Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has launched a new Humanitarian Leadership short course designed to equip practitioners with the strategic, operational, and ethical leadership skills essential for navigating complex environments of crises.
Slated for an official launch in March 2025, the short course, the first of its kind in Kenyan universities, aims to cultivate humanitarian leaders who are not only deployment-ready but also equipped to drive meaningful and sustainable change in the field.
As part of the events leading up to the launch, JKUAT NCBD Campus, the program’s anchor, hosted a multi-sectoral meeting on Friday, February 21, 2025, bringing together key humanitarian actors to evaluate the program’s framework, strengthen collaboration between academia and the humanitarian sector, and explore the broader impact of these partnerships on society.
Speaking at the forum, Prof. Peter Njenga, Director of JKUAT NCBD Campus, emphasized that by integrating academic expertise with real-world humanitarian action, the program ensures graduates emerge as highly competent, ethically grounded professionals ready to tackle global challenges head-on.
He urged participants to explore strategic partnerships to address humanitarian crises while also identifying joint proposal and grant opportunities to enhance program’s sustainability.
Killen Otieno, a seasoned advocate of professional humanitarianism with extensive experience in humanitarian response and community development across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, described the program as offering a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective on humanitarian work, seamlessly blending theory with practical application.
As a member of the program’s development committee, Mr.Otieno acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, further refinements are necessary to tailor the curriculum for diverse stakeholders.
On his part, Dr. Peter Wanjohi, a JKUAT lecturer and program’s development committee member, revealed that the short course will incorporate case studies, practical simulations, leadership challenges, and scenario-based exercises to ensure participants are fully prepared for field operations.
He noted that for industry leaders and humanitarian organizations, this initiative presents a pipeline of highly skilled professionals trained to excel in high-pressure crisis environments.
Another speaker, Ms. Rosine Dunia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was excited about the possibility of such training in the region and urged consideration for French speakers, including those from her home country.
During the forum, collaborative research between JKUAT and humanitarian players for policy development was explored, with Innovations for Poverty Action highlighting potential funding opportunities for such initiatives.
Also present during the review were local and international representatives from various organizations, including Logistics and Learning Alliance, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), CALP Network, Amref International University, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Terre des Hommes (TDH) Netherlands, AV Fund, ECHO Network Africa, World Vision, World Food Programme (WFP), Capital Strategist KKTD, and GHE.