RELEASE OF NORHED PROJECT RESEARCH RESULTS

 

Chancellor College, through the Department of Political and Administrative Studies (PAS) of University of Malawi in collaboration with University of Oslo’s Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) in Norway is pleased to announce the release of some of its research outputs under the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (Norhed) project. Specifically, PAS department is implementing a four year (2014-2018) research and training project entitled “Strengthening Democracy & Economic Governance in Malawi.” The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The PAS/SUM NORHED has two main components: a collaborative Master of Public Administration and Management (MPAM) degree programme and a Research component focussing on the Malawi public sector and governance. Since the project’s launch in 2014, the department has been engaged in several research activities that have contributed to publication in 2016 of a book (Political Transition and Inclusive Development in Malawi- the democratic dividend) co-edited by Professors Dan Banik (SUM) and Blessings Chinsinga (PAS). Other outputs include numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. In the 2016-2017 period, the department has focused on research falling under three themes and teams as follows:

  • Policymaking and Implementation Architecture- Professor Lewis Dzimbiri; Dr. Michael Jana (Team Leader); Mr.Kondwani Chikadza and Miss. Samantha Soyiyo

  • Capacity and commitment to implement public policy- Professor Richard Tambulasi; Associate Professor Mustapha Hussein(Team Leader) ; Mr. Ernest Thindwa and Mr. Master Mfune

  • Paradox of Traditional Leadership in democratic Malawi- Dr. Boniface Dulani (Team Leader); Associate Professor Happy Kayuni; Mr. Michael Chasukwa and Mr. Gift Sambo

Over the past several months, the department has organized public events where a number of the research results have been released to the public, including the media. As a continuation of these dissemination efforts, the department has uploaded the following serialized PAS Policy Briefs:

  • Agriculture and Youth Unemployment in Malawi

  • Is the ‘Invisible’ Hand Reformable? The Case of Politics-Administration Interface in Public Service Human Resource Management in Malawi

  • Innovation and Thought Leadership in the Public Sector: Reflections in the Context of Malawi’s Public Sector Reforms

  • Perceptions About The Role of Traditional Leaders in Malawi

  • Perceptions on the Legitimacy of Traditional Leaders in Malawi

  • Attitudes Towards Dual Administration in Malawi

The Policy Briefs present summaries of key findings from the above mentioned three research themes as well as shortened versions of published book chapters and journal articles. The department is calling upon its stakeholders to make full use of these findings. More Policy Briefs will be uploaded in the coming months.

For more information on the research component of the Norhed project, contact the Research Coordinator, Dr. B. Dulani (bdulani@cc.ac.mw). Inquiries related to the MPAM degree programme should be directed to the Course Coordinator, Mr. Ernest Thindwa (ethindwa@cc.ac.mw)

 

Download Policy Brief Vol. 1 No. 1 here and Policy Brief Vol. 1 No. 2 here and Policy Brief Vol 1 No. 2 here