We help our clients understand human behaviors and design solutions to scale products, programs and policies.
Joined April 2015
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Jun 12
Recently, Gideon Too, Salim Kombo, Brenda Ogutu, and Michael Onsando had the privilege of paying a courtesy visit to the Kenyan delegation at the Embassy of Kenya in Rabat, Morocco, alongside our colleagues from the @MawazoInstitute during the @onthinktanks conference 2026 .
We had deeply inspiring conversations about the immense potential Kenya holds and how cross-border learnings can drive tangible progress.
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Jun 12
During our session, we explored how behavioral science can support the government in adopting impactful solutions inspired by what works well in Morocco. A great example discussed was the "Twin City" program, which pairs Kenyan and Moroccan cities to share ideas. While many cities identify brilliant concepts to borrow, implementation often stalls.
That’s exactly where behavioral science comes in, helping us understand why this intention-action gap exists and designing interventions to close it.
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Jun 12
We also talked about how best research institutions like Busara can better engage with policymakers, particularly at the national level, and the crucial role that international diplomacy plays in today’s interconnected world.
We look forward to keeping the conversation going, sharing invitations to relevant events and exploring how practitioners, the private sector, and the public sector can collaborate to create real benefits for the people.
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Jun 4
Recently, STRI4Society Week 2026 spotlighted how Kenya is actively reshaping its innovation ecosystem by bringing science, technology, research, and policy into a shared working space.
Convened by the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, the week brought together researchers, innovators, policymakers, industry leaders, students, and communities to push one shared agenda: turn research into real world impact that improves lives and strengthens national development outcomes.
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Jun 4
A key highlight for us at Busara was the invitation by NACOSTI to contribute to a breakout session themed “Strengthening Research and Policy Linkage in Kenya’s Research Ecosystem.” where we were represented by Nimo Muthike, Associate Vice President Research and Advisory.
The discussion focused on a persistent challenge in many systems, how to ensure evidence does not stay in reports but instead informs decisions, shapes policy choices, and supports measurable change.
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Jun 4
The conversations throughout the week pointed to a practical direction: improving how research flows into decision making, and how policy needs can better inform research priorities. This exchange remains central to how innovation ecosystems mature and deliver value at scale.
Special acknowledgement goes to the Busara team: Quinta Otieno, Zach Mills, Gladys Muange, Antony Mutunga, Mercy Kiptai, Joel Mumo and Harriet Muutu
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Busara retweeted
The young people are tired of the old status quo of being seen and not heard...
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Busara retweeted
While getting into these engagements, we should ideally have an exit strategy in mind at the very start @GitunduR92454
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Busara retweeted
Development aid should be a complement to our work, not total reliance!
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Busara retweeted
Apr 30
effects of over reliance on foreign aid
Apr 29
In case anyone isn’t aware, Trump is demanding Zambia to hand over its mineral rights by end of day tomorrow or the U.S. gov’t will cut off the country’s access to the AIDS medications that are literally keeping its citizens alive.
Just thought y’all should know.
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Apr 30
Happening Now!! The Work Is Not Done - Reimagining development pathways for the global majority. Our speakers for the x-space will be:-
✅Monica Kay a Project Associate in the Social Cohesion portfolio
✅Muia E. Mutua Programs Lead- Leadership and Governance, Africa Youth Leadership Forum (AYLF)
✅Rachel Gitundu, a PhD researcher at Wageningen University
✅Dr. Dismas Ouma leads critical work improving health outcomes for adolescent girls and key populations in Kenya.
✅Entesh Melaisho, Fundraising and Futures thinking, Twaweza East Africa
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Apr 28
Most advocacy campaigns don't fail because the cause is wrong — they fail because the message never landed with the people it was meant to reach.
A message that feels clear to the team that wrote it can land very differently with its target audience. Words that feel urgent in a boardroom can feel distant in a community. A call to action that seems obvious to a communications officer can leave a first-time voter confused.
This is what message testing exists to solve.
We work with civil society organizations to build the habit of testing before scaling. Our Low-Cost Message Testing (LCMT) toolkit gives practitioners a practical way to gather real audience feedback — before money is spent on a full campaign rollout.
The latest edition of the LCMT Newsletter is now out. It walks through how to use Focus Group Discussions as a low-cost testing method, with a step-by-step look at what to ask, how to run the session, and what to do with the feedback.
Subscribe to the LCMT newsletter.
Link: eepurl.com/jmB-5Q
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Apr 28
On April 30th, 4PM EAT, Busara is hosting an X-Space with a group of practitioners and experts speaking on The Work Is Not Done — Reimagining development pathways for the global majority.
Our speakers for the x-space will be the following:
✅ Monica Akinyi Kay - Project Associate in the Social Cohesion portfolio, Busara
✅ Emmanuel Muia Mutua - Programs Lead: Leadership and Governance, AYLF Kenya (Africa Youth Leadership Forum )
✅ Gitundu Rachel, a PhD researcher at Wageningen University & Research
✅ Dr. Dismas Ouma leads critical work improving health outcomes for adolescent girls and key populations in Kenya.
✅ Entesh Melaisho, Fundraising and Futures thinking, Twaweza East Africa
This is a conversation where implementation meets policy, where research meets reality, and where the future of development is discussed by people actively shaping it.
X-space link in the tweet below 👇
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Apr 28
Join the X-space on April 30, 4PM EAT, on the link below:
x.com/i/spaces/1OxwblgLodbJB…
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Busara retweeted
The future of Africa's Development seemed to have come dead end, but look, we gotta brace ourselves and seek alternative resourcing for our development programs.
Talk of community centred ownership... sustainable frameworks... Synergy, collaboration.. that's what we need.
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Apr 27
In 2025, sweeping funding disruptions triggered by the restructuring of USAID, alongside reductions from governments like the UK Government and the Government of the Netherlands, didn’t just shift budgets. They disrupted entire systems that millions depend on.
Across countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and beyond, the immediate consequences were not abstract. Health programmes stalled. Community-based organisations lost operational stability. Long-standing interventions in areas like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and drug distribution faced sudden uncertainty.
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Apr 27
But here’s the strategic inflection point: this moment is no longer just about disruption. It is about redefining control.
For decades, development has been shaped by external priorities, external funding cycles, and external definitions of success. What 2025 exposed is the cost of that dependence — and the urgency of building systems that are resilient, locally owned, and designed to withstand political shifts beyond their borders.
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Apr 27
On April 30th, Busara convenes The Work is Not Done, an X Space that brings together practitioners, researchers, and institutions across the Global Majority to interrogate what this disruption really means and where the next phase of development is headed.
Set your reminder. Join the conversation.
x.com/i/spaces/1OxwblgLodbJB…
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