African Conservation Centre Seeks to Partner With MMUST to Enhance Community-Based Climate Disaster Preparedness
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), through its School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), in collaboration with the African Conservation Centre (ACC), recently hosted a transformative workshop titled ‘Weather and Climate Extreme Events Preparedness Training.’ The workshop themed ‘Open Science Involving Local Communities,’ brought together scholars, students and community representatives who deliberated on mechanisms to enhance disaster preparedness. This four-day workshop which commenced on 27th to 30th May, 2025 aimed at boosting the University’s research and practical capacity in tackling climate-related disasters.
The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning, Research and Innovation)- Prof. Peter Bukhala speaks at the workshop.
The workshop was graced by the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning, Research and Innovation)- Prof. Bukhala underscored the significance of community-inclusive research, urging participants to co-design research initiatives that reflect the real needs of local communities. He lauded ACC for choosing MMUST as a research hub, noting that their interest was sparked by MMUST’s digital presence on its website and LinkedIn. “MMUST is among the leading Universities with many research grants and we have systems and policies that ensure proper management of resources,” he emphasized, giving assurance to the ACC team.
He further welcomed ACC’s interest in developing short courses tailored to community needs and offered full institutional support. He assured that MMUST, through its Community Service Learning program, is committed to upskilling communities and would issue certificates upon successful training completion.
The Dean of School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), Dr. Ferdinand Nabiswa makes his remarks at the event.
Speaking during the workshop, the Dean of School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), Dr. Ferdinand Nabiswa, expressed appreciation for the ACC collaboration, highlighting that MMUST is the only university in Africa offering a full ecosystem of Disaster Management programs from Certificate and Diploma to Degree, Master’s, and PhD levels. “This collaboration is timely as higher education shifts from basic to Competency-Based Education,” Dr. Nabiswa remarked. “Our programs are designed to respond to current global and local challenges, and we believe this partnership will deepen that impact,” he added.
The Chairperson of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management (DPEM), Dr. Veronica Kiluva addresses the participants.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management (DPEM), Dr. Veronica Kiluva, provided a historical overview of the SDMHA, tracing its evolution from a small research center to a globally recognized faculty. She emphasized the importance of participatory research and community-driven solutions in building resilience against climate extremes.
The ACC Co-Director, Dr. Victor Mose presenting at the workshop.
The ACC Co-Director, Dr. Victor Mose, explained why MMUST was a strategic choice for this collaboration. “MMUST has a solid foundation in Disaster Management and can tailor training to community needs. Our goal is to build a collaborative framework for training, joint research, and grant applications. Ultimately, we envision establishing a leading institution in One Health research related to disaster preparedness” he said.
The workshop marks a milestone in promoting open science and local community involvement in climate disaster preparedness. It sets the stage for a three-year partnership focused on strengthening community resilience and advancing research excellence in disaster management.
By Linet Owuor, Joy Agnes, and Malaba Elipha and
Photo Shiundu Masafu and Ronny Obuolo
