The first phase of CenHTRO’s anti-trafficking research and programming in Southern Africa made essential progress in 2023. In January, CenHTRO faculty traveled to the project countries on scoping visits, establishing key relationships with local stakeholders and finalizing target districts for research and programs: Mangochi and Blantyre in Malawi; Sesheke, Chipata, Lusaka, and Livingstone in Zambia. In June, our financial capability partners also made scoping trips, meeting with policymakers, financial institutions, NGOs, and others in preparation for interventions in Phase 2, which begins in 2024.
CenHTRO again traveled to both project countries in September to participate in data collector training. The qualitative component of our baseline study began not long after. This element of our mixed-methods approach included in-depth interviews with survivors and at-risk young adults in the target demographic and key informants. We conducted focus group discussions with community members, national anti-trafficking task forces, and other relevant stakeholders to document existing service, policy, and knowledge gaps that drive and facilitate labor trafficking. 
