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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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experts

Development Strategies and Governance

Joseph Nagoli

Senior Research Coordinator

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ORCiD

Bio

Joseph Nagoli is a Senior Research Coordinator and Policy Hub Leader, based in Malawi. His research focuses on political ecology, food systems, natural resources governance, and the blue economy (aquaculture and fisheries). Prior to joining IFPRI. Joseph worked as Director of Knowledge and Learning and Acting Director General of the Malawi National Planning Commission and Malawi Country Research Lead for WorldFish.

Development Strategies and Governance

Publications

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Brief

El Niño preparedness and response

2026Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; Kumchulesi, Grace; Nagoli, Joseph
Details

El Niño preparedness and response

El Niño is a phase in an irregular periodic variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the Pacific Ocean. It occurs on average every 2 to 7 years and typically lasts between 9 months and 2 years. El Niño affects global weather patterns, resulting in above-average precipitation in some places and droughts in others. Malawi and its neighbors typically experience drier than usual weather during El Niño, which often leads to poor growing conditions and below-average harvests (Anderson et al., 2023). In mid-June 2026, conditions in the Pacific Ocean have surpassed El Niño thresholds, and it is becoming increasingly probable that they will strengthen further (NOAA, 2026).

Year published

2026

Authors

Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; Kumchulesi, Grace; Nagoli, Joseph

Citation

Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; Kumchulesi, Grace; and Nagoli, Joseph. 2026. El Niño preparedness and response. MaSSP Policy Note 59. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/183710

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; El Niño; Vulnerability; Climate Change Mitigation; Financing

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Five misconceptions distorting food policy in Malawi: A joint NPC-IFPRI position paper

2026Changaya, Fredrick; Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; Nagoli, Joseph
Details

Five misconceptions distorting food policy in Malawi: A joint NPC-IFPRI position paper

Among countries not affected by conflict, Malawi has the lowest GDP per capita, and its economy has been shrinking for much of the past five years. External shocks have undoubtedly strained an already fragile economy, but policy choices have further stifled growth and amplified vulnerabilities. Many of these choices are rooted in persistent misconceptions, that distort decision-making and undermine progress. This position paper identifies and challenges those misconceptions. We focus only on beliefs that are widespread, lead to seriously distorted policy choices, and are genuinely held by well-intentioned actors committed to inclusive development in Malawi. These actors are our primary audience, as those without this underlying objective are unlikely to be swayed. Our list is selective rather than exhaustive, concentrating on misconceptions that are particularly pervasive and influential in the food systems policy space, and for which robust, evidence-based arguments exist.

Year published

2026

Authors

Changaya, Fredrick; Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; Nagoli, Joseph

Citation

Changaya, Fredrick; Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; Jamali, Andrew; and Nagoli, Joseph. 2026. Five misconceptions distorting food policy in Malawi: A joint NPC-IFPRI position paper. MaSSP Policy Note 57. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/182570

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Policies; Food Security; Food Assistance; Maize

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Mindset or economics: What explains the dominance of maize in Malawi

2026Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; Nagoli, Joseph
Details

Mindset or economics: What explains the dominance of maize in Malawi

Malawi’s policy ambitions increasingly emphasize the need for greater crop and diet diversity. De-spite these stated goals, the country’s food system continues to revolve around maize, both in pro-duction and consumption. This brief discusses the economic imperatives that drive low-income, land-constrained Malawians to prioritize maize. Only by addressing these underlying incentives can policy effectively reduce maize dominance and support the diversification agenda it seeks to advance.

Year published

2026

Authors

Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; Nagoli, Joseph

Citation

Cockx, Lara; De Weerdt, Joachim; Duchoslav, Jan; and Nagoli, Joseph. 2026. Mindset or economics: What explains the dominance of maize in Malawi. MaSSP Policy Note 55. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/181792

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Maize; Consumer Behaviour; Consumer Economics; Feeding Habits; Economic Behaviour; Crop Production

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Research

Topics/Countries