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 Mali.

Worked collaboratively with Afrobarometer national partners at the Groupe de Recherche en Économie Appliquée et Théorique (GREAT) and the National Institute for Statistics (INSTAT) to complete the surveys.

During Round 4 (2008/2009) we centrally managed all Afrobarometer datasets and samples from across 20 countries including Mali, 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 GREAT and INSTAT in Mali, to design and draw nationally representative survey sites in Mali. 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 French, Bambara, Peulh/Fulfude, Soninké, Sonrhai and Tamasheq across the provinces of Southern, Central and Northern. We worked with INSTAT to obtain the most up-to-date census data, including population projections by region, urban and rural, to appropriately allocate the sample. We directly participated in national partner assessment, interviewer training, in-fieldwork supervision and data management.

At the turn of 2014 we were part of a team that conducted a post-election survey following the July 2013 elections and the pending peace/national reconciliation talks after the civil war that affected much of the northern regions of Tombouctou, Gao and Kidal. The post-election survey also sought to consider the views of internally displaced persons (IDPs) that fled the civil war in the north, especially regarding resettlement, retribution and reconciliation.

With input into quality assurance, we are honored to have directly contributed to the successful completion of over 5 national sample surveys in Mali, including surveys in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.