Capacity Development for a Policy Network in
Kenya
Joseph Karugia, ILRI
Training Workshop: Research to Inform Agricultural and Food Security
Policy and Practice in Kenya
19- 21 February 2018

Introduction
• Agriculture is key to efforts to fight poverty, end hunger and
spur economic growth
• Agricultural transformation requires the right policy and
institutional environment
• New challenges in Kenya following devolution
• Need to strengthen the capacity for evidence-based decision
making of state and non-state actors
• ILRI/ReSAKSS supports CAADP implementation
• Increase the capacity to generate, analyse and use data,
information, knowledge and innovations

Introduction
• AgriFoSe2030 has similar objectives
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lund University, Gothenburg
University and Stockholm Environment Institute
• Contributes to sustainable intensification of agriculture for increased
food production
• Aims at using science to support better policies and improved practises
within the agricultural sector

About the project
• Collaboration between ILRI/ReSAKSS and AgriFose2030
• To enhance the skills of recent PhD graduates to translate
scientific evidence into information that can inform agriculture
and food security policies
• Develop a multidisciplinary network of scientists who can work
together
• Project will involve training, mentoring, coaching, advising, and
networking
• Post-docs selected from participants in previous AgriFose2030
activities

About the project
• Resource persons – from universities, research
organizations and consultants - experienced in
policy work – analysis, advising,
communication, etc
• But also practitioners – governments (national
and county) and non-state actors (private
sector, civil society, NGOs,)

Approach
• Three technical workshops – February, April, July
• Topics based on skill gaps
• Surveys; interactions with resource persons
• Mentoring, coaching, advising
• Online instructional materials
• Development of policy briefs and other knowledge products
• Participation in policy forums
• Post-docs paired with resource persons

Approach
Resource Person Institution Post-doc Institution
Willis Oluoch-Kosura UoN Esther Kanduma UoN
Geraldine Matolla Univ. of Eldoret
Mohammed Said Consultant Jane Mutune UoN
Godwin Macharia KALRO
Stephen Wambugu Chuka University Eunice Githae Chuka Univ.
Jeremiah Okeyo Embu Univ.
Paul Guthiga ILRI Charles Recha Egerton Univ.
Samuel Omondi UoN
Cecelia Onyango UoN
Joseph Karugia ILRI Dasel Kaindi UoN
Stephen Mureithi UoN
Jacqueline Kariithi Kenyatta Univ.
Anne Nyamu Consultant ALL

Approach
• RPs and Post-docs interactions:
– During the training workshops
– Face-to-face meetings
– Virtual meetings
– At policy forums
– E-mails; social media
– Others to be agreed in the course of implementation
(informed by continuous evaluation)

Workshop objectives
• Research to inform agricultural and food security policy making in Kenya
• First in a series of three workshops
• Purpose is to enhance the capacity of participants to undertake policy relevant
research and analysis and disseminate their work to the policy making
community
• Interactive sessions to cover topics such as:
– Understanding key concepts in policy
– Key policy issues in agriculture and food security sectors in Kenya
– Understanding the policy making process in Kenya and opportunities to engage
– Technical writing and policy communication
• Networking; face-to-face meetings

This presentation is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
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