Dr Joy Kiiru, Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi, is a distinguished development economist, researcher, and educator with extensive global expertise in shaping policy at the intersection of economic development, innovation, and food security. She currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Department of Economics, where she leads advanced academic research and trains the next generation of economists.
A recognised voice in strategic policy frameworks across Africa, Dr Kiiru is a member of the Advisory Group for the Jameel Observatory, a Working Group Member of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) and a Foreign Member of the Luxembourg Academy of Sciences and Arts (LASA). Throughout her career, she has been a trusted advisor to leading international development organisations and government agencies. Her previous high-level appointments include serving as the Research and Innovation Technical Advisor for the FCDO-funded Supporting Research and Innovation in Africa (SRIA) project, Policy and Research Advisor for the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and Senior Women’s Economic Empowerment Advisor for the Gates Foundation. Dr Kiiru has researched and published widely on core issues within development economics, focusing on scalable, evidence-based interventions to address systemic vulnerabilities. She holds a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany.