CV

University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program

University of Michigan

• Audited Multivariable Calculus under Prof. Serin Hong.
• Audited Development Economics (Econ 665 and Econ 666) under Prof. Dean Yang

Real Analysis Audit Course

University of Malawi

• Audited Real Analysis under Prof. Patrick Ali.

Master of Arts in Economics

University of Malawi, Chancellor College

• Distinctions.
• Specialized in Econometrics and Monetary Economics.
• Thesis Title - An Empirical Examination of the Determinants of Demand for International Reserves in the SADC Region (Published in the African Review of Economics and Finance)

Bachelor of Social Science (Distinction)

University of Malawi, Chancellor College

• Major - Economics
• Minors - Psychology and Sociology
• Dissertation Topic - Determinants of Farmers' Willingness to Pay for Subsidized Farm Inputs in Malawi

Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

University of Michigan

• This is a pre-doctorate under Professor Dean Yang from the Department of Economics and Ford School.
• I provide research assistance in a team studying “The Economics of Health Decision-Making in Mozambique”; by far culminating in a number of publications on Knowledge, Stigma, and HIV Testing, and Teaching and Incentives. The team has Prof. Dean Yang as Principal Investigator and, among others, Professors Tanya Rosenblat and Basit Zafar as Co-investigators. I assist in, among others, preparing documents for ethics approval, developing and digitizing survey instruments, monitoring and analyzing field data, and writing publications.

Lecturer in Economics (Tenure)

University of Malawi

• I teach, among others, Quantitative courses, Development Economics, Labour Economics and Monetary Economics. I also conduct research in various research projects.

Education Analyst Consultant

The World Bank

• I conducted data analysis and wrote reports on the Malawi longitudinal schools Survey and government EMIS data, for the Malawi education Sector Improvement Programme (MESIP). I also developed survey instruments and supervised data collection teams for the project. In addition, I participated in Education Development Partner Group meetings arranged by the UNDP. I trained officials from the Ministry of Education on use of available data sets to direct education policy, and provided technical support in their research.

Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Consultant

The World Bank

• I undertook the first ever mapping exercise for business support programs in Malawi for various development partners, government and other NGOs. I contributed to drafting of project documents (such as the project Appraisal Document) for the Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Scaling project by the World Bank.

Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment Consultant

The World Bank

• I participated in several consultative meetings (with the IMF, central bank of Malawi, commercial banks, the private sector, government ministries and others) and co-drafted economic reports including the World Bank's flagship publication "the Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM)", a World Bank bi-annual publication that updates the state of the macroeconomy and addresses a special policy issue in Malawi. I also participated in disseminating the MEM findings with various stakeholders including government, development partners, NGOs and other interested parties. I worked with the Senior Country Economist to consolidate and update macroeconomics data on indicators such as inflation, interest rates, exchange rates and others.

Research Assistant

University of Malawi

• Served under Professor Levison Chiwaula.
• I provided research assistance in various projects including one “Measuring Household Income among Smallholder Tobacco Farmers in the Central Region” in Malawi. I also assisted him in delivering lectures in various classes including Elementary Microeconomics.

Associate Director

TEREN Consulting Ltd.

• I led and managed various research projects, and conducted team building and technical training. I facilitated proposal writing, supervised field data collection, data management, data analysis and report writing. I led the firm in transitioning from paper-based surveys to online surveys at a time when online surveys were less familiar in Malawi.

• World Bank Internship after graduating top of the class from UNIMA’s graduate school

• Was awarded a Master’s Degree scholarship by the Economics Department

• University of Malawi’s (Chancellor College) Deans’ list awards

• Government sponsorship at the University of Malawi

• Salima, W., Manja, L.P., Chiwaula, L.S. & Chirwa, G.C. (2023). The Impact of Credit Access on Household Food Security in Malawi. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 11. Paper here

• Manja, L.P., & Badjie, I.A. (2022). The Welfare Effects of Formal and Informal Financial Access in the Gambia - A Comparative Assessment. SAGE Open. Paper here
• Manja, L.P., Silumbu, E.B.D. & Chaweza, R.D.C. (2022). Determinants of Demand for International Reserves in the SADC Region. African Review of Economics and Finance, 1-28. Paper here
• Kambewa, P., Khangamwa, L., Masanjala, W., Chaweza, R. & Manja, L.P. (2022). The Impact of Ill-Health on Welfare of Rural Agricultural Households of Teuka Village in Zomba District, Malawi - An Application of the Individual Household Modelling Approach. Malawi Journal of Economics, 3(1), 1-13.

