Just and sustainable urban and energy transitions in Kenya

Across the Global South, and particularly in many African cities, rapid urbanization, population growth and changing consumption patterns have intensified the strain on waste management systems. Inadequate infrastructure, limited institutional capacity and growing informal settlements have made it difficult to keep pace with rising volumes of urban waste, resulting in environmental pollution, public health concerns and increased vulnerability among low-income communities. Nairobi generates approximately 2,400 tons of waste daily, yet only 38% is collected and less than 10% recycled. The rest is either informally reused, dumped illegally, or ends up in rivers, roadsides, and open spaces—particularly within informal settlements. These areas often lack access to formal waste management services, leaving residents to rely on under-resourced informal systems, revealing systemic governance failures, livelihood vulnerabilities of informal waste work, creation of pollution hotspots and other challenges.,   

This lab invites students to assess the current state of solid and liquid waste systems as well as how waste management practices affect the safety, accessibility, or use of public space. The theme will involve mapping waste ecosystems, engaging with stakeholders and analysing policy and regulatory gaps. Students will be encouraged to propose practical and policy-driven recommendations and develop models for community-centred and inclusive waste management. 

Ideal candidates are those with backgrounds in environmental studies, urban planning, public policy, public health or related fields and who are passionate about creating equitable and sustainable urban environments.

Theme 2: Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Technologies  

Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy remains a significant challenge in many low-income urban areas. Households in informal settlements of Nairobi largely depend on traditional fuels such as charcoal, firewood and kerosene- that are not only inefficient and costly but also detrimental to human health, air quality and the environment. Charcoal production and consumption have far-reaching impacts on deforestation, carbon emissions and public health. 

The lab offers students the opportunity to investigate key aspects of the clean energy transition, including household energy access, barriers to adopting clean cooking solutions, energy stacking practices, and the viability of alternative energy sources such as biogas, briquettes, and solar-powered systems. Students could also explore energy planning and modelling, health perceptions in relation to traditional fuels and air pollution generally, innovative community-based energy provision models, gender and social inclusion (GESI) dimensions of energy access and use, and policy gaps that hinder wider adoption of sustainable energy solutions. 

Through field-based assessments, stakeholder engagement and policy analysis, students will generate evidence to inform practical and policy-oriented solutions for inclusive energy access and low-carbon development in urban and peri-urban settings. 

This research opportunity is ideal for students with backgrounds in energy policy, environmental studies, urban development, public health or climate change and related fields.