Board Members
The Board members and Secretariat of Leiden-Delft-Erasmus-East Africa Research Network
Dr. Victoria Mathew Mwakalinga
Lecturer at Ardhi University
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Dr Victoria holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a Lecturer at Ardhi University. She spent eight years at the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) as a Research Scientist in spatial epidemiology, where she developed advanced expertise in spatial analysis to map disease transmission risk and model associated risk factors. Her work draws on big data and open-source mapping to predict land use patterns and examine climate change and WASH-related issues, and she has contributed to a multi-country research consortium.
At Ardhi University, Victoria is now building a cross-disciplinary research agenda that bridges urban planning, public health, data science, and geospatial health. She has authored 13 peer-reviewed articles and one book chapter and regularly serves as a peer reviewer for academic journals.
At Ardhi University, Victoria is now building a cross-disciplinary research agenda that bridges urban planning, public health, data science, and geospatial health. She has authored 13 peer-reviewed articles and one book chapter and regularly serves as a peer reviewer for academic journals.
Dr. Uwayezu Ernest
Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Rwanda
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Dr Ernest is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Rwanda (UR), College of Science and Technology, School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE), where he also serves as Deputy Dean and Coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme. He teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students across multiple schools at UR, and brings over 15 years of experience in teaching and research in land management, with a particular focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications.
His research is published across peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and working papers, spanning themes such as geo-information applications in land use planning, land tenure regularisation, spatial data dissemination, land governance and tenure security, and spatially just and inclusive urban development. Dr. Uwayezu also has extensive experience developing and reviewing academic programmes in land management, urban and rural planning, and geo-information science, and contributes to research quality across the field as a peer reviewer for multiple scientific journals
His research is published across peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and working papers, spanning themes such as geo-information applications in land use planning, land tenure regularisation, spatial data dissemination, land governance and tenure security, and spatially just and inclusive urban development. Dr. Uwayezu also has extensive experience developing and reviewing academic programmes in land management, urban and rural planning, and geo-information science, and contributes to research quality across the field as a peer reviewer for multiple scientific journals
Dr. Nelson Amorim Mota
Associate Professor at TU Delft, The Netherlands
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Nelson Mota is Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology, specializing in housing design and architectural education. He holds a professional degree in Architecture and an advanced Master's in Architecture, Territory, and Memory from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and a PhD from Delft University of Technology with a dissertation exploring the intersection between vernacular social practices and housing architecture. He is a founding partner of Comoco Arquitectos, an architectural firm recognized with the Portuguese National Prize for Architecture in Wood.
His research focuses on housing architecture and architectural ethnography. He is the author of A Arquitectura do Quotidiano and co-editor of Global Housing: Dwelling in Addis Ababa, and contributes regularly to C3 Magazine as an architecture critic. He has co-edited several academic journals, including Footprint and Joelho, served on the Footprint editorial board, and currently sits on the editorial board of the DASH book series.
His research focuses on housing architecture and architectural ethnography. He is the author of A Arquitectura do Quotidiano and co-editor of Global Housing: Dwelling in Addis Ababa, and contributes regularly to C3 Magazine as an architecture critic. He has co-edited several academic journals, including Footprint and Joelho, served on the Footprint editorial board, and currently sits on the editorial board of the DASH book series.
Dr. Brook Teklehaimanot Haileselassie
TU Delft, The Netherlands
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Dr. Brook Teklehaimanot Haileselassie is an architect, urban researcher, and academic faculty member at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), specializing in Public Building and Housing Design. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Addis Ababa University, a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) from the ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and a PhD from TU Delft. His research uses architectural ethnography to explore the socio-spatial dynamics of rapid urbanization, housing policies, and community preservation, connecting local lived experience with structural urban design.
Dr. Haileselassie's work focuses on equitable frameworks that balance infrastructural modernization with social equity, reflected in his published work and contributions to documentaries on urban displacement. He has vast experience synthesizing sociological insights, managing collaborative international research, and advocating for community-centric development.
