Dr. William Nyabola Okedi, Ph.D.

Deans School of Science technology and engineering, Department of Public Health, Nutrition and Behavioral Sciences

Senior public health policy expert with over 30 years of progressive experience in health development, policy formulation, and research across sub-Saharan Africa. Proven leadership in health systems strengthening, institutional development, operations research, and donor-funded program management. A recognized academic and development leader with a strong record in team building, capacity development, strategic partnerships, and evidenced-based policymaking. Notable experience with international organizations, grant-making institutions, and national governance bodies.

Key Expertise: Health policy and planning, program design and management, institutional governance, operations research, donor reporting and evaluation, reproductive health, health promotion, rural health development, ethics and research governance, curriculum development, community health systems, digital health education.

• Ph.D. in Public Health Policy – London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK (2006–2010)
  Thesis: Challenges of Delivering Services to Vulnerable Groups in a Decentralized System: A Case Study of the HIV and AIDS Fund in Kenya
  Funded by WHRAC Grant (£100,000)
• Masters in Development Studies (MDS) – University of the Free State, South Africa (2000–2001)
  Dissertation: Developing Leadership for the Implementation and Management of PHC in Kwahmlanga District
  Awards: People’s Bank Award – Best Dissertation and Academic Performance
• Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion – University of Glasgow, UK (1992–1993)
  Dissertation: Community Participation in Health Development: Gitie Community, Meru District
  Scholarship: SIDA (£25,000)
• Diploma in Public Health Education – University of Nairobi, Kenya (1985–1986)
  Best Dissertation and Academic Student
• Diploma in Environmental Health Science – University of Nairobi, Kenya (1977–1980)

William’s areas of research interest include public health policy implementation; baseline studies and donor  programme evaluations; Health Systems; Primary Health Care; Universal Health coverage; Health Promotion and Environmental health (disease prevention, control and surveillance; water and sanitation as well strengthening research ethics. William is the Pioneer Chairman of the Alupe University Scientific Ethics review Committee, having initiated the process in 2019.

Main Research Project, 2006 -2010

This programme focused on the performance of three HIV/AIDS donor programmes- the US Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund), and the World Bank’s Multi-Country AIDS Programme (MAP). Led by the Global Programme Director, Dr. Nandini and Supported by Africa Research director, Dr. Okedi, the research project examined key issues in the design, delivery and management of these donor programmes, and provided timely analyses to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the donor initiatives.

The programme covered Mozambique, Zambia and Uganda. The main outcomes of this research programme are:-

1. Influenced PEPFAR and Other Donor policies and practices for example; PEPFAR Shifted its strategies and emphasized transition to country ownership and strengthening health systems; the world bank’s agenda shifted to building the financial capacity of recipient country governments while the Global Fund changed its reporting requirements from 3 months to 6 months.
2. Increased PEPFAR’S transparency and release of data to the country governments
3. Informed Congressional Oversight of PEPFAR’s bilateral and Multilateral Global AIDS Funding
4. Increased the visibility of AIDS funding and Global Health as a key aid effectiveness issue at global and country levels.

The Project was part funded by the following:

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• The International Research Centre of Canada
• The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
• The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and
• The Rockefeller Foundation

Collaborators in the research Project included the lead researchers from the Centre for Global Development in Washington; the Africa research team from Zambia, Mozambique and Uganda under my leadership; the governments of the three participating governments from Africa; the Heads and staff of PEPFAR; World Bank and the Global Fund both in Africa and their respective headquarters.

1. BOOKS

• Okedi WN, 2022. Decentralization of Health Services in Kenya, Issues, Challenges and Constraints to Policy Implementation, Lambert Academic Publishers, Koln, Germany 2022.

2. Book Chapter (Chapter 15)

• Okedi WN, Adung’o F. 2022. Roles, Functions and Challenges of Hospital Management Committees in Busia County, Kenya.

3. Peer Reviewed Journals (2021/2022 )

• Okedi W.N., June 2022. Does Decentralisation Deliver Services to Vulnerable Groups in Kenya? A case study of Busia and Kakamega Counties in Kenya. Internal Journal of Health Policy and Planning, Volume 1, Issue 1, 01-17, June 22, 2022.
• Okedi W, Wakoli C and Emojong I, 2022. The Impact and Sustainability of Hand –Hygiene Practices on Health Facilities in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol.12, Issue3, July-September, 2022.
• Ogombo CM, Okedi W.N., Influence of Community Exposure to Tinea Corporis on knowledge and prevention practices in Teso South Sub-County, Kenya. International Journal of Medical and Public Health Research, Vol1, Issue 1, January – February 2022.
• Okedi W.N, and Adung’o F. 2021. Effectiveness of Hospital Management Committees in Busia County, Kenya. Journal of Health, Volume 13, 1129-1144.

Conferences

1. Joint Annual Research Ethics conference on “Strengthening Research Ethics in the Global South” jointly organized by Day-Star University and NACOSTI, 28^th-30^th September 2022, Participant
2. African Union conference of ministers of Drug Control (CAMDC5), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 8-12^th October 2012
3. Global Conference on Health Promotion, Nairobi, Kenya, 26-30 June 2009

4. Synergos Senior Fellows Africa conference, 31^st July -2^nd August 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa.

5. The International Conference on Health Promotion, 7-11 August 2005,

   Bangkok-Thailand.

6. Bellagio Conference on HIV/AIDS Monitor Research Programme, February 3-7^th, Bellagio, Italy, 2008

• SBE 101
• NSB 412

N/A

• Email: wokedi@au.ac.ke
• Telephone number(s) 0718722000