Prof. John Mburu is an Agricultural Resource Economist who holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Goettingen, Germany (2002). He is well versed with theory and practice of project analysis as well application of concepts such as Cost-benefit analysis; Incentives for conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, Irrigation, Market chain analysis, Climate change, Cross border trade, Microfinance, Poverty and Horticulture commodity value chain analysis. He has extensive experience in conducting baseline and follow-up surveys on livestock, conservation of forests, wildlife, traditional crop varieties, livestock breeds and other forms of biodiversity.

He is currently a Professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Over the years, Prof. Mburu has gained expertise in applying the concepts of New Institutional Economics (NIE) and Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) in applied research on smallholder agriculture commercialization and rural development. He has also worked extensively in dairy and horticulture value chains, focusing on commercialization and mapping as well as in institutional analysis of the sector in Kenya. He has extensively studied collective action through cooperatives and farmers groups and contract farming as one of the innovative ways that allows smallholder farmers to access markets.

Prof. X N Iraki is an associate professor at the University of Nairobi Faculty of Business & Management Sciences . He previously taught at Kentucky State University In USA . In addition he is a columnist with Kenya’s oldest newspaper , The Standard. His teaching and research interests includes research methods ,Data Science, Business economics , Innovations , Technology management and Sinology. He also previously worked parttime as a researcher with the government of Kenya’s think tank, national economic and social council( NESC). He has consulted widely for both local and global organizations He holds a PhD( Jackson, USA), MBA (University of Nairobi), MEd & BEd( Kenyatta University ) and a certificate in global journalism from Munk School, University of Toronto– Canada. Beyond academia, Iraki is an ardent golfer, a mountain climber and space science enthusiast.

Mercy is a sustainable agricultural development expert with over 10 years of experience in agricultural development. She has worked with diverse agri-based enterprises and farming communities. She has undertaken various assignments with different organizations in Kenya and beyond working on various agricultural aspects. Her research interest is in; projects impact assessment, sustainable agriculture and value chains and, climate change and climate-smart agriculture practices. She has a Master’s Degree in Environment (Community Development) and is currently pursuing her PhD in Agriculture and Applied Economics at the University of Nairobi.