New relationships, synergies and joint projects were established and new means of collaboration arose, especially with Strathmore University

            Luis Ravina, Director of the NCID, along with Juan Soto, NCID Research Assistant, visited Kenya in September to strengthen the relationship with various institutions and local partners in the country. The outcome of the visit was most satisfactory since new relationships, synergies and joint projects were established and new means of collaboration arose, especially with Strathmore University.

            Prof. Ravina met several people at Strathmore University, an institution that has collaborated with the NCID since the inception of the latter. Among others, Luis met Prof. Robert Mudida, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Governance at Strathmore Business School (SBS) who is also a non-resident fellow of the NCID. He also met Dr. John Olukuru, professor and former Dean of the Strathmore School of Finance and Applied Economics (SFAE) and Dr. George N. Njenga, Dean of Strathmore Business School.

            Moreover, Prof. Ravina had a meeting with Dr. Dominic Burbidge, Departmental Lecturer in African Studies at the University of Oxford and currently also lecturing at Strathmore School of Law. He had visited the NCID last November, when he gave a weekly seminar on Democracy Versus Diversity: Ethnic Representation in a Devolved Kenya.

            Luis and Juan also visited the Eastlands College of Technology (ECT). This college caters the formal sector by creating permanent linkages with corporations through the implementation of Dual Training Systems in ICT, Electrical and Electronic Installation Systems and Industrial Maintenance; and is building upon the experiences of ten years of ISBI for micro entrepreneurs in the informal sector. They both met Andew Olea, main architect and founder of the ECT.

            Finally, the Director of the NCID met Juan Manglano, Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy as well as Cultural Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat

            Luis Ravina visits the country annually to strengthen the relationship with our local partners and seek new avenues to carry out high quality research on the most pressing matters related to poverty and growth.