Maseno University Hosts International Team to Initiate Future Earth East Africa Node
Maseno University welcomed a high-level delegation comprising representatives of the National Research Foundation (South Africa), National Research Fund (Kenya), the Future Earth Hub at Rhodes University (South Africa), and the Future Earth Leadership Centre at the University of Pretoria.
Led by Prof. Chrispin Kowenje, Director, Future Earth East Africa Node (FEEAN) at Maseno University, the visit marked a significant milestone in its establishment.
The East Africa Node is part of the Future Earth global initiative, a global research network for sustainability science in response to the complex challenges of the 21st century. The Maseno University node is envisioned as a regional center of excellence that will facilitate, enable, and monitor implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in East Africa.
To effectively perform its mandate, the FEEAN will specifically seek to:
1. Raise awareness on the agenda and opportunities of FE and (FEAH) among Science communities and policy bodies in EA.
2. Formulate sustainable FEEAN strategy for short-, medium and long-term deliverables on capacity building, research collaboration and infrastructure, within and outside the EA.
3. Source funds and organize FEEAN activities for regional and international scientists and policy makers to develop regional views and identify research priorities, within the FEAH paradigm of inter-disciplinarily and trans-disciplinarily.
The FEEAN will serve as a networking forum for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to co-create knowledge, inform regional sustainability agendas, and implement interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research agendas. Some of the key aims include building capacity for sustainability science, mobilizing finance, enhancing stakeholder engagements, and creating policy linkages to accelerate SDG attainment in the region.
Among the collaborators include; NRF - Kenya, EASTECO, ISTIC UNESCO, Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) - Nairobi, Inter-University Council for East Africa, Technical University of Kenya, Manda University (K), Muranga University of Technology, Eco-Lusion, Lengo Health, Energy Rwanda, University of Dodoma (Tanzania), DayStar University (Kenya), Multi-Media University of Kenya, Kenyatta University (Kenya).
Through this project, Maseno University is positioning itself as the hub of regional transformational research and innovation, recommitting itself to sustainable development and global scientific collaboration.
