Professor Paul Kamau

Prof. Paul Kamau is the Director of Research and an Associate Research Professor at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi. His work involves providing strategic leadership in research, policy engagement, collaboration, and academic excellence in development studies in Kenya, Africa and the globe. He is an accomplished scholar with extensive experience in development studies, governance, public policy, and socio-economic transformation. Prof. Kamau has led and contributed to numerous research initiatives that inform policy and practice at national, regional, and international levels. He is committed to fostering innovation, strengthening partnerships and advancing evidence-based solutions that address contemporary development challenges.

Prof. Kamau holds a PhD in Development Studies; Master of Science in Economics; and Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He teaches and conducts research in areas of Development Economics, Industrial development, Political Economy Analysis of Development, Regional Integration, and Informal Sector Development. He has supervised to completion more than 40 postgraduate thesis including seven PhDs.

He has also published widely in areas of economic governance, textiles and clothing value chains, informal economy, political settlements, industrial development, human capital development, Chinese ascendancy in Africa; food processing firms in Africa, State-Business relations in Africa, and employment issues in Africa. He is the National Investigator for the Afrobarometer programme in Kenya; Team Leader for the Transformative African Leadership Programme; chair of the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) Research Panel, Council Member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Kenya (SDSN-K), a member of International Advisory Board of Global Barometer Surveys, Academic Director of the Global Challenges- Masters Programme, a team member of Justice in Carbon Trading and Nature (JUCAN) research project among