections. We have also contributed to the conduct of other surveys in health, behavioral change and education in Malawi, employing electronic data collection.
With input into quality assurance, we are honored to have directly contributed to the successful completion of over 5 national sample surveys in Malawi, including surveys in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.