Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Research Policy 2010

Abstract

The development of a Research Policy for Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KMFRI) is a major milestone in the growth of the Institute in its endeavour to address its mandate as provided by the Science and Technology (Amendment) Act 1979 Cap 250. Due to the transboundary nature of issues that are within the mandate of KMFRI to address, it is necessary for the Institute to engage in research beyond national borders to include regional and international concerns, in which the Kenya Government has committed itself including various bilateral and multilateral agreements, conventions and laws. The diversity in issues to be addressed by the Institute call for multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary research approach involving partnership not only at the national level but also at regional and international levels. Such collaborations and partnerships are complex to manage and require institutional research policies for efficiency. This research policy has been developed to address challenges facing research activities in the Institute including: lack of policy on research and consultancy; lack of information on research and opportunities for funding; competition for research funds locally and internationally; the need for quality project proposals and reporting of scientific findings.