School of Graduate Studies

By Diana Meso and School of Graduate Studies, Research & Extension (SGSRE)

In line with our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, Goal 2: Distinction in research and scholarship, we focus on Prof. Francis Wambalaba, Professor of Economics, who has and is currently spearheading different research and consultancy projects sponsored by USIU-Africa and other organizations.

Externally, Prof. Wambalaba has been contracted and funded by various local and international organizations to carry out various research projects as shown below;
1. Research Project: “Gender Sensitive Implications of COVID-19 on Youth Agripreneurship Resilience (2020-2021)”, intended to determine levels of resilience amongst male and female agripreneurs in Poultry, Horticulture and Fish (PHF) agribusiness value chains considering the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and consequently inform knowledge transfer and policy.

• Funder: International Development Research Center (IDRC) Canada
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Amos Njuguna, Dean SGSRE (Co PI), Dr. Paul Wachana, Assistant Professor of Project Management and Implementation, Prof. Damary Sikalieh, Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Akosa Wambalaba, Lecturer, French, Ms. Salome Asena, Senior Research Officer – GAME Center, Mr. Kelly Matayian, Research Officer and Mr. Carol Yogo, Research Officer.

2. Research Project: Cyber Security Risk Minimization Best Practices - African Experiences (2019-2021), to determine the best cyber security risk minimization practices in an African context, especially within the banking industry. This analysis will be used to advise financial institutions on which measures to take in order to enhance their cyber security.

• Funder: Global Business Schools Network (GBSN) and Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) Institute.
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Dr. Paula Musuva, Lecturer in Forensic Information Technology, (Co-PI).
  • Other Organizations: Ms. Judy Ouma (TUK); Mr. William Makatian and Ms. Brencil Kaimba (Serianu); and Dr. Koussis Nicos (Fredrick University, Cyprus

3. Research Project: Cybersecurity Risks and National Policy Implications - East African Experiences (2019-2021), to assess the cybersecurity risks stemming from lags between policy development and technological advances in the banking industry with particular focus on the East African Region.

• Funder: Global Business Schools Network (GBSN) and Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) Institute
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Dr. Paula Musuva, Lecturer in Forensic Information Technology, (Co-PI).
  • Other Organizations: Ms. Judy Ouma (TUK); Mr. William Makatian and Ms. Brencil Kaimba (Serianu); and Dr. Koussis Nicos (Fredrick University, Cyprus).

4. Research Project: How Safe is the Kenyan Banking System? The KBA $6 Trillion Global Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation Agenda (2019-2021), to identify key cyber security risks in general, and in the banking industry in particular.

• Funder: Global Business Schools Network (GBSN) and Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) Institute
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Dr. Paula Musuva, Lecturer in Forensic Information Technology, USIU-Africa, (Co-PI).
  • Other Organizations: Ms. Judy Ouma (TUK); Mr. William Makatian and Ms. Brencil Kaimba (Serianu); and Dr. Koussis Nicos (Fredrick University, Cyprus).

5. Research Project: Insect Feed for Poultry, Fish and Pig Production in Kenya & Uganda (2018-2021), to implement ICIPEs proof of concept by incubating the insect for feed technology for animal feed.

• Funder: International Development Research Center (IDRC) Canada and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Dr. Paul Wachana, Assistant Professor of Project Management and Implementation (PI), Prof. Damary Sikalieh, Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Akosa Wambalaba, Lecturer, French, Ms. Salome Asena, Senior Research Officer – GAME Center, Mr. Kelly Matayian, Research Officer and Mr. Carol Yogo, Research Officer.

6. Research Project: The Effectiveness of The Metro Agri-Food Living Lab for Gender Inclusive Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Kenya (2018-2021), to scale up and evaluate the effectiveness of the Metro Agri-Food Living Lab for gender inclusive entrepreneurship development among the youth.

• Funder: International Development Research Center (IDRC) Canada and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Prof. Amos Njuguna, Dean SGSRE (Co PI), Dr. Paul Wachana, Assistant Professor of Project Management and Implementation (PI), Prof. Damary Sikalieh, Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Akosa Wambalaba, Lecturer, French, Ms. Salome Asena, Senior Research Officer – GAME Center, Mr. Kelly Matayian, Research Officer, Mr. Carol Yogo, Research Officer,
  • Other Organizations: Dr. Nathaniel Peterson and Mr. James Ogada (Busara Center for Behavioral Economics) and Ms. Veyrl Adel (Signifide Group).

7. Research Project: Inclusive Climate Smart Business Models in Ethiopian and Kenyan Dairy Value Chains (2017-2021), to identify scalable climate smart dairy business models in the context of ongoing transformation from informal to formal dairy chains in Ethiopia and Kenya.

• Funder: NWO Food and Business Global Challenge Program (Netherlands).
• Researchers:
• USIU-Africa: Ms. Salome Asena, Senior Research Officer – GAME Center,
• Other Organizations: Dr. Robert Baars (Primary PI - VHL University, Netherlands); Prof. Chis Peterson (MSU, USA); Taye Tolemariam (Jimma University, Ethiopia

8. Consultancy Project: Horticulture Scoping Study II in Kenya to Update a Horticulture Scoping StudyI Conducted in 2016 – 2017. (2021-2022), to update a horticulture scoping study1 conducted in 2016 – 2017.

• Funder: Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands through Match Makers
• Consultants:
• USIU-Africa: Mr. Kelly Matayian, Research Officer
• Other Organizations: Edmond Ringo (PI - Match Makers – TZ) and Lex van Boeckel (Searce Insights Research –NL).

9. Consultancy Project: Consultancy Services on Developing the Strategic Plan For Kepsa/ Natural Resources Forum (2021-2022), to develop the five-year strategic plan for the Natural Resource Forum to ensure it fulfills its aspired mandate

• Funder: Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Foundation
• Consultants: Ms. Stella Simiyu and Dr. Samuel Gichare.

10. Consultancy Project: Support SAQA in delivering its mandate by providing its expertise in development of standards and guidelines to guide assessment of national qualifications in Kenya (2021-2021), to enrich, refine and finalize the draft standards for assessing National Qualification

• Funder: Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)
• Consultants: Dr. Lynette G. Kisaka (Commission for University Education); Mr. Peter Njiru (NITA)

11. Consultancy Project: Blue Print for Tangible, Commensurate and Sustainable Economic Development of the Luo – Nyanza Region (2020-2021), to develop the Blue Print for Tangible, Commensurate and Sustainable Economic Development of the Luo Nyanza Region (Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay and Migori Counties).

• Funder: Luo Nyanza Economic Caucus (LNEC).

Internally, through the University’s Internal Grant, Prof. Wambalaba is spearheading the following projects:
1. Research Project: Rideshare Transport Baseline Survey Towards A Rideshare Mobile App: A Case for Progressive Organizations In Nairobi (2020-2021), to determine effective rideshare strategies towards the development of a mobile rideshare App.

• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Ms. Akosa Wambalaba, Lecturer, French, (Co-PI) and Dr. Jimmy Macharia, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Technology
  • Other Organizations: Dr. Selina Omollo (Ubabi Vanpooling Society) and Henry Ochieng (Kenya Alliance of Residents Associations - KARA).

2. Research Project: The Effects of Non-Motorised Transport (Nmt) Infrastructure On User Experience in Nairobi, Kenya (2020-2021).

• Researchers:
  • USIU-Africa: Ms. Akosa Wambalaba, Lecturer, French
  • Other Organizations: Dr. Selina Omollo (Ubabi Vanpooling Society) and Henry Ochieng (Kenya Alliance of Residents Associations - KARA).