Building resilient education systems: UNIMA partners with Makerere University on ARESRO project

The University of Malawi, in collaboration with Makerere University, through the Resilient Africa Network (RAN), has launched the Africa Regional Education System Resilience Observatory (ARESRO) project. Among the project’s key objectives is to explore the potential impact of future shocks and stressors, risks, vulnerabilities, and capacities on education ecosystems and outcomes. The launch event was held at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach Hotel in Salima on 6th May 2025 and was graced by Professor Golden Msilimba, the Director of Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education, as the Guest of Honour. Also present at the event was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malawi, Professor Samson Sajidu, along with other UNIMA staff members, various stakeholders, and members from Makerere University in Uganda, who joined the launch virtually.

The ARESRO Malawi team is led by the Principal Investigator, Dr. Samson MacJessie Mbewe, from the School of Education. The project is funded by the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) and is implemented in 42 GPE countries, with UNIMA leading activities in four countries: Malawi, Madagascar, Comoros, and Mozambique.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Msilimba expressed gratitude to Makerere University’s School of Public Health Resilient Africa Network (RAN) for including Malawi’s education system as one of the major settings of the study and for choosing UNIMA as one of the collaborating partners. He highlighted how various disasters, such as floods and occasional cyclones, have significantly impacted the education system, causing disruptions in learning and delays in the reopening of schools.

Prof. Msilimba further emphasized that the project is beneficial to Malawi’s education sector, as it will provide essential data needed for planning and preparing for future events. He noted that the education sector aims to ensure that students continue attending classes despite disruptions caused by disasters. “This project is important because it will generate evidence and data that can support our efforts to build education systems capable of adapting to ongoing and future disruptions,” he said.

Prof. Msilimba assured that the Ministry of Education would support the project by offering necessary guidance and providing the project team with relevant data and documents to ensure the project’s success.

In his remarks, Prof. Sajidu emphasized that without research, progress is impossible, and he commended the project as crucial to the development of education systems globally. He explained that the project would explore the challenges facing the education system due to natural disasters. He also highlighted the need to develop resilient systems across all levels of education.

“At UNIMA, we offer various fields of study—arts, humanities, and law, just to mention a few. Most importantly, we have a strong focus on education, where we train educators. Many of the teachers in the country’s secondary schools are trained by us, making it essential for them to understand the systems that should be in place to ensure resilience against stressors,” he stated.

Prof. Sajidu also emphasized that UNIMA has a long history of collaboration with Makerere University in various fields, not just education, including its membership in RUFORUM, and that this project will further strengthen their partnership.