The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has opened a new office in Westlands, Nairobi to help conduct research and provide technical assistance in the East Africa region.
The office will house 39 AIR staff members and serve as the institution’s regional hub in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries.
Speaking during the launch, AIR Chief Executive Officer Jessica Heppen affirmed that the hub will conduct third-party monitoring for USAID’s Afya Uwazi project to ensure medicines and other health commodities reach areas where they are needed.
It will also explore linkages between socioeconomic indicators and climate change in the region and support communications and dissemination for USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network for humanitarian responses, particularly in the world’s most food-insecure regions.
“In East Africa, there is a growing desire to improve education, health, workforce, and economic opportunities as a way to strengthen communities and improve lives.”
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He added, “AIR is making a commitment to partner with the leaders and citizens of the region to increase opportunities and create a better, more equitable world for all.”
On her part, Christine Kiecha, managing director of AIR’s Kenya, stated the research hub will also partner with regional universities and other organizations to train both social and behavioral scientists.
“The challenges in East Africa are unique and complex and, for that reason, it is imperative that we work with those that are closest to the problems we are trying to address and understand the needs of those who live and work in these communities,” he said.
Air is currently partnering with the University of Nairobi and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to provide educational training and mentorship for social and behavioral science students.
It has partnered with Kenyatta University and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology to collaborate on research and education.
The universities will receive $250,000 a year in funding through the partnership for two years, with the opportunity to extend the agreement if desired.
Resources, research grants, scholarships, and training will be offered to all participating universities in partnership with AIR pan-African partners, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and Union of African Population Studies (UAPS).
