Research and Policy Unit

Dr. Desire Mpanje

Head of Research and Policy Unit - Consultant

Dr Desire Mpanje, PhD, specialises in social science research methods. He has vast knowledge, skills, and experience in conducting mixed methods research, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies. His current research roles include lecturing and teaching climate change resilience theory and practice, social anthropology applied research design, and advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods. He also has experience designing and implementing mixed methods research including cross-section, experimental and longitudinal designs having conducted similar work in Kenya, Colombia, Malawi, Ireland, and Indonesia. His doctoral research established a framework for exploring social capital to build resilience in desperate contexts and has so far been cited more than 75 times.

Allain Joram

Technical Support Manager - Consultant

Allain specialises in sustainable agriculture, human nutrition and livelihoods development strategies. He has previously managed, implemented and evaluated large scale projects funded by UKAID, World Bank, Scottish Government, Irish Aid just to mention a few. Currently he is a Project Officer in an Irish AID funded project at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) where he is taking a lead on the research component on assessing the functionality of District Nutrition Coordinating Committees (DNCC). He also has experience in social support programmes including Cash/food for work programs. Allain holds a Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from the University College Dublin (UCD) of the National University of Ireland and he has Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture; Aquaculture and Fisheries Science from the University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture.

Jane Chirwa

Health Technical Support Specialist - Consultant

Jane is a self starter and self motivated public health professional who aspires to broaden the understanding of how repositioning of family planning can contribute to reduction of maternal mortality in Malawi and how Family Planning and Reproductive health can be integrated into maternal health, TB, Nutrition and HIV services in order to improve the health of women and children. . Jane has worked with Ministry of Health as reproductive health coordinator responsible for trainings, advocacy meetings and workshops, Safe motherhood Obstetric Life Saving Skills, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Infant feeding in the context of HIV, Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, Postpartum Family Planning, PMTCT/ART integrated course, LARCs and YFHS. Jane also worked with Jhpiego as a Senior Technical Advisor where she support the development of ART standards, Infant feeding standards, Early Infant Diagnosis Standards, and integration of PMTCT in Reproductive Health Standards.