The Policy Unit has successfully concluded the first round of its Engaging with Policy Series, held in partnership with the Maternal and Fetal Health Group. The five-part series ran from December 2024 to August 2025, aligning with the Group’s weekly meetings, and aimed to strengthen the crucial link between research and policy. 

Each session focused on a key element of policy engagement—from understanding its importance and identifying stakeholders, to defining success and effectively communicating evidence. The series was facilitated by Dr. Rhona Mijumbi, Suzgika Lakudzala-Munthali, Melody Sakala, and Talitha Mpando, whose expertise brought both depth and practical insight to the discussions. 

Participants engaged in rich conversations, sharing not just theoretical frameworks of Evidence-Informed Decision-Making (EIDM), but also real-world experiences—from working directly with policymakers to crafting knowledge products and navigating the wider evidence ecosystem. 

One clear takeaway: policy engagement is both a science and an art. While rooted in robust methods, it also calls for creativity, strong relationships, and the agility to adapt in complex environments. 

For the Policy Unit, the series was an opportunity to better understand researchers’ needs and tailor future support.  

The policy unit is therefore extending an invitation to other research groups to take advantage of the existing strategies being employed by the Policy Unit to promote shared learning in the policy space, such as the Policy Clinics. If interested in any of these sessions, you can contact Rodrick Sambakunsi, Policy Engagement Support Fellow, through rsambakunsi@mlw.mw, or Chikondi Mafaiti, Policy Unit Coordinator, through cmafaiti@mlw.mw.