Rufo R. Halakhe

Training

Rufo is currently undertaking her PhD research at DITSL, Germany, and CRDD, Kenya. She graduated with first class honours in BA Communication and Media Studies at Laikipia University in 2015 and an MA in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi in 2020.She also pursued certificates in Measurement of Development and Social Change at MSTCDC (Tanzania) in 2020 and Women Leadership in Development at the Coady Institute, Canada in 2022. Additionally, Rufo attained a TOT on Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy in April 2017 and training on reporting on socio-economic issues affecting women in October 2013.

Career

Rufo is a communication and media professional with over six years of experience working with various industries, spanning from NGOs and media. From 2015 to 2021, Rufo played pivotal roles at NRT where she commenced her journey as a Tourism and Beadworks Officer, demonstrating her leadership in fostering tourism development within NRT member conservancies. Her achievements extended to managing a destination marketing and management platform for Northern Kenya and providing communication solutions for NRT Trading through mainstream and social media. She also trained youth and women beaders in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, executed community mobilization for business opportunity mapping, and documented and disseminated success stories. Subsequently, Rufo took on the role of a Project Manager at the Basecamp Explorer Foundation (BCEFK) from August 2021 to August 2022. In this capacity, she significantly contributed to community projects in Kalama and Sera community conservancies in Samburu County. Her responsibilities included facilitating community meetings, identifying project gaps, writing proposals, fundraising for initiatives, overseeing project implementation, and conducting meticulous Monitoring & Evaluation for BCEFK-funded projects. Concurrently, she held the position of Communications Manager at Greater Mara Management (GMM) during the same period. Here, Rufo supported the development of the One Mara Carbon offsetting project and crafted grassroots communications plans. Her role extended to the development and execution of internal and external communications and public relations strategies, aligning with GMM’s strategic plan.

Rufo is currently a doctoral researcher with InfoRange project at DITSL and CRDD focusing on peer assisted learning approaches to enhance the use of digital applications for resource monitoring by pastoral livestock keepers in northern Kenya, applying transdisciplinary research approaches.

Research Interests

Her research interests are in participatory research, Peer-assisted learning, participatory design and transdisciplinary research.