Biography
Dr. Masauso Chirwa is a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Sociology at the University of Zambia. He previously served as Head of the Department of Social Work and Sociology and as Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Zambia.
Masauso has more than 20 years of experience in university teaching, research, postgraduate supervision, consultancy and capacity development. His work is strongly applied and focuses on generating evidence that can inform policy, strengthen institutions and improve services for vulnerable and marginalised populations.
He has led and contributed to national and international research projects supported by UNICEF, UNHCR, the National Research Foundation of South Africa, CODESRIA, the Global Challenges Research Fund and Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian High Commission, the International Organisation for Migration, SIDA, Save the Children and other partners. His research has addressed refugee access to child protection and gender-based violence services, responses to child sexual abuse, disability inclusion, social protection, labour migration, alternative care, mental health, climate vulnerability and access to justice.
Masauso supervises doctoral research at the University of Zambia and Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Through his teaching, research and policy engagement, he continues to contribute to contextually relevant and evidence-informed responses to social development challenges in Zambia, Africa and internationally.
Qualifications
Education:
2019- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Financing. Queen’s University, Canada
2017 - PhD in Social Policy and Social Work. University of Warwick, United Kingdom
2011- MSc in Peace and Development Studies. Linnaeus University, Sweden
2011- MSc in International Social Work. Linnaeus University, Sweden
2008 - Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Publications
Publications
Research Interests
Research Interests
- Disability inclusion
- Social policy
- Mental health
- Climate-related vulnerability
- Public finance
- Health financing
- The delivery of social services.
- Domestic violence
- Migration
- Refugees
- Child protection
Social protection
Projects and Grants
Projects and Grants
Current and Forthcoming Research
2026-2029 Improving Services’ Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Zambia Using an Evidence-Based Forensic Interview. Supported by Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná in Brazil, the University of Zambia and the Sign Language Channel of Zambia. Co-Principal Investigator.
2026. DAAD SDGs Alumni Project. Supported by BMZ Germany. Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, and the University of Zambia
2026-2028 From Policy to Practice: Assessing Refugee Access to National Child Protection and Gender Based Violence Social Services across Multiple Settlements in Zambia. Supported by UNHCR, the University of Michigan and the University of Zambia. Co-Principal Investigator.
Selected Research Conducted from 2023 to 2025
2025 - Post-Implementation Beneficiary Satisfaction and Protection Monitoring Survey. Supported by UNICEF, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the University of Zambia. Role: Lead researcher.
2025 - Protection Risks and Service Mapping in Drought and Flood Affected Areas. Supported by UNICEF, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the University of Zambia. Role: Lead researcher.
2023-2024 Access to Justice for Persons with Albinism in Zambia. Supported by the Canadian High Commission. Principal investigator.
2023 - Situation Analysis for Persons with Albinism in Zambia. Supported by UNICEF and the Canadian High Commission in Zambia.
2023 - Living Conditions of Children in Childcare Facilities in Livingstone and Kitwe. Supported by Alliance for Children Everywhere.
2023 - Gender Analysis for Sexual Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Service Delivery in Zambia. Supported by the Clinton Health Access Initiative and SIDA.
2019-2023 - Capacity Development for Social Welfare Officers in Alternative Care and Case Management. Supported by UNICEF and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Role: Trainer and facilitator.
Research Conducted from 2020 to 2022
2022 Triangulation of Learning across Three Children in Families Reintegration Projects under the Catholic Care for Children Project. Supported by Catholic Relief Services.
2021 Assessment of Progress in Alternative Care in Zambia Using the Tracking Progress Initiative Tool. Supported by SOS Children’s Villages Zambia and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
2021 Socio-Cultural Dynamics of COVID-19 Transmission and its Mental Health Effects in Zambia. Supported by the COVID-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund and the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
2021 Development of Training Materials and Guidance Notes on Child Protection for the Government of Zambia. Supported by UNICEF. Role: Principal investigator.
2019–2021 Support Services for Staff and Students with Disabilities in Public and Private Universities in Zambia South Africa and Zimbabwe. Supported by CODESRIA. Role: Co-principal investigator.
2020 Development of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Course Curriculum. Supported by REPSSI Zambia.
2020 Development of a Mixed Migration Manual. Supported by the International Organization for Migration. Principal investigator.
2020–2022 Disability and Embodiment in Namibia Religious and Cultural Perspectives. Supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund and Arts and Humanities Research Council Research Networking Grant in partnership with the University of Namibia.