NRF Hosts Workshop on the Development of the National Research Repository

On July 10th, 2024, the National Research Fund (NRF), in partnership with the British Council and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), organized a pivotal workshop in Nairobi. This workshop brought together key stakeholders, including focal persons from both Phase I and II of the National Research Repository (NRR) development, the NRR Advisory Committee, and invited researchers.

The workshop, aimed at accelerating the development and utility of the NRR, featured presentations on Kenya’s research landscape and insights into data gaps. A demonstration of the repository’s status provided participants with a first-hand view of its capabilities. Discussions focused on strategies to increase the repository’s research outputs and ensure continuous updates.

Breakout group discussions enabled stakeholders, including researchers, librarians, and the Advisory Committee, to explore their roles in enhancing the NRR’s utility. Participants shared feedback on how their institutions can commit to ongoing data contribution to the repository, ensuring it remains an essential tool for Kenya’s research ecosystem.

Prof. Dickson Andala, Chief Executive Officer emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration across institutions to maintain a robust and accessible database of research. With a live and continuous onboarding strategy in place, the NRR is poised to serve as a cornerstone for evaluating research impacts and integrating innovations into national development.

During the workshop on the development of the National Research Repository, Ms. Monica Blagescu, Head of Education Programs at the British Council, highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing Kenya’s research landscape. She emphasized how the partnership between the British Council, the NRF, and other stakeholders is integral to the success of the National Research Repository (NRR).

Ms. Blagescu spoke about the British Council’s commitment to supporting knowledge-sharing platforms that facilitate easy access to research outputs and innovations. She also underscored the role of the repository in fostering international partnerships and ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to Kenya’s socio-economic development. Her remarks reaffirmed the British Council’s dedication to strengthening the link between research, policy, and education.The workshop successfully set the stage for a more dynamic, inclusive, and accessible research landscape in Kenya, driving the nation’s research agenda forward.