Book
The project employed cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to identify key interventions and policy priorities (Best Development Buys) to inform development planning in Malawi. A series of twenty (20) plus research papers (technical reports and policy briefs) were developed across six thematic areas: 1) Sustainable Agriculture; 2) Sustainable Economic Development; 3) Human Capital and Social Development 4) Sustainable Environment; 5) Demography; and 6) Governance, Peace, and Security. In its entirety, Malawi Priorities encompassed work streams for economic research (or CBA) and research uptake. The book was developed for the latter.
Malawi Priorities Book
Entitled “Malawi Priorities: A Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) for Policy Prioritisation”, the project’s research outputs have been pooled into an edited book that summarises the individual research pieces into select chapters – acknowledging all contributing technical experts respectively. The editorial team consists of four (4) project team members and was drawn from the three collaborating partners in the implementation of the project: two from NPC, one from AFIDEP and one from CCC. The chapters of the book have been organised based on the project’s thematic focus areas under which the papers were written. Accordingly, the editorial team has condensed the contents of each research paper into a coherent summary that provides readers, particularly policy makers, with a handy compendium that highlights the key findings of the project to inform decision making.
Launch Event
In order to generate traction and foster research uptake of the findings of the project, the book launch has been organised as a high-level dissemination event that convene key state and nonstate stakeholders. These include the Minister of Education; principal secretaries and directors of government ministries, departments, and agencies; chairpersons of parliamentary committees; development partners; non-governmental community; academia; and research institutions.
The half day event details the research process that went into the development of the manuscript by referring to the project’s research findings through a summarised priorities presentations of the research papers featured in the book. Additionally, the event shall include a panel discussion on the importance of policy prioritisation in Malawi given our limited fiscal space as a country, and thus the need to obtain the greatest return on investment for every kwacha that we invest. The book launch also served as a segue to highlight offshoot programmes that are being implemented from the evidence generated under the Malawi Priorities project.
Launch Programme
Agenda for the Book Launch Event – Malawi Priorities: A Benefit Cost Analysis for Policy Prioritization Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Wednesday, 16 th November 2022 | ||
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Moderator: Mr. Thom Khanje (NPC) | ||
13:30 | Arrivals and registration | Team Assistants |
Motivating the Book – Background and Findings | ||
14:00 - 14:05 | Welcome remarks | Thom Khanje, Communications Manager, National Planning Commission |
14:05 – 14:20 | A Brief on the Malawi Priorities Project | Salim Mapila, Project Coordinator, Malawi Priorities Project, National Planning Commission |
14:20 – 14:40 | A Brief on the Research Streams and Findings in the Book | Bjorn Lomborg, President, Copenhagen Consensus Centre |
Applying the Book - Research Uptake Application | ||
14:40 – 15:00 | Building Education Foundations through Innovation & Technology (BEFIT) | Dr. Joshua Valeta, Director for ODEL, Ministry of Education |
Unveiling the Book – High Level Presentation | ||
15:00 – 15:05 | Remarks by AFIDEP | Prof. Nyovani Madise, Executive Director, African Institute for Development Policy |
15:05 – 15:15 | Remarks by NPC | Dr. Thomas Munthali, Director General, National Planning Commission |
15:15 – 15:30 | Official launch of the Book by Guest of Honour | Hon. Agnes Nyalonje. Minister of Education, Government of Malawi |
15:30 – 15:35 | Book Ribbon Cutting | Hon. Agnes NyaLonje, Minister of Education supported by Dr. Thomas Munthali (NPC) and Dr. Ralph Nordjo (CCC) |
15:35 - 15:40 | Group Photo and Media Engagements | Guest of Honour, Book Authors, NPC, CCC, AFIDEP |
15:40 | Networking over Cocktail - end of event |
Background
The project employed cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to identify key interventions and policy priorities (Best Development Buys) to inform development planning in Malawi. A series of twenty (20) plus research papers (technical reports and policy briefs) were developed across six (6) thematic areas: 1) Sustainable Agriculture; 2) Sustainable Economic Development; 3) Human Capital and Social Development 4) Sustainable Environment; 5) Demography; and 6) Governance, Peace, and Security. In its entirety, Malawi Priorities encompassed several work streams embedded within two (2) broad components; i) the economic research (or CBA) component and ii) the research uptake component.
Given that funding was initially only secured for the economic research (CBA) component, several aspects of the research uptake component were never fully executed during the project’s implementation period. Chief among these was the development of a book that would serve as a handy compendium for policy makers on the project’s research products and an exit dissemination event on all research findings, which for all intents and purposes would also serve as a launch for the book.
Implementation of intervention from Malawi Priorities
“The economic research from the National Planning Commission and Copenhagen Consensus shows that using Technology Assisted Learning to improve education is one of the most effective policies for Malawi, delivering 106 Kwachas of social good for every Kwacha spent.
This is one of the reasons why the Government of Malawi, through my Ministry, plans to scale up foundational skills teaching and learning through cost-effective tablet-based adaptive technology.
We have already reached almost half a million children, and together with external partners we are aiming to get adaptive learning on tablets to all 3.5 million children in Standards 1 to 4 across our 5,770 public primary schools over this decade."
Education Minister, Hon. Agnes Nyalonje