Jane Kabubo-Mariara

Prof. Jane Kabubo-Mariara, PhD. is the Executive Director (ED) of the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) and is responsible for institutional development, fundraising and long-term sustainability, and delivery of all of PEP’s commitments. Since taking on the role of ED in 2016, Jane has been instrumental in strengthening and diversifying both PEP’s engagement with donors and partner organisations worldwide, as well as PEP’s service offering. Under her leadership, PEP has developed and delivered a range of programs that foster best practices for evidence-informed policymaking—including strengthening the capacities of local researchers in cutting-edge, gender-aware policy analysis and policy engagement— resulting in increased research uptake. 

Prior to taking this position at PEP, Jane held several senior positions at the University of Nairobi, currently as a full professor of Economics, since 2014; and the Director of the School Economics (2010 to 2016).  At the University, she was charged with academic and administrative leadership, as well as management of the School of Economics, alongside the usual professorial responsibilities. She was also heavily involved in numerous university management activities.

Overall, Jane has over 30 years’ experience in teaching, research, management, and resource mobilization. Among many notable achievements in her academic career, she is credited with making remarkable contributions in teaching, mentoring and developing the capacity of young scholars to undertake research. Some of Jane’s specialty research interests include the impact of climate change on agriculture and adaptation, environmental and natural resource economics, multidimensional poverty, child poverty and youth employment, and labor markets and income distribution. 

In addition to her wealth of executive, academic and research experience, Jane has also held numerous advisory roles, which have in turn made her a well-known figure in local, regional and international academic circles, as well as in government. Currently, she is a member of the Innovations for Poverty Action Board of Directors, the President of the African Society of Ecological Economists (ASEE), and a member of the Club of Rome’s Earth4All 21st Century Transformational Economics Commission. Jane is also a member of the Technical Advisory Group for a Coalition Report on revamping economic analysis and modelling to drive climate leadership for ministries of finance in relation to the Helsinki Principle 4 (HP4) of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.   She recently served as a member of the Central Bank of Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee (Aug 2018 – Aug 2024), where she made significant contributions to the analysis of national and global economic trends, outlooks and advisory for maintaining price stability in Kenya.

Jane is also an integral member of the international scientific community and a thought-leader in development economics, having authored multiple journal papers, books, monographs, and policy briefs, as well as numerous peer-reviewed working papers and mimeos.

Jane holds a PhD, an MA, and a BA in Economics from the University of Nairobi.

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