Economists awarded prestigious grant to research wellbeing, climate shocks, and subnational foreign aid

The University of Malta is pleased to announce that Dr Musharavati Ephraim Munyanyi has been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship under the supervision of Prof. Marie Briguglio at the Department of Economics, within the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy.

Subjective well-being (SWB) is increasingly recognised as a key indicator of societal progress, yet it is often overlooked in assessments of the impacts of climate shocks, which are increasing in both severity and frequency. The fellowship project, CLIMWELB – Climate Shocks and Subjective Wellbeing in Small Island Developing States (Grant Agreement ID: 101211832), tackles pressing global questions on climate and wellbeing: How do floods, droughts, and extreme heat affect wellbeing? Through which pathways—health, food security, employment, or conflict—do these effects unfold? Can subnational foreign aid help cushion their effect? CLIMWELB’s findings will provide fresh insights for global policy and donor strategies, advancing both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal.

Funded by Horizon Europe—with success rates below 15%—the MSCA fellowship is among the most competitive and distinguished in Europe. CLIMWELB scored 92.8% in its evaluation by the European Commission, upon first submission. Reviewers described the project as “ambitious, innovative, and methodologically robust,” commending its interdisciplinary design, measurable objectives, strong gender and diversity considerations, exemplary open science practices, and the outstanding calibre of both the fellow and the supervisor.

Dr Munyanyi is an applied economist with over five years of experience collaborating with UN agencies (e.g., UNICEF, UNDP, IFAD, FAO, and UNECA), government ministries, international research organizations, and academic institutions across Europe, Africa, and Australia. He has published widely in Q1-ranked journals and led evaluations of multimillion-dollar climate initiatives. His expertise in econometrics, climate data, and impact evaluation complements Professor Briguglio’s distinguished profile: over 70 peer-reviewed publications, 14 research grants—including major Horizon 2020 projects—and leadership of Malta’s Wellbeing INDEX. Professor Briguglio is also a prominent public voice on wellbeing, having advised parliaments, governments, and international institutions.

Together, Dr Munyanyi and Professor Briguglio bring unique, complementary expertise in climate, wellbeing, and applied economics, positioning them to deliver pioneering evidence with global relevance.