Kick-Off

Advancing New Perspectives and Methodologies in Family and Population Research in sub-Saharan Africa.

Organizer: Ben Malinga John
Location: Blantyre, Malawi, February 23–25, 2026

The University of Malawi, in partnership with MPIDR, is hosting a kick-off workshop to formally inaugurate the partner group UNIMAX led by Ben Malinga John. The workshop will bring together researchers and institutional partners from across countries, under the theme 'Advancing New Perspectives and Methodologies in Family and Population Research in sub-Saharan Africa.'

About UNIMAX

'The University of Malawi–Max Planck Partner Group has two main research objectives. Firstly, the group aims to analyze the family and reproductive aspirations of graduates, examining how transitions into the labor market influence the realization of these aspirations, as well as their broader socio-economic implication,' says Ben Malinga John. To this end, the group is planning to launch the Malawi University Graduate Internet Panel (MUGIP), the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, to study the processes of family formation among highly educated individuals.

More information about UNIMAX can be found here.