GLD-IPOR Malawi COVID-19 panel survey dataset

Abstract

March 2020 marked a critical juncture for Malawi as the nation confirmed its initial COVID-19 cases. In response, the government imposed stringent measures including travel restrictions, bans on large gatherings, and the creation of emergency management committees to mitigate the spread of the virus. Concurrently, Malawi navigated a significant political event—the June 2020 presidential election—following the annulment of the previous year's election results.

To document the range of responses by Malawian citizens to these COVID-19 containment strategies and how their livelihoods and political engagement were affected, a three-wave survey was conducted. Captured in the GLD-IPOR Malawi COVID-19 Panel Survey Dataset, this effort provides detailed insights into public knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, socio-economic and health vulnerabilities prompted by the pandemic, citizens' adherence to public health directives, and engagement during this crisis. Notably, the survey waves were aligned with the June 23, 2020, presidential electoral cycle: wave one occurred during the pre-election period, and wave two immediately followed the election. The dataset, which includes 13,696 observations collected over all three rounds offers a comprehensive understanding of local variation in responses – particularly in terms of social stigmatization, enforcement of containment measures, and political participation – during a period marked by both public health challenges and political transitions.

This dataset can be leveraged to offer actionable insights and opportunities for examining resilience and vulnerabilities during different stages of health crises. Furthermore, merging this dataset with the Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI) survey datasets from 2016 and 2019, or the forthcoming project ``Survive, Thrive, or Deprive? Drivers and Outcomes of Resilience During the COVID-19,'' can facilitate a detailed examination of governance and development issues before, during, and after the pandemic.