All projects and research studies

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to a circular economy by developing a more sustainable model of market development for OGS devices in Kenya and SSA. This will be achieved by conducting research aimed at identifying appropriate schemes for the collection, handling and recycling of SEW. The project is designed to advance relevant research capacity in Kenya and will provide a platform for developing a local hub of expertise for SEW both for the researches and the private companies involved.  

The research will be guided by the overall question of how the emerging market for OGS devices can move toward a sustainable pathway in Kenya. The project will analyse the role of the key actors involved along the value chain, including OGS lead firms, households and the local repair economy, in relation to the end-of-life stage for OGS products and SEW materials. This analytical focus will allow end-user behaviour and waste disposal to be integrated into the GVC framework (Hansen and Nygaard, 2020). The main scientific results will be a contribution to advance the international GVC research frontier with special focus on EnvU in polycentric value chains. The main scientific outputs will be in the form of 6 co-authored papers, which will be presented at international conferences, and published in leading international peer-reviewed journals.

The Kenya Transport Research Network (KTRN) was formed in May 2015 after the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) long engagement with transport issues with the support of development partners. Of particular mention are the FIA Foundation and the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) that funded the IDS to provide support to the Ministry of transport and to be part of a consortium of three African universities establishing the African Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Studies in Public and Non-Motorised Transport (ACET), respectively. The long term engagement with researchers, policymakers and practitioners revealed a gap in transport research and practice in Africa. Transport challenges, in particular public transport, were increasing in the midst of rapid urban growth, while there were few scholars working on transport issues. This triggered the need to attract more scholars, policymakers and practitioners into transport research, dissemination and dialogue through a network.

The Ethics and Social Impact of Digital Credit Lending in Kenya

LEAP-RE is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) including a Call for proposal action co-funded by national or regional funding agencies and European Commission. Internal Consortium R&I projects and capacity building activities with substantial financial contributions from the research institutions, implemented by consortium members.

Safeguarding Democratic Space in Kenya (SADES-K) is a three year USAID funded project, whose goals is to enhance Kenya’s ability to hold a national conversation on governance reforms and national cohesion, and safeguard democratic gains. The project is implemented by Family Health International (FHI 360). Over the sub-contract period, IDS monitored national conversations on governance reforms, national cohesion, media freedom, and civic space in the country. This includes regular conduct of policy-oriented research to show progress in the implementation of the Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI). It also includes monitoring media conversations to inform the SADES-K project. A second component of the sub-contract is to conduct a national opinions survey to assess public perceptions on key governance issues in the country. ​​​​​​