He is a socio-economist, with a PhD in Rural Development that concentrated on rural livelihoods from the University of East Anglia (UK) obtained in 2002; a Master of Professional Studies (International Development) obtained from Cornell University in the United States of America in 1991 and A Bachelor of Social Science Degree from the University of Malawi (1986). He is an experienced researcher using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Over the past 36 years whilst working for the Centre for Social Research of the University of Malawi and Wadonda Consult Ltd and now, PALM Consulting Limited, he has done research and published in the fields of rural livelihoods, nutritional status of rural communities, food security, safety nets and social protection, health related issues, disability, poverty and on disaster and relief operations using both quantitative and qualitative methods. He has done work for the World Bank, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Various International Research Institutions, the Malawi Social Action Fund, Various Government Ministries and Departments in Malawi, and Overseas Universities among many. He has designed and done a number of baseline studies and end of project evaluations. He is also a gender analyst and trainer. He is currently a senior partner and consultant at PALM Consulting Limited.

He has a PhD in Anthropology from Rhodes University and an MA in Medical Anthropology from University of Amsterdam. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Malawi. He has previously worked with Dwangwa Sugar Corporation and the Ministry of Labour. In 1996 he joined the Centre for Social Research of the University of Malawi where he rose from Research Fellow to Professor of Research and served as Deputy Director (2005-2007) and Director (2012-2016) of the Centre. His work at the PALM Consulting limited involves the development of proposals, seeking funding and carrying out research once the proposals are funded. His research interests include the social, economic and cultural aspects of HIV/AIDS, childhood immunizations, (adolescent) sexual and reproductive health and rights including gender-based violence, health seeking behaviour, child labour, and disability and development. Since 2005 he has led the development of proposals for countries for submission to multilateral funding agencies. Between 2007 and 2018 he worked with Ministries of Health in East and Southern Africa to develop successful health systems strengthening (HSS) proposals for submission to GAVI for the following countries: Malawi (2007, 2012 and 2016), Uganda (2007), Lesotho (2012), Zambia (2015), Zimbabwe (2017) and Tanzania (2018). These GAVI HSS proposals are aimed at contributing to the improvement and sustenance of immunization coverage. Over the years, Prof. Munthali has published widely on a wide range of issues including disability. He has written many research reports for various organisations. Prof. Munthali has more than 25 years experience in conducting research and has worked with various government agencies, departments and ministries; national and international NGOs; UN agencies and academic institutions from the region, Europe and the United States.