RESEARCHER GATHERING ORGANIZED BY INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION (IPA) AT MASENO UNIVERSITY ON 18th JULY, 2024

As part of IPA's commitment to supporting and engaging researchers from low and middle-income countries, IPA-K held a researcher gathering event at Maseno University Kisumu campus on the 18th of July, 2024. The event aimed to serve as a platform for learning, skills development, relationship-building, and promoting awareness of IPA internal funding opportunities.The Seminar was attended by the Maseno University’s School of Business and Economics faculty and PhD students. The seminar featured a distinguished presentation by IPA affiliate PI, Prof. Edward Miguel (Ted) from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and CEGA. 

During the discussions, the need for a joint formal collaborative effort between Innovations for Poverty Action, Maseno University and University of California Berkeley (UCB) emerged in order to cement the collaboration as well as enhance sustainability of building the capacity of the upcoming scholars from Maseno University. Some of the areas of collaboration discussed includes, joint research initiatives, workshops/seminars as well as exchange programs. Prof. Ted also emphasized the need for the upcoming researchers to take advantage of the currently existing initiatives offered by CEGA such as the East Africa Social Science Translation (EASST) fellowship programs and apply for such opportunities. The EASST program has been there since 2012 and has benefitted several East African Scholars this far. Another opportunity discussed was a possibility of having an annual event where the graduate students from UCB and Maseno University would present research ideas and form collaborations.