Consultative Forum Charts Path for Kenya’s Research Funding Masterplan

On the 17th of June, 2025, The National Research Fund (NRF) Kenya, in collaboration with ISAAA AfriCenter, recently held a consultative forum that brought together researchers and members of academia to discuss the development of a national Masterplan for Research Funding and Capacity Strengthening. The forum is part of a broader effort to gather insights from key stakeholders in the research ecosystem and lay the foundation for a more structured and sustainable research funding framework in Kenya.

This initiative, funded by the RISA Fund, is part of a year-long process that will result in a comprehensive strategy to guide research investment and development across the country. The discussions at the forum focused on identifying gaps in the current funding structures and generating ideas on how to create more inclusive, accountable, and impactful research support systems.

In his remarks during the forum, NRF Board of Trustees Chairman, Prof. Emeritus Ratemo Michieka, noted that the development of the Masterplan is a timely and necessary step toward elevating Kenya’s research profile both regionally and globally. He emphasized that a well-defined national research funding framework is critical for fostering innovation and ensuring that research efforts directly contribute to the country’s socio-economic goals.

NRF Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dickson Andala, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to its mandate—to mobilize, allocate, and manage financial resources to support research in all fields of science, technology, and innovation. He highlighted that the Masterplan aligns with NRF’s strategic objectives of creating a transparent, predictable, and effective research funding ecosystem that enables researchers to flourish and generate knowledge that benefits the country.

The consultative forum served not only as a space for dialogue but also as a starting point for deeper collaboration between the Fund, academic institutions, and the broader research community. As NRF continues to drive the development of this Masterplan, similar engagements will be held to ensure that the final document is inclusive, evidence-informed, and aligned with national priorities.

Through this initiative, the National Research Fund is strengthening its role as a catalyst for research excellence in Kenya, working to ensure that the research community has the resources and structures it needs to thrive and make meaningful contributions to national development.