EDUCATION BACKGROUND
2013-2016: PhD in Human Geography (Très Honorable), Université Bordeaux Montaigne, France. Thesis: Recognition of Informal Norms in Creating Resilient Water Management Structures: A Case of Soweto East, Nairobi.
2008-2010: Master of Arts Degree in Environmental Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Project: Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme: An Analysis of Kibera Integrated Water, Sanitation and Waste Management Project.
2000-2004: Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Communication, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
1999-2000: Diploma and Higher Diploma in the Management of Information Systems, Strathmore University, Kenya.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1. 2025 (Co-Principle Investigator – Food Systems): Application of Multilingual AI in Food Systems in Combating Post Harvest Losses
2. 2024 (Lead Researcher - Food Systems): Compilation of Reports concerning different aspects of Food Systems in Kenya and Africa.
3. 2024 (Lead Researcher - Food Systems): Gender equity in climate change participation to ensure agro ecological-based vegetable production in Eastern Africa
4. 2024 (Lead Researcher): Improving education for a changing climate in Kenya (Isiolo) and Ethiopia
5. 2023 (Lead Researcher): Climate literacy and gender mainstreaming survey in Isiolo County
6. 2022 (Researcher): Climate U- Transforming universities for a changing climate
7. 2019-2021 (Fieldwork Coordination): Green Infrastructure in Nairobi Project.
8. 2017- 2020 (Lead Researcher): Leading Integrated Research for Agenda 2030 Project.
9. 2017-2019 (Lead Researcher): Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Energy in Communities Project.
10. 2016 (Fieldwork Coordination): Hungry Cities Partnership Project- shortening food chains
11. 2015 (Fieldwork Coordination): Food Planning and Innovation for Sustainable Metropolitan Regions Project.
12. 2014-2015 (Fieldwork Coordination): Urban Governance, Informality and Identity in Nairobi and Dar-es-salaam Project.
13. 2011 (Fieldwork Coordination): Sustainable Livelihoods in Arid and Semi Arid Lands Project.
RESEARCH GRANT & RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
1. 2025: Application of multi lingual AI in food systems.
2. 2024:Gender equity in climate change participation to ensure agro ecological-based vegetable production in Eastern Africa - Grant by CLOC Eastern Africa
3. 2024: Improving education for a changing climate in Kenya (Isiolo) and Ethiopia - Multi- country collaboration grant by CLOC Eastern Africa
4. 2023: Climate literacy and gender mainstreaming survey in Isiolo County – Seed grant by CLOC Eastern Africa
5. 2019: AAUN Early Career Research Grant for Urban Green Infrastructure Research Project.
6. 2018: International Science Council/Network of African Science Academies funding for Leading Integrated Research for Agenda 2030 in Africa (LIRA 2030).
7. 2015: IFRA-Nairobi/French Ministry of Foreign Affairs funding for Urban Governance, Informality and Identity Research Project.
8. 2009: IFRA-Nairobi funding for MA Research Project.
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
2023: Wys Academy-Re-greening Laikipia through semi-circular bunds.
2019: Developing a Compendium of Research and Evidence in the context of IGAD Program Priorities/Intervention Areas
2019-2020: Increasing resilience to climate change through promoting innovation, transfer and large-scale deployment of adaptation-oriented technologies in priority agro-value chains and creating jobs
2013: Development of Narok County Spatial Plan
2013: Development of Konza Techno-City Spatial Plan
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2019- Date: Lecturer, Department of Geography, Kisii University Kenya
2017-2019: Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Johannesburg & Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
2014-2016: Part-time Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi.
2012-2014: Part-time Lecturer, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Technical University of Kenya.
2010-2012: Project Manager, Nurisha Trust, Nairobi.
2007-2009: Project Assistant, Cooperazione Internazionale, Nairobi.
SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS (With Year of Completion)
1. (2023) Magdalene Magangi (Kisii University) “Effectiveness of female genital cutting interventions on the psycho-social wellbeing of the girl child in Marani Sub- County, Kisii County, Kenya.” Co-supervisors: Dr. Peter Gutwa and Dr. George Aberi
2. (2019) Samson O. Onsabwa (University of Nairobi C50/86474/16): “An assessment of the housing and environmental conditions of Bondeni Estate in Nakuru Town, Kenya”. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
3. (2018) Ronald Birungi (University of Nairobi I56/83566/15): “An assessment of access to household water supply in Kisenyi informal settlement in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda”. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
4. (2017) Daniel D.G. Chol (University of Nairobi C50/81809/15): “The impact of urbanization on the livelihood of Bor community in Bor County of Jonglei State, South Sudan”. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
5. (2016) Purity N. Wanjohi (University of Nairobi C50/69954/13): “An assessment of attitude and behaviour towards littering among citizens of Nairobi City”. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
6. Adhiambo Olivia (C50/71413/14): Opportunities and challenges for addressing water insecurity in urban areas: A case study of Madaraka Estate, Nairobi County, Kenya. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
7. Esperanza Karaho (C50/71228/14): Improving accessibility to water and sanitation services in informal settlements: Case study of Kihoto in Naivasha Sub-County. Co-supervisor: Prof. Samuel Owuor.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION
· ESDA Next Generation of Researchers Program.
· Member, Association of French Alumni in Kenya (AFRAKEN).
· Member, Africa European Group of Interdisciplinary Studies (AEGIS).
· Member, RC21.
· Associate Researcher, Les Afrique dans le Monde (LAM).
· Associate Member, Institute of the Management of Information Systems (AIMIS).
· Board Member, International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO Kenya).
· Board Member, Lake Victoria Basin Development Authority.
· Paza Mentor, Akili Dada.
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Books
Walubwa, J.A. (2012), Slum Upgrading in Kenya. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9783659209529
Kojoue, L., Thiongane, O., Badji, A., Walubwa, J.A. & Nkume-Okorie, N. (eds) (2017), Tu Seras Docteur.e Mon Enfant! Expériences et Postures de Recherche des Thésards Africains. Paris: L’Harmattan.
https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=58274
Book Chapters
Walubwa, J.A. (2016), My Water, My Choice! The Role of Citizens in Ensuring Equitable Access to Water in Soweto East Village, Nairobi. In Silva, C.N. (ed) Governing Urban Africa. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.349-369.
K Buyana, JA Walubwa, P Mukwaya, H Sseviiri, D Byarugaba,(2022), Global Norms, African Contexts: A Framework for Localizing SDGs in Cities. Localizing the SDGs in African Cities, 31-45
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-95979-1_3
Journal Articles
Walubwa, J.A. (2018), The Role of Women in Generating Data for Environmental Sustainability Discourse - A Water Governance Approach. Gender & Behaviour 16 (2):11638-11648.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gab/article/view/180834
Walubwa, J.A. (2019), Rendering Local Commons Sustainable: An Informal Water and Sanitation Context. Journal of Gender Information and Development in Africa, Special Issue March 2019:105-119.
https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1564db7f7e
Buyana, K., Walubwa, J., Mukwaya, P., Lwasa, S. & Owuor, S. (2020), Power in Co-production: Experiences from Cities in Africa. Urban Transformations (Ref: URBT-D-19-00014).
Buyana, K., Lwasa, S., Tugume, D., Mukwaya, P., Walubwa, J., Owuor, S., Kasaija, P., Sseviiri, H., Nsangi, G. & Byarugaba, D. (2021), Pathways for Resilience to Climate Change in African Cities. Environmental Research Letters.
https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-131eb4fa94
Buyana, K., Walubwa, J., Mukwaya, P. et al. (2021), City Residents, Scientists and Policy-makers: Power in Co-producing Knowledge. Urban Transformations 3, 1 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-021-00020-6
B Kareem, A McClure, J Walubwa, K Koranteng, PI Mukwaya, A Taylor (2022), Power dynamics in transdisciplinary research for sustainable urban transitions. Environmental Science & Policy 131, 135-142
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.001
Buyana, K., Walubwa, J., Mukwaya, P., Sseviiri, H., Byarugaba, D., & Nsangi Nakyagaba, G. (2025). The role of visual ethnography in co-producing climate information services in cities. Global Social Challenges Journal (published online ahead of print 2025). https://doi.org/10.1332/27523349Y2025D000000041
SOFT SKILLS TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS
2022: Data Science
2019: Qualitative Research Methods Visualization
2019: Annual Research Forum for Grantees LIRA 2030
2018: Scientific Communication
2018: Advanced Methods in ATLAS
2018: Writing for Publication
2017: Becoming a Digital Scholar