On Wednesday this week, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) welcomed a high-level delegation led by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Julius Migos Ogamba to its Duduville Campus in Nairobi.

This visit was not just a ceremonial stopover, but a powerful statement of Kenya’s commitment to harness science, research, and innovation as engines of development and societal transformation. The highlight of the visit was the scientific progress at icipe, and the next generation of scientists being nurtured through of Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET)- Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) initiative.

For more than five decades, icipe has stood as a beacon of scientific excellence in Africa, addressing the most pressing challenges in Africa and globally like climate risk, biodiversity loss, poverty and hunger and unemployment through insect-based science solutions. As the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of PASET Rsif icipe has supported African Union’s as well as Kenya’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy by investing in human capital development, scientific research and innovation.

CS Ogamba lauded icipe’s longstanding impact noting that, “We appreciate the high impact research that takes place at icipe and the output it produces. As Kenya we are proud in hosting icipe as international organisation for the last 55 years since it was founded by one of our pioneer prof Thomas Odhiambo.”

He added that icipe’s impact has been felt far and wide, touching lives and shaping policies across Africa.

CS Ogamba reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening its mutually beneficial relationship with icipe the only international centre in the tropics that is dedicated to insect science solutions and development.

He stated, “It is befitting that the excellent work that icipe is doing has been given recognition and in particular I wish to congratulate icipe for competitively being selected as the RCU for PASET-Rsif. I’m also grateful to icipe for excellently managing the PASET-Rsif Programme and also for your exemplary performance in research as you have aptly indicated.”

Highlighting the country’s leadership in the PASET, he recalled that “Kenya was among the first PASET countries to contribute the minimum of USD2 million to the PASET-Rsif in 2017 thereby setting an example of other countries to join PASET. Kenya also hosted the fourth PASET Forum in Nairobi in 2017 under the patronage of the then deputy president who is now the President of the Republic Kenya Dr William Samoei Ruto; and subsequently hosted the 6th PASET Forum in April 2024.

In response to high demand for scholarships, the Government of Kenya committed an additional USD 2 million in 2024 to further expand opportunities for PhD training. “Due to the high intake of the scholarship by Kenyans, the Government of Kenya committed an additional USD 2 million in 2024 to ensure continued support and improve the quality in higher education,” he stated.

The CS also emphasized that quality education and research is key to Kenya’s economic planning and development. “I acknowledge icipe’s tremendous contribution to our research capacity and scientific output in Kenya and within the region. Going forward is to ensure we link the outputs of research and human capital development to industry, policy and society. Policies should be informed by the 21st credible scientific evidence.”

“Industry and private sector should also appreciate the research outcomes and collaborations within universities and research institutions to ensure better skills and competitive workforce suitable for the 21st century demands. I am happy to note that the areas you support including energy and renewables, and other areas of artificial intelligence, the current /fourth industrial revolution we are in,” CS Ogamba pointed out adding that fostering academia industry partnerships benefit the society through relevant and demand driven skills and competencies.”

He concluded by reiterating the Government of Kenya’s commitment to support Rsif and icipe’s programmes.

The Director General icipe, Dr Abdou Tenkouano on his part underscored the centre’s role in addressing Africa’s grand challenges. “We are at the forefront of addressing the most pressing challenges in Africa and globally like climate risk, biodiversity loss, poverty and hunger and unemployment through insect-based science solutions.”

He emphasized that icipe’s mission aligns with Kenya’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) agenda, “Our work complements the government of Kenya’s effort to position science, technology, and innovation at the heart of development agenda. Indeed, icipe embraces the Kenya’s aspiration to become a knowledge-based economy which depends greatly in investment of human capital, skills and scientific research as well as strategic partnership that links the output from these investments with industry and society.”

On the PASET-Rsif programme, Dr Tenkouano  noted, “ A good example is PASET with its Rsif to which the government of Kenya is contributing $4million to training 41 PhD’s in the country and across Africa. icipe is privileged to be the regional coordination unit of PASET since 2018.”

Dr Tenkuoano highlighted that PASET Governing Council extended icipe’s mandate to manage Rsif for another 3 years beginning January 2026.

Acknowledging the government’s support, he said: “We are grateful for the trust that PASET and the government of Kenya have for icipe. We pledge our continued commitment to paset objectives of developing skills in advanced sciences, engineering, and technology for the social economic transformation of Africa.”

“Thank you and the Government of Kenya for your continued investment in PASET and icipe at large, which is one of the best example of pan-African science fund to which governments invest funds for doctoral training, research, and innovation in the continent. Following your leadership, several other African countries have contributed to Rsif including Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal.

He also called up on more African governments to invest more resources into PASET and to scientific research development generally especially in these times of fast eroding overseas development assistance adding that icipe’s mode of operation as one that is based on young talents from all over Africa and beyond pursuing the MSc or PhD degrees predominantly at Kenyan Universities.

Dr Tenkouano  also highlighted icipe’s unique contribution to science diplomacy: “As they get emersed in our research environment with a 96 per cent completion rate, they also get emersed in the rich diversity of cultures of Kenya and as they return to their countries for those who are not based in Kenya, they not only carry the degrees but also perhaps most importantly the hospitality of Kenya in their hearts and so they become Bonafide ambassadors of Kenya. This is why icipe prides itself in being part of the science development diplomacy of Kenya.”

During the meeting, PASET-Rsif scholar Joshua Cyprian William and alumni Dr Ivy Okello also had the opportunity to offer him first-hand insights into how strategic investments in higher education are cultivating the next generation of African researchers and innovators.

The visit closed on a forward-looking note with both the Cabinet Secretary and icipe Director General underscoring that science, research, and innovation must remain at the heart of Africa’s transformation. Their shared message was clear: investments in human capital and research are not optional, but essential, if the continent is to compete and thrive in the 21st century.