NRF Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening University Research Capacity Through Strategic Grant Training
The National Research Fund (NRF) has reaffirmed its commitment to building the research capacity of Kenyan universities through strategic training and targeted support in resource mobilization and grant proposal development.
Speaking during the opening session of a three-day Capacity-Building Workshop for lecturers and researchers at Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) on Monday, May 26, 2025, NRF CEO Prof. Dickson Andala emphasized that impactful research requires more than academic excellence—it demands strategic thinking, institutional coordination, and operational readiness.
“Research doesn’t thrive on ideas alone—it requires the ability to secure resources, craft winning proposals, and manage projects efficiently,” said Prof. Andala. “These are not optional skills. They are essential for institutions seeking to generate knowledge that solves real-world challenges.”
Held at Little Daughters of St. Joseph Retreat Centre in Karen, Nairobi, the workshop brought together MMU academic staff—particularly those at PhD level—aiming to strengthen their capacity to attract funding and implement research projects aligned with national and global development goals.
Prof. Andala noted that NRF’s support goes beyond disbursing research grants. As a national agency mandated to advance research excellence, NRF also plays a facilitative role in building institutional systems that can support sustainable research environments.
“At NRF, we believe in long-term partnerships that empower researchers to move from concept to implementation. We want to ensure that researchers are not only writing better proposals but are also equipped to manage large-scale projects that deliver tangible impact,” he added.
He commended MMU’s initiative to institutionalize resource mobilization frameworks and encouraged other universities to adopt similar models. He said such internal structures—when coupled with deliberate collaboration—are critical to strengthening Kenya’s research and innovation ecosystem.
“We are walking this journey with our universities—not just in principle, but in practice,” Prof. Andala affirmed. “Our goal is to enable researchers across the country to become more competitive and more responsive to the funding landscape.”
The workshop is part of NRF’s wider agenda to promote a research culture that is proactive, interdisciplinary, and solutions-oriented. Through such engagements, NRF aims to address persistent capacity gaps that limit the ability of institutions to secure research funding and translate research into development outcomes.
The Fund continues to work with universities, research institutions, and relevant stakeholders to ensure that Kenyan researchers are well-positioned to respond to emerging scientific, societal, and economic challenges.