Dr. Haileselassie's work focuses on equitable frameworks that balance infrastructural modernization with social equity, reflected in his published work and contributions to documentaries on urban displacement. He has vast experience synthesizing sociological insights, managing collaborative international research, and advocating for community-centric development.
Jan Fransen
Lead Specialist in Urban Economic Development and Resilience, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
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Dr Jan Fransen is a Lead Specialist and Assistant Professor in Urban Economic Development and Resilience, and former Deputy Director and Head of Education & Training at IHS. He coordinates research on smart and resilient cities at the Erasmus Vital Cities and Citizens research initiative. He is a guest researcher on urban resilience at ISS and sits on the advisory committee of the Africa Research Institute in Leiden. He is also a visiting scholar at POLIS University in Albania and previously worked for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Eastern and Southern Africa.
With over 25 years of experience in local economic development and resilience, his research spans urban resilience, informality, clustering, innovation systems, and institutional economics, with current studies underway in Rotterdam, The Hague, Nairobi, and internationally. He has led research, training, and advisory assignments for the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations, and NGOs including Cordaid, with field experience across more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
With over 25 years of experience in local economic development and resilience, his research spans urban resilience, informality, clustering, innovation systems, and institutional economics, with current studies underway in Rotterdam, The Hague, Nairobi, and internationally. He has led research, training, and advisory assignments for the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations, and NGOs including Cordaid, with field experience across more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Dr Paul I. Mukwaya
Head of the Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda
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Dr Paul is a geographer with an interdisciplinary background and research interests at the interface of geography and society, urban and regional sciences, transport policy and planning, human-environmental interactions, and local economic development. He is the Head of the Department of Geography, Geo-informatics, and Climatic Sciences and of the Urban Action Lab at Makerere University. His research bridges climate change adaptation, urban policy and management, and community development across East Africa.
Dr Paul undertakes consultancy assignments and authors reports for a range of clients, and has contributed across several projects through research design, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript and report development, while managing project staff including Doctoral, Master's, and undergraduate students. He also serves as a peer reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, scholarly book publishers, multilateral organizations, and research institutes.
Dr Paul undertakes consultancy assignments and authors reports for a range of clients, and has contributed across several projects through research design, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript and report development, while managing project staff including Doctoral, Master's, and undergraduate students. He also serves as a peer reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, scholarly book publishers, multilateral organizations, and research institutes.
Dr. Jean François Régis Sindayihebura
Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Burundi
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Dr Jean is a Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Burundi, based in the Department of Geography, Environmental Sciences, and Population Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. He holds a PhD in Demography from the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi.
His research spans maternal health, including anemia among women of childbearing age, and family planning, including intentions to use modern contraception and trends in post-delivery contraceptive adoption. He has also conducted research on education, particularly non-schooling and school dropouts, as well as urban demography, with a focus on housing access and its links to hygiene and sanitation.
His research spans maternal health, including anemia among women of childbearing age, and family planning, including intentions to use modern contraception and trends in post-delivery contraceptive adoption. He has also conducted research on education, particularly non-schooling and school dropouts, as well as urban demography, with a focus on housing access and its links to hygiene and sanitation.
Prof. Marleen Dekker
Professor of Inclusive Development in Africa at Leiden University and Director of the African Studies Centre Leiden
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Prof. Marleen Dekker is Professor of Inclusive Development in Africa at Leiden University and Director of the African Studies Centre Leiden. Trained as a human geographer with a PhD in Development Economics, her interdisciplinary research examines inequalities in accessing markets and local socio-economic development, drawing on fieldwork across Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Togo, Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria on topics including social networks, insurance, CSO advocacy, and intra-household collaboration. She facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration with natural scientists on African air quality and environmental justice.
Prof. Dekker has extensive experience coordinating research and policy engagement at the intersection of academia and practice. She coordinated the Secretariat of INCLUDE, the Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies in Africa, which connects researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across the Netherlands and Africa.
