Board Member

J. P. (JPR) Ochieng’-Odero is a scientist with a keen interest in the place of science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) in economic and social development, and the role of learning and knowledge sharing in capacity strengthening, especially in Africa. He graduated with a PhD in Zoology from the University of Auckland in 1989. He has been an Independent Consultant Team Leader involved in the establishment of the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) programme which aims to strengthen research and innovation systems more effectively in Africa. The programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK.

Between 2015-2021, JPR headed the East Africa Research Fund (EARF) a funding facility managed by PwC on behalf of the FCDO. Earlier, JPR was Deputy Director & Head of Scientific Programmes of the Consortium for National Health Research (CNHR), a Kenyan-based health research grant-making organisation. JPR was a Senior Research Scientist and head of the capacity strengthening programme of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) including serving as the Network Coordinator of the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) a training programme implemented in partnership with 34 African universities.

He was appointed (2013-2016) as a Commissioner with the Commission of University Education (CUE) of Kenya. He was appointed (2015-2021) a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Research Fund (NRF) as well as a member of the Governing Council of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital (2017-2021). He has published over four-dozen articles. For his national contribution to development he was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) in December 2013.
He is currently a Senior Research Fellow in research and innovation at Strathmore University.