Democracy and Governance

CSR is the National Partner Institution for Afrobarometer in Malawi, giving the Centre a unique, longitudinal view of how ordinary Malawians experience democracy, governance, and public institutions. This theme covers electoral integrity, government accountability, corruption, and citizens' evolving trust in state institutions across successive election cycles.

Beyond national politics, CSR researchers study subnational and traditional governance — including the role of chiefs and customary authorities in mediating access to development resources — and the political economy of major public programmes, such as agricultural input subsidies, where electoral incentives often shape policy design as much as technical evidence does.

This work speaks directly to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and the governance pillar of the Malawi 2063 vision. Findings from Afrobarometer rounds and related studies are regularly cited in regional comparative research and used by policymakers, civil society, and the media to benchmark Malawi's democratic progress.