Focus Group Discussion in Kibera

Today on Wednesday the 17th of November 2021, following up on household listing and recruitment activities on Monday, our team conducted two Focus Group Discussions with community members in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s biggest informal settlements. The discussions were facilitated by our research team members and young researchers Charles Maina and Grace Werikhe, both from the University of Nairobi. Senior researchers Dr. Jonathan Nzuma (University of Nairobi), Professor Alfonso Sousa-Poza (University of Hohenheim), Marta Parigi and Dr. Hamid Oskorouchi (University of Hohenheim) made valuable contributions.

We thank cordially to all who have participated in these events, particularly to the citizens of Kibera who took time to share their knowledge with us! We have learned a lot from your experiences, views and perspectives on water safety, food safety and food security issues. These insights are very important to us, as they inform our research and guide further activities. Together, we can make so much impact.

SURE FOOD field activities in Nairobi start today – recruitment of households in Kibera

On Monday morning, SURE FOOD’s international WP 1 team meets at the Kibera Chiefs Camp to start its activities in one of Nairobi’s biggests slums – Kibera. The purpose of today’s activity is to recruit 20 households for the first Focus Group Discussion which is scheduled for Wednesday, 17 November 2021 in Kibera.

The activity is led by the WP1’s and University of Nairobi’s Dr. Jonathan M. Nzuma, and co-led by University of Hohenheim’s Dr. Hamid R. Oskorouchi. The project coordinator Prof. Dr. Alfonso Sousa-Poza (University of Hohenheim) is taking part in the activities as well.

Further team members are young researchers Charles Maina and Grace Werikhe from the University of Nairobi and Marta Parigi of the University of Hohenheim. The research team is supported by local guides and security guards.

We are hiring!

Several postgraduate (masters and doctoral) positions are available at SURE-FOOD partner sites in Nairobi. Apply before 30th of November, 2021!

For more information please see this PDF document:

PHD ADVERT SURE FOOD PROJECTDownload

We are hiring!

Dr. Jonathan Nzuma, the lead of WP1 “Urban resilience analytics” is seeking to recruit

  • One (1) Doctoral Researcher in Agricultural and Applied Economics

as soon as possible for a period of three years. The project has funding to support fieldwork but the successful candidate will be required to apply for a DAAD scholarship to cover fees and stipends.

The doctoral researcher will carry out socioeconomic research related to urban household food nutrition and security resilience analytics in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and household surveys, the impacts of food safety innovations and new approaches of community outreach will be evaluated. The positions will be based at the University of Nairobi, but might involve some travel to the University of Hohenheim in Germany.

The doctoral researcher will carry out socioeconomic research related to urban
household food nutrition and security resilience analytics in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and household surveys, the impacts of food safety innovations and new approaches of community outreach will be evaluated. The positions will be based at the University of Nairobi, but might involve some travel to the University of Hohenheim in Germany.

For more information please visit the announcement of our partner University of Nairobi.

Application via email before Wed, 20 October 2021 to: agecon[at]uonbi.ac.ke with a copy to Dr. Jonathan Nzuma, j.nzuma[at]uonbi.ac.ke. More information about the Department can be found under: http://agrieconomics.uonbi.ac.ke/.

Visit to Kenya in September 2021: Courtesy call at the ATPS

Today, on September 21, 2021, the SURE-FOOD team paid a courtesy visit to our partner organisation the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in Nairobi. The ATPS’ Executive Director Dr. Nicholas Ozor introduced the team to the mission, goals and programs of the network.

The ATPS mission is “to improve the quality of STI research, policy and practice for sustainable development in Africa, by Africans and for Africa.”

We look forward to collaborating with the ATPS and with Dr. Nicholas Ozor within our work packages 4 and 5, which concentrate on stakeholder engagement and the Resilience Action Plan development.

Courtesy visit of the SURE-FOOD project team at the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in Nairobi on 21 September 2021. From left to right: Alfred Nyambane, ATPS; Nicholas Ozor, ATPS; Catherine Kunyanga, UoN; Alfonso Sousa-Poza, UHOH; Lydiah Waswa, Egerton University; Hamid Oskorouchi, UHOH; and Mark Kimani, ATPS.

SURE-FOOD Collaboration Contract signed in Nairobi

Today, on September 21, 2021, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi Prof. Stephen Kiama, PhD, the SURE-FOOD’s PI Prof. Dr. Alfonso Sousa-Poza of the Universitiy of Hohenheim, the Project Coordinator at the University of Nairobi Dr. Catherine N. Kunyanga, signed the Contract of Collaboration during a courtesy visit of the SURE-FOOD’s team to the University of Nairobi’s Vice-Chancellor Office. The President of the University of Hohenheim Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert had signed the contract the previous week in Stuttgart, and the Egerton University’s leadership is expected to sign in the course of the next days. The contract has been facilitated by the legal experts of the universities involved. The financial transactions are regulated by special Transfer of Funds Contracts, which has been developed in collaboration with the project’s sponsor the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The contracts lay down the terms of the research collaboration, particularly of data protection, intellectual property rights, authorship rules, terms of financial transfers etc. With this important official step, we want to ensure a transparent, clear and smooth project governance and management. Thank you all, who helped us in achieving our first milestone!

SURE-FOOD Official Inception Workshop at the University of Nairobi, 20. September 2021

On Monday, the September 20th, the official Inception Workshop of the SURE-FOOD project took place at the University of Nairobi’s College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), Upper Kabete Campus.

