NRF Highlights National Commitment to Research and Innovation at PACN Congress 2024
During the PACN Congress 2024, NRF’s CEO, Prof. Dickson Andala, emphasized the organization’s dedication to advancing research, science, and innovation for Kenya’s sustainable development. He detailed NRF’s role in mobilizing, allocating, and managing resources to support critical research across various disciplines. He outlined NRF’s three funding mechanisms – Competitive, Matching, and Institutional funding – each designed to expand research capabilities and foster innovation.
A notable example of NRF’s impact is its support of the Kenya National NMR Centre at the University of Nairobi, established through Institutional funding to build capacity in analytical chemistry. This center offers advanced training in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques to early-career researchers and postgraduate students, with support from the RSC/PACN, thereby equipping the next generation of scientists to address Kenya’s unique challenges in health, agriculture, and other fields. Since its founding in 2013, NRF has invested over 500 million Kenyan shillings in projects hosted by the University of Nairobi, a sum that has helped the institution secure additional funding from other research grant organizations, expanding its partnerships and research influence both locally and globally.
Prof. Andala also spotlighted the recent NRF Research Festival, an initiative designed to cultivate a strong research culture in Kenya through mentorship and collaboration. A highlight of the festival was the launch of the inaugural National Outstanding Researchers Awards (NORA), which honors individuals whose research has profoundly impacted Kenyan society and scientific understanding. The awards emphasize innovation, problem-solving, and economic transformation, recognizing researchers who tackle pressing social issues with actionable, real-world solutions.
Among the honorees, Prof. David Musyimi Ndetei received the Outstanding Social Sciences Lifetime Award for his pioneering contributions to psychiatry and mental health, which have shaped policy and improved mental health services across Kenya and internationally. Prof. Ruth Nduati was awarded the Outstanding Life Sciences Lifetime Award for her groundbreaking work in pediatric health, particularly in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission – a standard-setting advancement that has significantly improved health outcomes.
Looking ahead, Prof. Andala expressed enthusiasm for recognizing excellence in chemistry and allied sciences in the upcoming KNRF 2025 Awards. As PACN marks its 16th anniversary, NRF reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that promote sustainable development across Africa, underscoring NRF’s mission to empower researchers, foster impactful collaboration, and drive Kenya’s scientific and technological progress.
