MCSIE - Malawi

Donor: USAID • Prime: Purdue University • Partner: Juárez Associates • Timeframe: Aug. 2019 – Oct. 2024

Multi-Country Study on Inclusive Education (MCSIE) – Malawi

In Malawi, IDP is partnering with USAID through the Long-Term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER) mechanism led by Purdue University to conduct a three-year evaluation of USAID inclusive education activities delivered by Reading for All Malawi (REFAM) and its lead implementer, Juarez and Associates. Our evaluation, the Multi-Country Study on Inclusive Education (MCSIE), is the first major effort by USAID to investigate what works to improve the quality of education for learners with disabilities. We are leveraging this unique opportunity to derive lessons learned about what works to sustainably advance teaching and learning outcomes for children with disabilities in varying contexts. USAID and its partners will use this information to inform adaptations to its activities in Malawi and to plan for new inclusive education programming globally.

Malawi map showing the country's major cities and Lake Nyasa (aka Lake Malawi). The map shows Malawi's shared borders with neighboring countries Zambia in the west, Tanzania in the northeast, and Mozambique in the south.

Project Highlights

  • Conducted literature and policy reviews around the situation of disability-inclusive education in Malawi.
  • Produced detailed evaluation reports identifying strengths and areas of opportunity related to REFAM’s capacity development within the Ministry, the adaptation of early grade reading assessments for students who are blind and deaf, and teacher training efforts.
  • Used evaluation methodologies that include key informant interviews and focus group discussions with implementing partners, disabled persons’ organizations, national and subnational government stakeholders, classroom teachers, principals, and parents; secondary source document review and rubric analysis; and training and classroom observations.
  • Implemented a comparative case study methodology to dig deeply on qualitative factors supporting or hindering access to and learning in inclusive instructional settings.
  • Mapped areas of intervention to include existing systems and actors engaged in disability inclusion in Malawi.

Project Resources