The Centre for Social Research (CSR) was established in 1979 with technical and financial support from the United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF). It is the research and training arm of the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Malawi.
CSR's mandate is to promote and undertake applied social science research — including monitoring and evaluation of development programmes — to generate information on priority problems of the country and the region. Its work is organised around four research themes: poverty and sustainable livelihoods; the socio-cultural and economic aspects of public health; democracy and governance; and youth, gender and disability.
CSR Campus, Zomba
Nestled below Zomba Plateau
1979
Established
Our Mandate
Applied research informing policy and development.
Our mandate is to promote and undertake applied social science research including conducting monitoring and evaluation of development programmes so as to generate information on priority problems of the country and the region.
Centre for Social Research Mission
Jul 17, 2026
The Centre for Social Research and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, in collaboration with University of Stirling is conducting an innovative research project exploring lived experiences of children from the Lake Chilwa sh...
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Jul 17, 2026
The Centre for Social Research (CSR), in collaboration with the University of Malawi's Department of Research and Innovation, organized a th...
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Jun 16, 2026
The Centre for Social Research (CSR) has welcomed a new cohort of students from the University of Malawi (UNIMA) who have joined the institu...
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Aug
Farewell function for Miss Janine Kayange
Past06
Jun
CSR Seminar series 2025
Past28
Feb
CSR SEMINAR
Past27
Oct
CSR Seminar Series: Exploring Multidimensional Poverty Dynamics in Malawi
Past03
Aug
Social Friday
Past28
Jul
CSR Seminar Series 2023: A season for plastics in Blantyre: A Symbol for Modernity or Source of Livelihoods?
Past30
Jun
CSR Seminar Series 2023: Re-Centering othered voices: A participatory research with adolescents with albinism in central & southern Malawi
Past
Our quarterly newsletter brings you the latest research findings, policy briefs, project updates, and seminar highlights from across CSR's research themes.
Each issue features in-depth articles, field updates from ongoing projects, new publication announcements, and upcoming event previews — all in one free, downloadable PDF.
Published every quarter — March, June, September, December. No subscription required.
Peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and working papers from across CSR's research themes.
Elikem Togo, Tawonga W. Mwase-Vuma, Chrissie Thakwalakwa, Elizabeth Millar, Milissa Markiewicz, Esme Kadzamira, Janine J. Kayange, Dadirai Mkombe & Jessica Fehringer
Reproductive health journal
Kilburn Kelly, Handa Sudhanshu, Angeles Gustavo, Tsoka Maxton, Mvula, Peter
Eide Arne H, Dyrstad Karin, Munthali Alister, Rooy Gert, Braathen Stine, Halvorsen Thomas, Persendt Frans, Mvula Peter & Rød Jan Ketil
CHINSINGA, B., and CHASUKWA, M.
African Review (Forthcoming)
CHINSINGA, B., and CHASUKWA, M.
Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy Vol. 7, No. 1 pp. 28-50.
Kilburn Kelly, Handa Sudhanshu, Angeles Gustavo, Mvula Peter, Tsoka, Maxton
Djurfeldt Agnes, Hillbom Ellen. O, Mulwafu Wapulumuka, Mvula Peter, Djurfeldt Göran