Inception Workshop of the SURE-FOOD Project at the University of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), Upper Kabete Campus on 20 September 2021, Nairobi, Kenya.
Left to right: Hamid R. Oskorouchi, UHOH; Jonathan M. Nzuma, UoN; Alfonso Sousa-Poza, UHOH; Margaret Hutchinson, DVC Research, Innovation and Enterprise, UoN; Nicholas Ozor, ATPS; Rose Nyikal, UoN; Catherine N. Kunyanga, UoN; Lydiah M. Waswa, Egerton University; George Abong, Chairman, Dep. of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology

The Workshop started with Welcoming Remarks and Official opening by UoN administrators

  • Dr George Abong, Chairman, Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology
  • Prof. Rose Nyikal, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, CAVS
  • Prof. Margaret Hutchinson, Associate Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise.

The workshop comprises presentations and discussions of the project’s work packages leaders and their WP teams. The WP teams present their ongoing research, discuss the insights and preliminary results of the literature reviews, elaborate on the survey designs and intervention plans, discuss the milestones and update the workplan. Also, challenges and any issues of concern will be discussed in depth during the workshop, in order to find best ways to go on with the joint project.

Presentation and discussion of WP 1 “Resilience Analytics: Status of Food & Nutrition Security among Urban Dwellers”

  • Jonathan M. Nzuma, UoN, and
  • Hamid R. Oskorouchi and Alfonso Sousa-Poza, UHOH

Presentation and discussion of WP 2 “Resilience Structures: Food Market Capacity”

  • Hamid R. Oskorouchi, UHOH, and
  • Catherine N. Kunyanga, UoN

Presentation and discussion of WP 3 “Resilience Agents: Nutrition Education and Communication”

  • Lydiah M. Waswa, Egerton University, and
  • Catherine N. Kunyanga, UoN

Presentation and discussion of WP 4 “Resilience Champions: Action Plan for Food & Nutrition Security”

  • Catherine N. Kunyanga, UoN, and
  • Nicholas Ozor, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)

Presentation and discussion of WP 5 “Simulation Tool “Nutrition and Health-driven Food Security Policy Generator”

  • Nelson Owuor Onyango, UoN

Presentation and discussion of WP 6 “Coordination, Communication, Project Management” and WP7 “International Young Scientists Conference”

  • Alfonso Sousa-Poza, UHOH

The workshop day ends with an informal get-together in order to facilitate further discussions. In the coming days, several visits to current and potential project partners as well as field visits to informal settlements of Nairobi will take place.

FOR Sure-Food Workshop Inception Program

You can find the link to the pdf below:
https://surefood456165870.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sure-food_inception-workshop-program.pdf

Visit to Kenya in September 2021: Egerton University, Njoro Campus

On Friday, September 17, 2021, our team received a very warm welcome at our WP3 Lead Dr. Lydiah M. Waswa’s host campus of the Egerton University in Njoro. The Egerton University is the oldest Kenyan higher education institution, being established back in 1939. Today, Egerton University is one of the best universities in the country with growing partnerships around the world, which thrives to transform lives through quality education.

We are very grateful to Professor Bockline O. Bebe, Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Division of Research and Extension, to our fellow project team member Dr. Lydiah M. Waswa, and other Egerton members for this very warm welcome and inspiring and open discussions. We are looking very much forward to joining forces with you, conducting research, and educating future “Resilience Agents” for food and nutritional security, health and wellbeing in Kenya.

Picture 1 (left to right): 1) Prof. Isaac Kibwage, Acting Vice Chancellor, Egerton University, 2) Dr. Hamid R. Oskorouchi, Co-PI, University of Hohenheim, 3) Dr. Lydiah M. Waswa, WP3 Lead, Coordinator for Egerton University, 4) Dr. Catherine N. Kunyanga, WP2 Lead, Coordinator for University of Nairobi, 5) Prof. Bockline Bebe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Extension, Egerton University, 6) Prof. Paul Kimurto, Director Marketing and Resource Mobilization, Egerton University, 7) Dr. Stellamaris Muthoka, Chair of Department – Human Nutrition, Egerton University.

Visit to Kenya in September 2021: Meeting with the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in Nairobi

On September 16, our project’s Co-PI Dr. Hamid R. Oskorouchi of the University of Hohenheim together with the WP1 Lead Dr. Jonathan M. Nzuma of the University of Nairobi had a very insightful, engaging and productive meeting with the Management and team of the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in Nairobi. Mr. Benjamin Avusevwa, Director of Statistical Coordination and Methods, Mr. Abdulkadir Amin Awes, Ag. Director of Population and Social Statistics, and other KNBS members introduced our team to the KNBS’s current topics, tasks and challenges, and discussed the venues of cooperation within the SURE-FOOD project. Reliable statistics and qualitative analyzes are the basis of a world-class research, when it comes to resilience data and resilience statistics.

SURE-FOOD Project Team members Dr. Jonathan M. Nzuma (University of Nairobi) and Dr. Hamid R. Oskorouchi (University of Hohenheim) at a meeting with the Kenyan National Bureuau of Statistics (KNBS) team, Mr. Benjamin Avusevwa, the Director of Statistical Coordination and Methods, Mr. Abdulkadir Amin Awes, Ag. Director Population and Social Statistics and others, on September 16, 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya.