Mirriam Matita

Ms Mirriam Matita is a holder of Master of Arts in Economics and Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Malawi. She currently lectures Research Methods in the Extension Department at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources besides conducting research, outreach activities and coordinating undergraduate research and seminars. She is also studying for a PhD in Economics at University of Malawi. Her particular interest, skills and experiences include microeconomics, agriculture economics, applied econometrics, commercialization, social protection, and poverty analysis and research methodology.

Mirriam has been a member of the Malawi Farm Input Subsidy Program evaluation team from 2008 to 2016, particularly focusing on the econometric analysis of the determinants of participation, gender and intra-household resource use, and impacts of the programme on education, health, poverty and food security using STATA package. In 2013 she worked as data analyst for the International Food Policy Research Institute supervising and managing data entry by assistants, technically supporting data entry and cleaning using STATA.

She has also served as a researcher under Future Agricultures Consortium - Malawi (2006-2013) working on commercialization, and on agricultural growth and social protection (www.future-agricultures.org). The consortium channels research findings to policy makers in government. Together with Ephraim Chirwa, Mirriam won research grant from African Economic Research Consortium for a study on agricultural growth and poverty reduction with emphasis on role of agricultural input subsidies. She has also worked on collaborative project (2013-2015) with Western Cape University in South Africa and Ephraim Chirwa studying employment creation role of agricultural development (www.plaas.org.za). In 2012 and 2013, Matita coordinated community level and experts survey for the formulation of Hunger And Nutrition Commitment Index in Malawi with support from Institute for Development Studies.  Her research works have led to publication of working papers. She is experienced in conducting community level research using such methods as focus group discussions and interviewing.

Mirriam has worked with various organizations before joining the University. She worked as an Economic Governance Advisor at GTZ supporting local councils in revenue mobilization strategies and financial improvements; as Young Professional with UNDP based at Malawi Parliament focusing on strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and as a Social Policy Officer at UNICEF Malawi championing research, budget analysis on emerging issues relevant for children.

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