Richard Kiaka

Title

Resident Lecturer in Human Dimensions of Conservation

Location

Kenya

Education

Ph.D. in Anthropology
University of Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany)

Masters of Science, International Development Studies
Wageningen University, Netherlands;

Bachelors of Science, Environmental Studies and Community Development
Kenyatta University, Kenya

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About

Faculty Profile


I am an Anthropologist with strong academic interest in Anthropology of Conservation and Environmental Justice Activism. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Hamburg in Germany with fieldwork in Namibia, having completed my MSc. at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. I teach human dimensions of conservation. My current research focuses on ways of recasting meaningful involvement of local communities in conservation of natural resources. In a particular I explore current dynamics in community conservation in Kenya and Namibia; ways of improving human-wildlife coexistence within wider domains of multispecies interaction; and various of forms of rewilding that unfold in Kenya and Namibia. Away from academics, I a enjoy playing volleyball and interacting with people from different cultures.

Academics & Research

Research Interests


  • Community conservation
  • Human-wildlife coexistence
  • Community forestry
  • Community-based water management
  • Ethical tourism
  • Outputs

    Publications

    Zapata Campos, Maria Jose; Barinaga, Ester; Dimba Kiaka, Richard; Ocampo, Juan, (2023). Social Enterprise Journal
    chwieger, D. A. M., Kiaka, R. D., & Schnegg, M. (2022). Water Alternatives, 15(3), 614-630.
    Almerkinders, C., M. Witze, P. Hebbinck, R. Kiaka & W. Waswa (2021). Outlook on Agriculture.
    Hebinck, P., Kiaka, R. D., & Lubilo, R. (2019). Navigating community conservancies and institutional complexities in Namibia. In Lenao, M., Moswete, N., & Stone, M. T. (Eds.) Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
    Kiaka, R. D. (2019). Ph. D Dissertation. Faculty of Humanities, University of Hamburg. http://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2019/9649/
    Schnegg, M., and R.D. Kiaka. (2019). Economic Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1002/sea2.12152