Dr. Victor Mwakha

Email: vmwakha@kmfri.go.ke

Dr. Victor Mwakha Alati is a Senior Research Scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), with over 17 years of experience in Social Science research across the East African coastal region. He holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Roehampton (United Kingdom), an MSc in Ecological Marine Management from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), and a BSc in Applied Aquatic Sciences from Egerton University (Kenya).

Dr. Alati's research examines the complex relationships between coastal communities and the marine ecosystems they depend on. He specialises in small-scale fisheries governance, local ecological knowledge, gender and social inclusion, indigenous marine management systems, climate resilience, and participatory governance. He has extensive expertise in mixed-methods research, combining ethnography, household surveys, participatory approaches, and stakeholder engagement to generate evidence that informs policy and practice.

He has led and contributed to internationally funded research projects supported by organisations including the Swedish Research Council (VR FORMAS), Save Our Seas Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, WIOMSA, and Plan International. His research has been published in journals such as the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Marine Policy, and Ocean & Coastal Management.

Dr. Alati's work bridges scientific evidence, policy, and community knowledge to strengthen marine conservation, fisheries governance, and sustainable coastal resource management. He collaborates with universities, government agencies, and international organisations, including Uppsala University, WWF Kenya, Wildlife Research Training Institute, Kenya Wildlife Service and CORDIO East Africa. His recent work includes participating in the development of the Coral Reef and Seagrass Ecosystems Action Plan for Kenya, and leading Social Assessments for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA) of Mombasa and Kisite MPAs, and developing the regional Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Toolkit for the Western Indian Ocean. Through his research and advisory work, he promotes conservation approaches that are scientifically robust, socially equitable, and responsive to the needs of coastal communities.

• ▹ Develop research proposals and secure external funding
• ▹ Coordinate and manage donor-funded research programmes
• ▹ Design and oversee socio-economic and mixed-methods studies
• ▹ Analyse quantitative and qualitative research data
• ▹ Publish scientific papers, technical reports, and policy briefs
• ▹ Conduct social, governance, and stakeholder assessments
• ▹ Facilitate stakeholder engagement and multi-sectoral partnerships
• ▹ Support the development of marine conservation policies and management plans
• ▹ Serve on national technical committees and advisory task forces
• ▹ Build capacity through training, mentoring, and workshops
• ▹ Monitor and evaluate research projects and conservation interventions
• ▹ Promote the integration of local ecological knowledge and social inclusion in resource management

• ▹ Small-Scale Fisheries Governance and Coastal Livelihoods
• ▹ Marine Conservation and Protected Area Management
• ▹ Social Anthropology of Coastal and Marine Socio-Ecological Systems
• ▹ Local Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous Resource Governance
• ▹ Gender, Social Inclusion, and Community Resilience
• ▹ Environmental Governance, Sustainability, and Participatory Research

• ▹ PhD in Social Anthropology – University of Roehampton, United Kingdom (2023)
• ▹ MSc in Ecological Marine Management – Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), Belgium (2011)
• ▹ BSc in Applied Aquatic Sciences – Egerton University, Kenya (2007)

• ▹ Member – Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)
• ▹ Member – Anthropological Association of Kenya (AAKe)

• ▹ Task Force Member – Mombasa Marine Protected Area Management Plan Development (2026)
• ▹ Task Force Member – Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Protected Area Management Plan Development
• ▹ Co-opted Task Force Member – Coral Reef and Seagrass Ecosystems Conservation Strategy for Kenya (2013 to 2015)
• ▹ Technical – Development of the Regional Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Toolkit for the Western Indian Ocean, IUCN (2025 to 2026)
• ▹ Technical – Coral Reef and Seagrass Ecosystems Action Plan for Kenya, Fauna & Flora/Kenya Wildlife Service (2026)
• ▹ Technical – Impact Assessment of Marine Resource Conservation Initiatives, CORDIO East Africa (2025)
• ▹ Technical – Social Assessments for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA) for Kisite-Mpunguti and Mombasa Marine Protected Areas (2022, 2026)