• Zingwe, D.E., Manja, L.P. & Chirwa, E.W. (2021). The Effects of Engendered Intra-household Power Dynamics on Household Food Security and Nutrition in Malawi. Journal of Gender Studies, DOI - 10.1080/09589236.2021.1940110. Paper here

• Al-Hanawi, M.K., Chirwa, G.C., Kamninga T.M. & Manja L.P. (2020). Effects of Financial Inclusion on Access to Emergency Funds for Healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2020(13), 1157—1167. Paper here

• Manja, L.P. & Silumbu, E.B.D. The Comparative Potential Growth-Enhancing Effects of the AFCFTA and COMESA Trade Regimes. Paper Presented at The Seventh COMESA Annual Research Forum, 19-21 October 2020, Virtual. Paper here, published in COMESA's Key Issues in Regional Integration Vol. 9

• Manja, L.P. (2022). "Payment Delays for Cash Transfers - The Role of Subsistence Constraints". University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Fellowship. Available here
• Manja, Laston Petro, and Isatou A Badjie. 2022. “The Impacts of Access to Finance on Household Welfare - A Mixed Methods Approach for Women and the Youth in The Gambia.” Nairobi, Kenya, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Working Paper IF-004. Available here

• Allen IV, James, Patricia Freitag, Faustino Lessitala, Arlete Mahumane, Laston Manja, RyanMcWay, James Riddell IV, Tanya Rosenblat, Kwasi Tabiri, Dean Yang, and Hang Yu. 2022. “Combining Financial Incentives and Teaching to Improve COVID-19 Knowledge - A Policy Brief.” Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan. Available here
• Allen IV, James, Patricia Freitag, Faustino Lessitala, Arlete Mahumane, Laston Manja, RyanMcWay, James Riddell IV, Tanya Rosenblat, Kwasi Tabiri, Dean Yang, and Hang Yu. 2022. “Correcting Misperceptions about Support for Social Distancing to Combat COVID-19 - A Policy Brief.” Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan. Available here

• Allen IV, James, Maggie Barnard, Zach Brown, Patricia Freitag, Faustino Lessitala, Arlete Mahumane, Laston Manja, Ryan McWay, James Riddell IV, Tanya Rosenblat, Dean Yang, and Hang Yu. 2021. “Combatting COVID-19 in Mozambique - Round 4 Summary Report.” Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan. Available here

• World Bank. (2019). Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2019 - Strengthening Human Capital Through Nutrition. World Bank, Lilongwe, Malawi. World Bank. Available here
• World Bank. (2019). Malawi Economic Monitor, June 2019 - Charting a New Course. World Bank, Lilongwe, Malawi. World Bank. Available here

• World Bank. (2018). Malawi Economic Monitor, November 2018 - Investing in Girls' Education. Washington, D.C., World Bank. Available here

• Mwale, M.L., Chirwa, G.C., Kamninga T.M. & Manja L.P. (2021). Trust in Election Management Bodies, Participation in Demonstrations and Willingness to Pay Taxes - Evidence from Malawi. In K. Ross, A.L. Chiweza & W.O. Mulwafu (Eds.), Beyond Impunity - New Directions for Governance in Malawi (pp. 97-114).

• Co-Grantee - AERC “Inclusive Finance for Fragile and Post-Conflict States in Africa” Project. Conducting study on “The Impacts of Formal and Informal Access to Finance on Household Welfare - The Case of Women and the Youth in The Gambia” (2021)

• Co-Grantee - IFPRI’s “Enhancing the impact of agricultural extension in Malawi” project. Conducting study on “Agricultural Extension and Technical Efficiency for Malawian Smallholder Farmers” (2019).
• Co-Grantee - AERC AFPON project. Study on “A Comparative Assessment of the Impacts of Malawi Farm Input Subsidy and Irrigation Policies on Child Nutrition Status” (2019).

• Started Chirimba Youth Organization to deal with drug and substance abuse and reinstate school dropouts in school

• Was appointed Electoral Commissioner for University of Malawi Student Leader Elections