Kenya’s NRF explores research chairs programme

Kenya’s National Research Fund (NRF) is taking early steps toward establishing a national Research Chairs programme in priority sectors, signalling a shift toward more structured, long-term investment in research capacity.

A continental partnership for education reform

NRF Kenya partnered in the launch of Harnessing Education for Impact in Africa (HERI Africa), joining policymakers, academics, and international organisations around a shared goal of placing research at the centre of education reform across Africa.

Building on this partnership, NRF chief executive officer Dickson Andala participated in a HERI Africa learning mission to the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa on 14 April in Pretoria, South Africa.

Learning from South Africa’s model

South Africa’s Research Chairs model, implemented through the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), is widely regarded as a benchmark for strengthening research capacity and governance. Established in 2006 by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation and the NRF of South Africa, the initiative has awarded over 360 Research Chairs, contributing significantly to the country’s National System of Innovation.

During the mission, the NRF South Africa announced 41 new Research Chairs, which shows sustained national investment in research excellence. Notably, this cohort marks a deliberate shift toward expanding opportunities at historically disadvantaged institutions, universities of technology, and emerging universities, advancing both equity and impact.

For NRF Kenya, these insights are directly informing its next steps. The Fund is actively exploring the establishment of Research Chairs across priority sectors, including education, food security, health, and the bioeconomy.

By embedding these chairs within universities and research institutions, NRF Kenya aims to strengthen research leadership, build high-level skills and mentorship pipelines, and enhance the production of policy-relevant knowledge.

More broadly, this move positions NRF Kenya within a growing continental ecosystem focused on institutional strengthening and knowledge exchange. The experience from South Africa offers a practical blueprint for scaling impact, while ongoing partnerships create pathways for sustainability.

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Published on 21 April 2026

Written by Jackie Opara-Fatoye.