Dr Masanjala holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree from the University of Malawi (1991), a Postgraduate Diploma in Population and Development Economics from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, the Netherlands (1995) and an MSc and a PhD in Economics from the Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in the United States (1999 and 2003).

Prior to his appointment, Dr Masanjala was a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Malawi, where he previously served as Head of Economics Department and representative for the Faculty of Social Science on the University Senate. He also served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in the United States and a Senior Labour Officer.

He has wide experience in consulting for various local and international organizations including the ILO, UNFPA and UNESCO. He has collaborated with researchers from University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University College, London, World Bank and IMF. He has published in peer reviewed publications including Journal of Applied Econometrics, Journal of Agricultural Economics, Social Science and Medicine and Canadian Journal of Development and a number of book chapters.