University of Nairobi | Institute of Development Studies
Source: http://ids.uonbi.ac.ke
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
University of Nairobi | Institute of Development Studies
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University of Nairobi
IDS | University of Nairobi Overview
Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, is the oldest out of 20 such institutes in the world. It is the premier multi-disciplinary and a multi-purpose development research institute in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Discover more
Teaching focus on Development Studies
Our teaching and research focus is on development studies at the Masters and PhD Levels. The IDS MA in Development Studies covers broad issues of development theory, research and practice.
Discover more
The Institute has been influential in development policy thinking in Kenya and the African region by providing research support to the government, the private sector and civil society as well as international development partners. Research findings by scholars at the IDS influence policy-thinking and anchor decision- making in Kenya. For example, IDS pioneered the concept of SMEs in Kenya through its Jua Kali research and policy articulation in the 1980s. IDS also produced the Kenya National Human Development Report for three consecutive years (2002, 2003, and 2004).
QuETT Masire
| Former Botswana President
Research |
IDS research, teaching and training priorities are framed into four broad themes
Economy, International Processes and Development
Read More
Climate Change, Natural Resources Environment Management Development
Read More
Governance and Political Economy of Development
Read More
Inclusive Development: Economic and Social Dimensions
Read More
Notable
Researchers
|
IDS Renowned Researchers
The Institute has been home to several Nobel Laureates and world-renowned scholars. These include James Tobin, winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (1981); Joseph Stiglitz, Winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (2000); Michael Todaro, the development economist who authored the Todaro Migration Model; James Coleman, a world-renowned sociologist; Bethwell Ogot, a world renowed historian and co-founder of IDS; and Charles Okidi, the first African recipient of the Elizabeth Haub Prize in Environmental law (1984), the highest Global award in environmental law. Many other international scholars started and built their academic careers at the IDS.
View All IDS Research Projects
Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz
Winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (2000). He was a Senior Research Fellow, Social Science Division, Institute for Development Studies, University College, Nairobi (under Rockefeller Foundation Grant), 1969-1971.
Prof. Bethwell Ogot
A world-renowned historian and co-founder of IDS. An author, historian, and scholar, Prof.Ogot is one of Africa's pre-eminent scholars. He specialises in African history, research methods, and theory.
Events |
Upcoming
Workshops, Seminars and other Events
23
April
IDS Seminar on Planned Urbanization and Rural Settlement Policy Implementation in Post-Genocide Rwanda
-
IDS-UoN and Uli Africa are pleased to invite you to a webinar on Planned Urbanization and Rural Settlement Policy Implementation in Post-Genocide Rwanda.
Join us in this engaging discussion featuring Peter M. Ngau (Speaker), Winnie Mitullah (Moderator), and Patrick Silili Adolwa (Discussant).
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Latest
News & Activities
|
News & Announcements
Transformative African Leadership
Applications are now open for the Transformative African Leadership (TAL) programme
IDS trains Research Assistants for national Child Online Protection Survey
IDS and the Communications Authority of Kenya hold validation workshop for Consumer Behaviour and Trends Survey done last year
IDS holds 2-day Master of Global Challenges Programme Session
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Delegation.
IDS partners with NAPTA to deliver the Kenya National Public Transport Summit 2025 themed "Public Transport Reimagined: Derisking, Greening and Dignifying Mobility in Kenya"
Research Assistants trained on how to conduct key study on Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation in Different Livelihood Contexts in Kenya
Examining Black African Diasporic Wellbeing in a Cross-Cultural Context: The case of Australia
🌍 Master of Global Challenges – Applications Now Open! (Formerly Advanced Master in International Development – AMID)
Generalizing democracy: a horizon for reimagining economic models for a substantive democracy in Africa.
Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World
“Social Protection in an Era of Converging Crises
African Urban Lab session at the University of Nairobi
IDS' CAMA Project launches Nairobi Cycling Manual
IDS and Global Development Institute, University of Manchester hold partnership talks
IDS and African Urban Lab researchers hold a strategic partnership meeting
Afrobarometer trains Research Assistants in Comoros ahead of Round 10 Survey
Afrobarometer trains Research Assistants in Seychelles ahead of Round 10 Survey
The Contribution(s) of the Non-Profit Sector to African Economies: A focus on the Creation of Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young People in Kenya.
IDS and ULI Africa host seminar themed “Each Other’s Keeper: Where is the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)?”
SACCOs in Kenya: Clientelism and Reciprocity
IDS gears up to celebrate 60 years of growth and impact in October
IDS gears up to celebrate 60 years of growth and impact in October
IDS participates in high-level donor roundtable meeting ahead of the East African Civil Society Summit in May 2025
Afrobarometer and IDS team holds a capacity-building workshop for Prospect Peace Institute Africa staff
IDS honored to take part in Kenya & the Netherlands Transforming Analysis into Action in Water, Peace, and Climate Security conference
IDS, ULI Africa seminar themed “Rating ourselves: What’s the future of Africa Credit Rating Agency?”
Master of Global Challenges – 2025 Cohort February Face-to-Face Training
AMID Young Professional Rebrands as ‘Masters of Global Challenges’ Program
Postgraduate Studies |
Enroll to IDS for a full time Masters and PhD Programme in Development Studies.
