Prof. Edward N Kairu, Executive Director
Profile
Prof. Edward Kairu is the Executive Director of Maji na Ufanisi (Water and Development), one of the best known Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (WES) NGOs in Kenya and also the Chair of ANEW - African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation. Maji na Ufanisi implements Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) projects in Urban informal settlements (slums) and Small Towns/Rural Areas of Kenya.
Kairu holds a PhD in Climatology from McGill University ( Canada); MSc in Hydro Climatology and BSc (Physics, Mathematics and Geography) from the University of Nairobi.
Prof. Kairu has over 20 years experience in development work mainly in African countries. Before his current position, Kairu worked for the UNDP/ UNOPS as the Chief Technical Adviser, attached to the Lesotho Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture. He has also worked as an adviser to the UNDP/ Global Environment Fund within the Asia – Pacific region and as a Consultant for UNDP Liberia, and UNICEF Kenya. Kairu has also worked as a Senior Consultant for ETC East Africa, a Dutch Consulting company which consults for many bilateral and multilateral donors in Africa. Finally, Kairu has taught at various Kenyan universities, for over 10 years. He was the head of the Department of Geography – Kenyatta University for 5 years.
Memberships
- Chair – African CSO Network on Water and Sanitation
- Director – WASRAG – Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (part of Rotary International) based in Michigan, USA.
- Adviser – Freshwater Action Network – based in Water Aid UK
- Adviser – RiPPLE – Research inspired Policy and Practice Learning – DfID ( Ethiopia and Nile regions)
- Adviser – WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Scientific Advisory Committee, Geneva
- Adviser – International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden
- Adviser – Google Inform and Empower Project, USA
- Faculty member – University of Cambridge (UK) – Prince of Wale’s Business and Environment Programme, Cambridge
- Water and Sanitation Consultant – World Bank
- Committee Member – CSO Representative - Africa Working Group – A committee of the European Union Water Initiative, London
- Rotarian - Nairobi Rotary Club
Specialization
- Environmental management
- Rural and urban development
- Climatology and hydrology
- Remote sensing
Education
- O and A levels – Alliance High School
- B Sc – University of Nairobi
- M Sc – University of Nairobi
- Ph D – McGill University, Montreal ( Canada)
Professional Training
Kairu has attended numerous professional courses in environment, development, climatology and remote sensing
Country Experience
Kenya , Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Lesotho, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, and USA.
Languages
- English,
- Swahili,
- French and
- Kikuyu
Click here to download Prof. Kairu's CV