STATISTICIAN & SURVEY DATA ANALYST

Turning complex data into clear evidence.

Steven Nanga — Statistician & Survey Data Analyst

I work across the research-data lifecycle, from survey programming and field-data validation to statistical modelling, research databases, and reproducible reporting.

Malawi · Available for survey research & statistical advisory
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Steven Nanga - Statistician and Survey Data Analyst

Steven Nanga

MSc Biostatistics · BSc Applied Statistics

Currently
Afrobarometer / UNIMA SSU — Survey data & post-fieldwork quality
MSc Biostatistics — Hierarchical-model diagnostics
Kafukufuku Data Hub — Research-data infrastructure

4+ Years

Data & statistical experience

R · SPSS · Stata · Python

Core statistical stack

End-to-End Research Data

Survey → validation → analysis → reporting

Afrobarometer / UNIMA SSU

Current survey research work

About

Bridging rigorous statistics, practical survey operations, and production data systems

I work at the intersection of statistical analysis, survey research and research-data systems. My experience spans questionnaire programming, field-data validation, data cleaning, modelling, database development and reproducible reporting.

This lets me approach research data as an end-to-end system rather than treating collection, management and analysis as separate tasks.

Statistical Modelling

Hierarchical & multilevel models, survey weights, GEE, and influence diagnostics in R, Stata, and Python.

Survey Operations & CAPI

SurveyToGo, KoboToolbox, ODK, complex skip logic, household rosters, paradata monitoring, and sampling checks.

Research Data Systems

PostgreSQL/PostGIS databases, automated deduplication, REST APIs, and open research data platforms.

Data Quality & Governance

SPSS syntax automation, EA validation, codebook audits, DPIAs, and compliance under the Malawi Data Protection Act.

Lifecycle Pipeline

From Data Collection to Evidence

I connect the entire research-data lifecycle—ensuring data integrity from initial questionnaire programming down to published evidence.

01

Survey Design

Sampling frames & instrument design

02

CAPI Programming

SurveyToGo, Kobo & logic rules

03

Field Validation

EA verification & paradata tracking

04

Data Management

SPSS syntax & database QA

05

Statistical Analysis

Multilevel & weighted models

06

Reporting & Evidence

Reproducible Quarto & dashboards

Survey Research

Questionnaire instrument programming in SurveyToGo, KoboToolbox, and ODK. Skip pattern logic, household roster structures, sampling file checks, and field paradata monitoring.

SurveyToGoKoboToolboxODKCAPI LogicSampling Verification

Statistical Modelling

Multilevel & hierarchical modelling, survey-weighted regressions, longitudinal analysis, survival curves, GEE, and regression diagnostics in R and Stata.

RStataMultilevel ModelsSurvey WeightsDiagnostics

Research Data Systems

PostgreSQL and PostGIS database administration, automated data ingestion pipelines, REST APIs, schema validation, and open research-data infrastructure.

PostgreSQLPostGISSQLETLDjangoAPIs

Data Quality & Governance

Automated SPSS post-fieldwork syntax, EA sampling validation, codebook audits, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and Malawi DPA compliance procedures.

SPSS SyntaxEA ValidationCodebook AuditsDPIAMalawi DPA

Experience

Survey operations, production data systems, and research methodology

Afrobarometer / University of Malawi Surveys Support Unit

CURRENT ROLE

Research Assistant · Malawi

2026 – Present
  • Support post-fieldwork data cleaning, validation and quality assurance.
  • Develop and review SPSS syntax for survey-data processing.
  • Validate EA and sampling information against approved sample files.
  • Support SurveyToGo questionnaire testing, CAPI logic and validation.
  • Review questionnaire consistency, metadata, labels and fieldwork anomalies.
  • Support preparation of documented, analysis-ready survey datasets.
SPSSSurveyToGoCAPISurvey DataData QualitySampling

Credit Data CRB

Database Analyst / Data Protection Officer · Blantyre, Malawi

Jul 2023 – Present
  • Developed SQL- and PostgreSQL-based data-quality monitoring and validation workflows.
  • Built automated checks for duplicates, missing values, invalid records, and cross-system inconsistencies.
  • Supported database administration, ETL processes, reporting pipelines, and operational dashboards.
  • Supported data-protection compliance through DPIAs, technical audits, and governance procedures under the Malawi DPA.
PostgreSQLSQLData QualityETLData ProtectionDPIAPower BI

Independent Research Consultant

Statistical & Survey Data Consultant · Regional / Remote

Jan 2020 – Present
  • Provided statistical methodology advisory and data analysis for postgraduate (MSc/PhD) researchers across regional universities.
  • Designed mobile CAPI survey systems and field validation workflows using KoboToolbox and ODK for low-connectivity environments.
  • Trained over 200 professionals across academic, government, and non-governmental organisations in R, Stata, SPSS, and data management.
RStataKoboToolboxODKMultilevel ModelsSurvey Design

Portfolio of Work

Selected Projects

Evidence of research-data infrastructure, open-source packages, and analytical software built for reproducible research.

Flagship Case StudyView Live Platform

Kafukufuku Data Hub

Open research-data infrastructure for Malawi

A platform for discovering, documenting and accessing high-quality research datasets, designed around metadata quality, automated ingestion and reproducible data access.

