Strategic Pillars - NRAP
Nationally owned education research agenda that aligns research to Kenya’s priorities.
The National Education Research Agenda (NERA) is a countrywide, co-created framework that defines Kenya’s priority areas for education research. It ensures that research is relevant, aligned with national needs, widely adopted, and used to improve policy, planning, budgeting, and practice. By 2028, at least 50% of all education research in Kenya will be aligned with NERA.
Nationally owned education research agenda that aligns research to Kenya’s priorities.
Strengthen relevance and impact of education research.
Align university research ecosystems to national priorities.
Provide a shared reference point for researchers, funders, policymakers, and universities.
Ensure national ownership and participatory agenda setting.
Key pillars of NRAP
Development, Validation, and Adoption
Led jointly by CUE and APHRC, NERA is developed through a consultative, multi-stakeholder process involving: Universities (public & private) Teachers Private sector National and regional education bodies Government ministries and agencies The draft agenda undergoes expert reviews, technical consultations, and national validation forums before being formally adopted by government.
Awareness and Dissemination Strategy
A nationwide dissemination effort will ensure all institutions understand and use NERA. This includes: User-friendly materials (policy briefs, summaries, infographics) National forums, webinars, and sensitization sessions Integration with research funding and ethics review (NRF, NACOSTI) Promotion across digital platforms and academic networks.
Integration into University Ecosystems
Universities will align internal systems to NERA through: Policy reform and institutional alignment Curriculum integration (especially postgraduate training) Improved proposal development guidance Analytical units to support methodology and grant writing Incentives for departments aligning research with national priorities.
National Monitoring, Accountability, and Reporting System
A centralized digital platform will: Track all education research in Kenya Monitor alignment with NERA Capture proposals, progress reports, and final outputs Generate annual national research analytics Support continuous learning and agenda updates The platform is hosted and coordinated by NACOSTI or HERI-Africa.
Continuous Learning and Annual Review
Biannual agenda reviews. Annual forums to share insights and emerging evidence. Adjustments made based on new national priorities.