Abstract

Analysis for Action: A Malawi Perspective

My Name is Robina Chirwa Vokhiwa, Iam a statistician working with the Malawi National Statistical Office and part of the NSO team working on the Analysis for Action Project in Collaboration with PHIM and LIN and Office for National Statistics UK.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of timely, reliable data in informing public health decisions. In Malawi, it also exposed gaps in coordination between public health and statistical systems, limiting opportunities to fully utilise the expertise of the National Statistical Office (NSO) in emergency preparedness and response.
Analysis for Action seeks to address this challenge by strengthening the role of NSOs in supporting evidence-based preparedness and response to health emergencies. In Malawi, the project has fostered collaboration between the NSO, the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), and Luke International, creating stronger links between statistical and public health institutions.

A key achievement has been the secondment of NSO staff to the Ministry of Health and engagement with district-level teams, which improved coordination, strengthened institutional relationships, and enhanced understanding of how statistical and public health systems can work together. Joint activities on data governance, interoperability, implementation of the Statistics Act, and development of Analysis for Action learning units have further strengthened trust and cooperation among partners.
The project has also demonstrated the value of combining complementary expertise. Through initiatives such as the Public Acceptability Study, the NSO contributed strengths in survey methodology, statistical reporting, and data quality assurance, while PHIM and Luke International provided expertise in public health research and evidence translation. Together, these efforts generated stronger and more policy-relevant evidence.

An important lesson for the NSO has been the value of multidisciplinary collaboration. The project has provided opportunities to learn from PHIM and Luke International on public health research, health systems, and rapid evidence generation, while also showcasing the contribution of official statistics to public health decision-making.
Beyond Malawi, Analysis for Action is developing a global platform of tools, learning resources, and case studies to strengthen preparedness and response to health emergencies. By contributing to the development and testing of these resources, Malawi is helping ensure they reflect the realities and needs of low- and middle-income countries.

Ultimately, Analysis for Action demonstrates that stronger collaboration between statistical and public health institutions leads to better evidence, stronger partnerships, and more informed decision-making. The relationships and knowledge built through the project have created a solid foundation for strengthening health emergency preparedness in Malawi and beyond.