Projects

In Malawi, secondary school tuition is a huge barrier to student enrollment. The average family has six children, and earns just $257 per year, far too little to afford a $200 per year tuition bill for each child in secondary school. Families are forced to make choices whether to send their boys or girls to school, and boys are more commonly selected by their families to attend secondary school.

Our Girls’ Education Fund was started in 2006 to encourage, educate and empower girls by providing scholarships to allow them to attend secondary school. We identify girls who have attended at least one term of secondary school who are at risk of dropping out because their families cannot afford to pay tuition. Girls are matched with sponsors who pledge to cover tuition through the completion of their secondary school degree. Sponsors on average contribute $800 over the course of a girl's four-year secondary school education.

Become a sponsor today by emailing us at info at investinknowledgeinitiative dot org to receive more information.

Current Students
Brenda Chisale: 2009-2010
Mwai Juma: 2006-2010
Jennifer Nkosi: 2006-2010
Josephine Phiri: 2009-2010
Patricia Pontino: 2006-2010
Lucy Tembo: 2006-2010
Janet Zidana: 2006-2010

The Invest in Knowledge Initiative seeks students pursuing graduate degrees who are committed to developing their research skills through field practicums and classroom training.

We are currently accepting applications from Malawian graduate students. Please email info at investinknowledgeinitiative dot org to receive more information. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Current Fellows

Hastings Honde: 2009-2010 MPH Fellow at University of Malawi's College of Medicine

James Mkandawire: 2009-2010 MPH Fellow at University of Malawi's College of Medicine

Rose Muheriwa: 2009-2010 Masters of Nursing Fellow at Kamuzu College of Nursing

Pilira Chiumia: 2009-2010 Masters of Sociology Fellow at University of Malawi's Chancellor College

Alumni Fellows

Kondwani Chavula: 2005 Fellow at University of Michigan's Longitudinal Analysis of Historical Demographic Data Summer Workshop

The College Scholar Program is designed for outstanding Malawian undergraduate students in the social sciences who are interested in expanding their classroom knowledge by working with local research projects. Our Scholars are placed with research projects to gain real world, hands-on experience to help supplement and enhance their classroom training.

We are currently accepting applications from Malawian undergraduate students. Please email info at investinknowledgeinitiative dot org to receive more information. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Current College Scholars

Lazarous Msuku: 2009-2010
Abgail Simkoko: 2009-2010

Alumni College Scholars

Steven Iphani: 2008-2009

Institution: Government of Malawi, Ministry of Lands, 2009
Description: Data collection, capture and quality control for independent evaluation of the Community Based Rural Land Development Project (CBRLDP).

Institution: The World Bank, 2009
Description: IKI managed the qualitative data collection, analysis and report writing for an evaluation of Malawi’s Community Based Rural Land Development Project. IKI also organized and cleaned previously collected household survey data and collected additional data from households, to develop a panel dataset that could be used to analyze changes in agricultural productivity and income among more than 1,000 households.

The Rockwool Foundation, 2009
Description: Conducted baseline survey with heads of households and their spouses, as well as administered community questionnaires.

Institution: Innovations for Poverty Action, 2009

Institution: Penn State University, 2008-2012
Description: TLT’s objective is to cultivate better understandings of the reproductive goals and behaviors of young adults in Balaka district and the role of the AIDS epidemic in shaping these. IKI is managing panel survey data collection from more than 2,000 women and their sexual partners over the course of five years.

Institution: University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2012
Description: MLSFH is a longitudinal study that investigates individuals, couples and families in rural Malawi affected by HIV/AIDS, how they respond to the increased HIV/AIDS infection risks in terms of social interactions, sexual relations and marriage, and how they cope with the consequences of increased AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. IKI manages the household panel survey data collection and processing for more than 4,000 individuals in the districts of Balaka, Mchinji and Rumphi.

Institution: The World Bank, 2008
Description: SIHR is a randomized study of how income and schooling affects schoolgirl’s health and educational outcomes in rural Malawi. IKI managed conditional cash transfers for more than 1,200 schoolgirls and their families, as well as collected attendance records for all girls.

Institution: The World Bank, 2010

Description: Baseline survey before intervention.