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Profile
Research Areas
Poverty and Economic Wellbeing, Governance and Population health,
Profile
Witness Olex Tapani Alfonso is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research of the University of Malawi. He holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies degree obtained from the University of Malawi in 2018 and Bachelor of Arts degree from Mzuzu University obtained in 2012 and he is currently studying for his PhD at the University of Malawi. Mr. Alfonso is an expert in both qualitative and quantitative research designs, fieldwork management, and data analysis. He has over 10 yearsâ experience in designing and conducting both quantitative and qualitative research including evaluations in Malawi and Southern Africa. Prior to joining the Centre for Social Research, Mr. Alfonso worked as a Senior Research Associate and Team Leader at the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) for 7 years. At the Centre for Social Research, he is leading the Poverty and Economic Wellbeing research area. His expertise and research areas include Poverty and Economic Wellbeing, Governance and Democracy, Migration and Public Health. He is also a member of the Malawi Afrobarometer research team where he serves as a Fieldwork Operations Lead.
Publications
- Journal Article
Chikoko. D., and Alfonso, W.T., (2026). Malawians say droughts, floods, soil erosion have worsened, call for swift government action. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 1119. Afrobarometer. (2026)
https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AD1119-Malawians-see-worsening-climate-impacts-Afrobarometer-21jan26.pdf
- Journal Article
Alfonso, W.T., and Tsoka, M.G (2025) Amid growing food insecurity, Malawians favour alternatives to Affordable Inputs Programme. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 944. Afrobarometer (2025)
https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AD946-Malawians-favour-alternatives-to-Affordable-Inputs-Programme-Afrobarometer-10feb25.pdf
- Journal Article
Chirwa, D., and Alfonso, W. (2025). Malawians say Constituency Development Fund benefits politicians most, should be managed by local committees. Dispatch No. AD 989. Afrobarometer (2025)
https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad989-malawians-say-constituency-development-fund-benefits-politicians-most-should-be-managed-by-local-committees/
- Journal Article
Otukpa, E.O., Alfonso,W.O.T.. et al (2025). Empowering Community Health Workers in Malawi to deliver Gender- responsive life skills training for adolescent mothers to overcome social exclusion. African Journal for Reproductive Health, 2025 Jun 20;29(6s):36-47. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i6s.3. PMID: 40548500 (2025)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40548500/
- Journal Article
Alfonso, W.T., and Chilimtsidya, F.A (2025) Struggling to obtain quality health care, Malawians look to government to ensure access. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 944. Afrobarometer (2025)
https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad1040-struggling-to-obtain-quality-health-care-malawians-look-to-government-to-ensure-access/
- Journal Article
Mphepo, K.Y.G., Muula, A.S., Sadalaki., Alfonso, W.T., and Mfutso-Bengo, J. (2025). âThe Bible teaches about circumcision of the heart, not the flesh. This (VMMC) is not for us. Factors behind resistance to voluntary medical male circumcision among the Chewas of Dowa in Central Malawi. Advances in Sciences and Arts, 2 (1). (2025)
https://asa.must.ac.mw/journal/published-papers/factors-behind-resistance-to-voluntary-medical-male-circumcision-among-chewa-dowa-central-malawi
- Journal Article
Kabiru, C.W et al. (2023). Effectiveness of conditional cash transfers, subsidized child care and life skills training on adolescent mothersâ schooling, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health outcomes in Burkina Faso and Malawi: the PROMOTE Project pilot randomized controlled trial protocol. Reproductive Health Journal.20.166 (2023)
https://rdcu.be/dqLuK
- Journal Article
Alfonso, W.T., and Chunga, J.J (2023) Malawi youth agenda faces priority of âwisdom of the eldersâ and limited political participation. Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 624. Afrobarometer (2023)
https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AD624-Malawi-youth-agenda-faces-barriers-Afrobarometer-30march23.pdf
- Journal Article
Chirwa, G., Dulani, B., Sithole, L., Chunga, J., Alfonso, W., and Tengatenga, J., (2021) âMalawi at the Crossroadsâ: Does the fear of being infected by Covid-19 affect the propensity to vote? European Journal of Development Research 2020 (2021)
https://www.econbiz.de/Record/malawi-at-the-crossroads-does-the-fear-of-contracting-covid-19-affect-the-propensity-to-vote-chirwa-gowokani-chijere/10012819984
- Journal Article
Barden-OâFallon, J., Evans, S., Thakwalakwa, C., Alfonso, W., and Jackson, A., (2020) Evaluation of mainstreaming youth-friendly health in private clinics in Malawi. BMC Health Service Res 20,79. (2020)
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12913-020-4937-9.pdf
