Ms. Hellen Ngoa

Email: hngoa@kmfri.go.ke 

Hellen Moyoni Ngoa is a Research Scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), specializing in socio-economics within the fisheries and mariculture sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Development Studies from Mount Kenya University and is currently pursuing a Master of Development Studies to deepen her expertise in sustainable community development.

Her research focuses on promoting sustainable community development through the integration of indigenous knowledge into fisheries and mariculture management, with particular emphasis on food security, conservation, and climate change adaptation. She is actively engaged in assessing the adoption of new aquaculture technologies, evaluating restorative mariculture opportunities beyond seaweed, and analyzing group dynamics and conflict resolution within community-based enterprises along the Kenyan coast.

Hellen has built extensive collaborations with national and international organizations, including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), WorldFish, the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), GoBlue (UNEP), KESED Project, and KMSED. Her collaborative work spans scoping assessments for restorative aquaculture, mud crab farming suitability studies, gear exchange programs, climate change vulnerability assessments, and contributions to the Kenya Marine Spatial Planning framework.

She has received several accolades, including a grant from the French Research Institute in Africa (IFRA) for documenting indigenous knowledge on sustainable mariculture practices and the 2nd Runner-up award for her poster presentation at the ARBEC II conference. Hellen has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Marine Policy, Aquatica, and the Multidisciplinary Journal of Technical University of Mombasa. She has also participated in international trainings, including the Empowerment of Women for Rural Development in India and the Building Bridges Between Science, Policy and Society for Ocean Sustainability in South Africa. Her work continues to contribute to evidence-based policy and sustainable livelihoods in Kenya's coastal communities.

• ▹ Identifying research problems in collaboration with stakeholders
• ▹ Prioritizing research problems for implementation
• ▹ Developing research concepts and proposals
• ▹ Identifying and reviewing relevant literature materials
• ▹ Collecting data in the field
• ▹ Analyzing data using appropriate tools and software (SPSS, Stata, NVIVO)
• ▹ Writing technical reports including research notes, technical notes, conference posters, and dissemination flyers
• ▹ Organizing and implementing dissemination activities including Open Days and ASK shows
• ▹ Disseminating research findings in local fora such as seminars, workshops, and congresses
• ▹ Mentoring students on attachment, interns, and visitors including those from High Schools and Colleges
• ▹ Implementing relevant ISO standards in the department
• ▹ Compiling departmental quarterly and annual reports

• ▹ Sustainable Community Development: Applying community-driven approaches to enhance livelihoods, food security, and resilience in coastal fishing and farming communities.
• ▹ Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Documenting and integrating local and traditional knowledge into fisheries and mariculture management, conservation, and food security strategies.
• ▹ Mariculture Technology Adoption: Assessing the adoption and socio-economic impacts of new aquaculture technologies, including Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), among fish and seaweed farmers.
• ▹ Restorative Mariculture: Evaluating opportunities for restorative aquaculture activities beyond seaweed, including mud crab farming and other species, to promote ecosystem recovery and community benefits.
• ▹ Climate Change Adaptation: Investigating the implications of climate change on mariculture enterprises and assessing the vulnerability of fishing communities to inform adaptation strategies.
• ▹ Socio-Economic Data Management & Analysis: Collecting, managing, and analyzing socio-economic data using social science software (SPSS, Stata, NVIVO) to inform policy and decision-making in the fisheries sector.

• ▹ Masters Student: Currently pursuing a Master of Development Studies (Ongoing).
• ▹ Bachelor of Development Studies (BDS): Mount Kenya University (2014-2016).

• ▹ Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) – Member
• ▹ World Aquaculture Society – Member
• ▹ Women in Marine Science – Member