About Us
The Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) is a research organisation that specializes in surveys and Social Science research, advisory and consulting services based in the University Town of Zomba in southern Malawi. We are a leading research organisation in conducting and presenting high quality and trusted data to our clients in opinion surveys, marketing research, advisory and consulting services. Founded in 2014, IPOR is a partnership between two scholars based at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. IPOR is a legally registered organisation by Malawi Government under the Business Names Registration Act (Cap.46:02). It was legally registered on 10 November 2014 to operate in Malawi. IPOR operates from its physical offices at 4 Miles, Off M3 Road, Next to Zipatso, Zomba
Our Mission
To offer high quality advisory services and conduct excellent and independent research designed to produce new knowledge and transformative insights as the basis for innovative and practical policy interventions that promote the well-being of societies, especially in the developing world.
Recent News
A Budget for the people? Citizens’ priorities and Malawi’s budget decision
Posted on Feb 24, 2026 at 19:05
This brief presents the priorities that Malawian citizens identified for the new government to address, as captured in a national pre-election survey of 2400 adult Malawians conducted by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) in August 2025.
Food shortages (29%) and economic management (29%) emerged as the top priorities for the government to address following the 2025 general elections. These issues have consistently ranked as major concerns over the past decade, with food insecurity remaining the foremost issue.
Priorities differ systematically among various population groups: rural residents, women, older adults (36 years and above), and less-educated citizens emphasize food security and agriculture, whereas urban residents, youth, men, and more educated Malawians prioritize economic management, taxation, and employment-related issues.
The persistent and ongoing concern regarding food shortages highlights the country\\\'s struggle to meet the basic needs of its citizens. This raises questions about the effectiveness of long-standing investments in agricultural subsidies and underscores the need for alternative solutions, such as investing in large-scale farms. The diverse priorities across different regions and social groups demonstrate the risks associated with a one-size-fits-all approach to the allocation of government resources or development projects, which could lead to inefficiencies in resource allocation.
For more details, click View File to download the full policy brief.
PRESS STATEMENT
Posted on Sep 04, 2025 at 10:45
Release of 2025 Pre-Election Survey II Results by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR)
The Edward Chiwayula Trust Fund
Before his sudden and untimely passing on April 17th, 2016, the late Edward Chiwayula was working as an enumerator on the Governance and Local Development Project, a collaborative venture between IPOR, the Program on Gover...
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