The Problem

Research datasets in Malawi are fragmented across institutions, lack standardized metadata, and are difficult to discover, verify, or reuse in quantitative research.

What I Built

A searchable research-data platform with structured metadata catalogs, automated ingestion pipelines, PostGIS geospatial indexing, and data-quality assessment.

Production Stack

Django · Django REST Framework · PostgreSQL · PostGIS · Celery · Redis · MinIO · Docker

Key System Capabilities:

Dataset Catalogue & SearchMetadata StandardisationAutomated Ingestion PipelinesPostGIS Geographic DatasetsData Quality DiagnosticsREST API Access
Explore Kafukufuku Platform

Additional Selected Analytical Software & Tools

Survey ToolLive Tool

DHS Explorer

Interactive exploration of Demographic and Health Survey indicators, designed to make complex survey data easier to query, compare and visualize.

PythonStreamlitDHS DataSurvey Analysis
Repository Live demo
Data Quality

DataGuard

Automated data-quality framework for detecting completeness, consistency and duplicate-record issues in operational datasets.

PythonSQLPostgreSQLData Quality
Repository
R Package

cleanR

Open-source R package for reproducible survey and tabular data cleaning, automated deduplication, and statistical outlier screening.

RPackage DevelopmentData CleaningReproducibility
Repository
BiostatisticsLive Tool

SampleSizeR

Multi-design sample size and power calculation tool built for complex survey designs, epidemiological studies, and clinical biostatistical research.

RShinyBiostatisticsSampling Design
Repository Live demo
GeospatialLive Tool

Blantyre Explorer

Geospatial mapping and spatial analysis platform integrating over 360 mapped infrastructure points and public health facilities across Blantyre.

RShinyLeafletGISSpatial Analysis
Repository Live demo
Financial Analytics

Malawi Stock Exchange Dashboard

Real-time financial analytics dashboard tracking listed equities, market capitalisation, and price movements on the Malawi Stock Exchange.

PythonStreamlitFinancial AnalyticsTime Series
Repository

Skills & Capabilities

Technical Toolkit & Methodology

Prioritized by production proficiency and regular application in survey operations and statistical research.

Primary Core Stack (Daily Production & Modelling)

RSPSSStataPythonSQLPostgreSQLSurveyToGo

Statistical Modelling

Regression ModellingMultilevel / Hierarchical ModelsSurvey-Weighted AnalysisLongitudinal AnalysisGeneralized Estimating EquationsSurvival AnalysisQuantile RegressionLogistic Regression

Survey Research & CAPI

KoboToolboxODKSurveyCTOCSProQuestionnaire ProgrammingSkip LogicValidation RulesHousehold RostersSurvey TestingSampling & Weights

Data Quality & Management

SPSS SyntaxData CleaningData ValidationConsistency ChecksDuplicate DetectionCodebook AuditsEA ValidationParadata Quality

Data Systems & Engineering

PostGISETL PipelinesDatabase AdministrationREST APIsDjangoCeleryRedisMinIODocker

Visualization & Reporting

Power BITableauR Shinyggplot2QuartoReproducible ReportsExcel Dashboards

Research & Governance

BiostatisticsEpidemiologyResearch DesignDHS / MICSData Protection (DPA)DPIAResearch Ethics

Research Focus

Academic Inquiry & MSc Biostatistics

My academic research focuses on improving the inferential validity, robustness, and diagnostics of hierarchical survey models.

Master's Research Thesis — University of Malawi

“Diagnostics for Hierarchical Models with Application to Maternal Haemoglobin Level Data in Malawi”

Investigating case-deletion and variance-component influence diagnostics in complex multilevel models applied to observational public health data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey.

Multilevel ModelsInfluence DiagnosticsRobust StatisticsDHS DataRSurvey Weights

Survey Methodology

Questionnaire design, total survey error, interviewer effects, validation, CAPI systems, paradata, and survey-data quality.

Biostatistics

Hierarchical modelling, longitudinal analysis, influence diagnostics, observational health data, and robust statistical methods.

Data Quality

Automated validation, consistency checking, duplicate detection, metadata quality, and reproducible quality-control systems.

Research Data Systems

Research databases, APIs, data pipelines, metadata systems, open-data infrastructure, and reproducible research workflows.

Academic Degrees & Professional Certifications

MSc in Biostatistics

University of Malawi

2024 – 2026

BSc in Applied Statistics

Catholic University of Malawi

2020 – 2023

Selected Training & Certifications

Good Clinical Practice (GCP-E6 R3)Public Health Research EthicsInformed Consent in Human ResearchIBM Data Science ProfessionalIBM Data Engineering ProfessionalGoogle Advanced AnalyticsJohns Hopkins R FoundationsBusiness Analytics - Microsoft Power BI

Get in Touch

Have a survey, statistical analysis, or research-data project?

I'm open to research collaborations, survey-data work, statistical analysis, research data systems, and selected consulting projects.

stephennanga97@gmail.com
+265 884 262 107
Malawi
Download CV

Send an inquiry

Direct message to stephennanga97@gmail.com