IDS teaching, training and research is
framed into the following thematic areas:
Governance and Political Economy of Development
Inclusive Development: Economic and Social Dimensions
Climate Change, Natural Resources Environment Management Development
Economy, International Processes and Development
160
+
Total no of Alumni
18
+
IDS Staff
2
Academic Programmes
Programmes
Graduate Support
How to Apply
Skip to main content
University of Nairobi
IDS | University of Nairobi Overview
Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, is the oldest out of 20 such institutes in the world. It is the premier multi-disciplinary and a multi-purpose development research institute in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Discover more
Teaching focus on Development Studies
Our teaching and research focus is on development studies at the Masters and PhD Levels. The IDS MA in Development Studies covers broad issues of development theory, research and practice.
Discover more
The Institute has been influential in development policy thinking in Kenya and the African region by providing research support to the government, the private sector and civil society as well as international development partners. Research findings by scholars at the IDS influence policy-thinking and anchor decision- making in Kenya. For example, IDS pioneered the concept of SMEs in Kenya through its Jua Kali research and policy articulation in the 1980s. IDS also produced the Kenya National Human Development Report for three consecutive years (2002, 2003, and 2004).
QuETT Masire
| Former Botswana President
Research |
IDS research, teaching and training priorities are framed into four broad themes
Economy, International Processes and Development
Read More
Climate Change, Natural Resources Environment Management Development
Read More
Governance and Political Economy of Development
Read More
Inclusive Development: Economic and Social Dimensions
Read More
Notable
Researchers
|
IDS Renowned Researchers
The Institute has been home to several Nobel Laureates and world-renowned scholars. These include James Tobin, winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (1981); Joseph Stiglitz, Winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (2000); Michael Todaro, the development economist who authored the Todaro Migration Model; James Coleman, a world-renowned sociologist; Bethwell Ogot, a world renowed historian and co-founder of IDS; and Charles Okidi, the first African recipient of the Elizabeth Haub Prize in Environmental law (1984), the highest Global award in environmental law. Many other international scholars started and built their academic careers at the IDS.
View All IDS Research Projects
Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz
Winner of Nobel Prize in Economics (2000). He was a Senior Research Fellow, Social Science Division, Institute for Development Studies, University College, Nairobi (under Rockefeller Foundation Grant), 1969-1971.
Prof. Bethwell Ogot
A world-renowned historian and co-founder of IDS. An author, historian, and scholar, Prof.Ogot is one of Africa's pre-eminent scholars. He specialises in African history, research methods, and theory.
Events |
Upcoming
Workshops, Seminars and other Events
23
April
IDS Seminar on Planned Urbanization and Rural Settlement Policy Implementation in Post-Genocide Rwanda
-
IDS-UoN and Uli Africa are pleased to invite you to a webinar on Planned Urbanization and Rural Settlement Policy Implementation in Post-Genocide Rwanda.
Join us in this engaging discussion featuring Peter M. Ngau (Speaker), Winnie Mitullah (Moderator), and Patrick Silili Adolwa (Discussant).
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Latest
News & Activities
|
News & Announcements
Transformative African Leadership
Applications are now open for the Transformative African Leadership (TAL) programme
IDS trains Research Assistants for national Child Online Protection Survey
IDS and the Communications Authority of Kenya hold validation workshop for Consumer Behaviour and Trends Survey done last year
IDS holds 2-day Master of Global Challenges Programme Session
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Delegation.
IDS partners with NAPTA to deliver the Kenya National Public Transport Summit 2025 themed "Public Transport Reimagined: Derisking, Greening and Dignifying Mobility in Kenya"
Research Assistants trained on how to conduct key study on Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation in Different Livelihood Contexts in Kenya
Examining Black African Diasporic Wellbeing in a Cross-Cultural Context: The case of Australia
🌍 Master of Global Challenges – Applications Now Open! (Formerly Advanced Master in International Development – AMID)
Generalizing democracy: a horizon for reimagining economic models for a substantive democracy in Africa.
Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World
“Social Protection in an Era of Converging Crises
African Urban Lab session at the University of Nairobi
IDS' CAMA Project launches Nairobi Cycling Manual
IDS and Global Development Institute, University of Manchester hold partnership talks
IDS and African Urban Lab researchers hold a strategic partnership meeting
Afrobarometer trains Research Assistants in Comoros ahead of Round 10 Survey
Afrobarometer trains Research Assistants in Seychelles ahead of Round 10 Survey
The Contribution(s) of the Non-Profit Sector to African Economies: A focus on the Creation of Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young People in Kenya.
IDS and ULI Africa host seminar themed “Each Other’s Keeper: Where is the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)?”
SACCOs in Kenya: Clientelism and Reciprocity
IDS gears up to celebrate 60 years of growth and impact in October
IDS gears up to celebrate 60 years of growth and impact in October
IDS participates in high-level donor roundtable meeting ahead of the East African Civil Society Summit in May 2025
Afrobarometer and IDS team holds a capacity-building workshop for Prospect Peace Institute Africa staff
IDS honored to take part in Kenya & the Netherlands Transforming Analysis into Action in Water, Peace, and Climate Security conference
IDS, ULI Africa seminar themed “Rating ourselves: What’s the future of Africa Credit Rating Agency?”
Master of Global Challenges – 2025 Cohort February Face-to-Face Training
AMID Young Professional Rebrands as ‘Masters of Global Challenges’ Program
Postgraduate Studies |
Enroll to IDS for a full time Masters and PhD Programme in Development Studies.
IDS teaching, training and research is
framed into the following thematic areas:
Governance and Political Economy of Development
Inclusive Development: Economic and Social Dimensions
Climate Change, Natural Resources Environment Management Development
Economy, International Processes and Development
160
+
Total no of Alumni
18
+
IDS Staff
2
Academic Programmes
Programmes
Graduate Support
How to Apply