She is also the academic lead of the Leiden-Legon-Edinburgh Academic Partnership (LLEAP), chair of the Leiden Africa Platform, and holds advisory roles on the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) and the GROW in Research steering committee. Her research informs policy and practice through strong international partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is committed to ensuring research delivers practical impact for communities and decision-makers.
Prof. Dekker has extensive experience coordinating research and policy engagement at the intersection of academia and practice. She coordinated the Secretariat of INCLUDE, the Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies in Africa, which connects researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across the Netherlands and Africa.
She is also the academic lead of the Leiden-Legon-Edinburgh Academic Partnership (LLEAP), chair of the Leiden Africa Platform, and holds advisory roles on the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) and the GROW in Research steering committee. Her research informs policy and practice through strong international partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is committed to ensuring research delivers practical impact for communities and decision-makers.
Dr Cyrus Mbisi Ogutu
Principal Consultant and founder of Greenspace Planning and Environmental Consultants Limited
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Dr Cyrus is a Principal Consultant and founder of Greenspace Planning and Environmental Consultants Limited, with over ten years of experience in urban planning and environmental management.
His portfolio includes major master planning initiatives such as the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN), the Mombasa Gate City Master Plan, and the Mombasa Special Economic Zone Comprehensive Environmental Management and Conservation Plan, alongside urban profiling and local economic development work with UN-Habitat across Kenya, Somalia, and the wider East Africa region. As Deputy Team Leader for the Second Kenya Informal Settlements Programme (KISIP II), he helped develop slum upgrading and prevention strategies for seven Kenyan counties. He is currently supporting the Affordable Housing Board on planning and environmental safeguards for housing sites nationwide.
He is a registered and practicing Physical Planner and an EIA/EA Lead Expert with Kenya's National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). He serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Physical Planners Registration Board, having previously chaired its Strategy Committee in developing the Board's 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. He formerly chaired the Town Planners Chapter of the Architectural Association of Kenya and served on Nairobi City County's Planning Technical Committee from 2018 to 2020. He is a strong advocate for community-based approaches to urban planning and environmental management.
His portfolio includes major master planning initiatives such as the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN), the Mombasa Gate City Master Plan, and the Mombasa Special Economic Zone Comprehensive Environmental Management and Conservation Plan, alongside urban profiling and local economic development work with UN-Habitat across Kenya, Somalia, and the wider East Africa region. As Deputy Team Leader for the Second Kenya Informal Settlements Programme (KISIP II), he helped develop slum upgrading and prevention strategies for seven Kenyan counties. He is currently supporting the Affordable Housing Board on planning and environmental safeguards for housing sites nationwide.
He is a registered and practicing Physical Planner and an EIA/EA Lead Expert with Kenya's National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). He serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Physical Planners Registration Board, having previously chaired its Strategy Committee in developing the Board's 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. He formerly chaired the Town Planners Chapter of the Architectural Association of Kenya and served on Nairobi City County's Planning Technical Committee from 2018 to 2020. He is a strong advocate for community-based approaches to urban planning and environmental management.
LEARN Secretariat
Dr. Musyimi Mbathi
LEARN Coordinator & Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi, Kenya
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Dr. Musyimi is the Academic Coordinator of the LEARN Network and a Senior Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. His expertise spans urban resilience, participatory planning, disaster risk reduction, and informal settlement upgrading. He has contributed to major urban planning initiatives across Africa, Asia and Latin America and is committed to advancing collaborative research that supports inclusive and resilient cities.
Dr. Mbathi has previously served with the Government of Kenya as an Urban and Regional Planner and also with the United Nations (UN-HABITAT) as the coordinator of the 1000 cities programme.
Through his leadership, Dr. Mbathi has strengthened partnerships between universities, practitioners, policymakers, and communities. His work emphasizes evidence-based planning, co-creation of knowledge, and mentoring emerging urban researchers while supporting practical solutions to complex urban challenges.
Dr. Mbathi has previously served with the Government of Kenya as an Urban and Regional Planner and also with the United Nations (UN-HABITAT) as the coordinator of the 1000 cities programme.
Through his leadership, Dr. Mbathi has strengthened partnerships between universities, practitioners, policymakers, and communities. His work emphasizes evidence-based planning, co-creation of knowledge, and mentoring emerging urban researchers while supporting practical solutions to complex urban challenges.
Dr Elsie K. Onsongo
Director of Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research
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Dr Elsie Onsongo is the Director of Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research, which hosts the International Centre for Frugal Innovation-Kenya Hub. Her research interests relate to innovation for inclusive development in sub-Saharan Africa, with a current focus on frugality, inclusion and sustainability in energy access, health care, and urban development. She adopts a multidisciplinary approach in her analysis of innovation, combining perspectives from evolutionary economics, science and technology studies, and organisational studies.
Elsie has a PhD from the ‘Economics of Innovative Change’ a programme jointly offered by Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany. She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and has been a visiting research fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, UK. She has worked at Strathmore University in Kenya in various teaching, research and administrative capacities.
Elsie has a PhD from the ‘Economics of Innovative Change’ a programme jointly offered by Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany. She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and has been a visiting research fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, UK. She has worked at Strathmore University in Kenya in various teaching, research and administrative capacities.
Alice Menya
Head of Programs, Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research
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Alice Menya is the Urban Programme Coordinator at Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research. She is an urban development specialist with experience working on transdisciplinary urban subjects in the private and public sector spaces, including academia in Kenya and beyond.
Her research interests revolve around urban governance, resilience, informality, and sustainability. She is also a Registered Physical Planner and an adjunct Lecturer at the School of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning at Kenyatta University.
Her research interests revolve around urban governance, resilience, informality, and sustainability. She is also a Registered Physical Planner and an adjunct Lecturer at the School of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning at Kenyatta University.
Bosibori Barake
Urban Programme Coordinator
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Bosibori is an urban planner, researcher, and climate policy practitioner with close to ten years of experience shaping urban development and climate resilience programmes across East Africa. She holds a Master of Urban Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Bachelor's in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Nairobi, combining academic training with extensive field practice across the region.
Bosibori has led multi-country research programmes on locally led adaptation, nature-based solutions, and urban infrastructure, contributing to peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and knowledge products for international funders and development institutions. As a Trainer of Trainers in Urban Climate Resilience, she has designed and facilitated capacity-building programmes for practitioners and community stakeholders, driven by a conviction that meaningful climate action in African cities must be locally grounded, evidence-based, and policy-connected.
Bosibori has led multi-country research programmes on locally led adaptation, nature-based solutions, and urban infrastructure, contributing to peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and knowledge products for international funders and development institutions. As a Trainer of Trainers in Urban Climate Resilience, she has designed and facilitated capacity-building programmes for practitioners and community stakeholders, driven by a conviction that meaningful climate action in African cities must be locally grounded, evidence-based, and policy-connected.
Dr Elsie K. Onsongo
Director of Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research
Dr Elsie Onsongo is the Director of Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research, which hosts the International Centre for Frugal Innovation-Kenya Hub. Her research interests relate to innovation for inclusive development in sub-Saharan Africa, with a current focus on frugality, inclusion and sustainability in energy access, health care, and urban development. She adopts a multidisciplinary approach in her analysis of innovation, combining perspectives from evolutionary economics, science and technology studies, and organisational studies.
Elsie has a PhD from the ‘Economics of Innovative Change’ a programme jointly offered by Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany. She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and has been a visiting research fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, UK. She has worked at Strathmore University in Kenya in various teaching, research and administrative capacities.
Alice Menya
Head of Programs, Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research
Alice Menya is the Urban Programme Coordinator at Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research. She is an urban development specialist with experience working on transdisciplinary urban subjects in the private and public sector spaces, including academia in Kenya and beyond.
Her research interests revolve around urban governance, resilience, informality, and sustainability. She is also a Registered Physical Planner and an adjunct Lecturer at the School of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning at Kenyatta University.
