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Monitoring & Evaluation Research

Evidence that drives real change

Rigorous M&E research at the intersection of technology, governance, and learning in Africa — published, peer-reviewed, and actionable.

View Publications ↓ Commission Research
8+
Publications
3
Research Domains
10+
Years Active
Research Focus

Three core domains

Research that sits at the intersection of technology, public service, and learning — with an African context as the constant.

01

mGovernance & Civic Tech

How mobile technology reshapes citizen–government interaction in emerging markets, with a focus on water services and anti-corruption mechanisms in Kenya.

02

EdTech & Digital Learning

Effectiveness of digital content and hardware hacking programmes for skills transfer in Kenyan schools and youth programmes — including mobile device integration and maker education.

03

Mobile Platform Growth

Analysis of EdTech platform scaling, user growth patterns, and ecosystem conditions that drive or constrain mobile education adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.

Academic Work

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Published research across ACM, IGI Global, and ICERI — co-authored with colleagues at iHub Research and partner institutions.

2015

Kids Hacker Camps in Kenya: Hardware Hacking Effectiveness in Skills Transfer

Wachira Ndaiga & Anne Salim

ACM · iHub Research

An evaluation of hardware hacking camps for children using Arduino and Raspberry Pi platforms. The study applied participant observation, video interviews, and iterative curriculum evaluation to measure the transfer of the 5Cs — Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Curiosity — among 100 young participants across multiple camp cohorts in Kenya. The camps were run through Waza Experience, a kids maker programme still active today.

Read on ACM → Watch the TEDx Talk →
2014

Mobile Governance: An Effective Tool to Fight Corruption in Kenya

Anne Salim & Nathan Wangusi

ACM · iHub Research

Examines the role of mobile platforms in anti-corruption governance in Kenya, analysing citizen-facing tools that enable reporting, accountability, and transparency in public service delivery. Situates mobile governance within the broader landscape of ICT4D and public sector reform.

2013

mGovernance: Use of Technology in Water Services Delivery

Hilda Moraa, Anne Salim & Albert Orwa

IGI Global · iHub Research

A foundational study on the application of mobile technology to improve water service delivery and accountability in Kenya. Explores how SMS-based and mobile-first government systems can close the gap between citizens and service providers in underserved communities.

2012

Technology in Solving Society's Water Problems in Kenya

Hilda Moraa, Anne Salim & Lillian Nduati

iHub Research, June 2012

Catalogued 20 water technology applications in Kenya — 10 active, 9 inactive. Developer interviews surfaced six failure factors: scalability gaps, lack of funding, insufficient support, partnership requirements, absence of government buy-in, and a competition-focused mindset. Provides actionable recommendations for sustaining civic tech in the water sector.

Read on iHub →
2012

Water Governance in Kenya: Ensuring Accessibility, Service Delivery and Citizen Participation

Hilda Moraa, Albert Otieno & Anne Salim

iHub Research, July 2012

Reviewed Kenya's water governance structure, legal framework (Water Act 2002), and citizen access challenges across Embakasi and Lang'ata constituencies. Examined the strategic potential of technology for transparency, participation, and service delivery — with findings that informed subsequent mGovernance policy discussions.

Read on iHub →
2012

Development of Local Educational Digital Content for Schools in Kenya Using Mobile Devices

Colaco, Makhanu & Anne Salim

ICERI 2012

Investigates the creation and deployment of locally-relevant digital educational content for Kenyan schools via mobile devices. Addresses the critical need for context-appropriate content as a prerequisite for meaningful digital learning outcomes in low-resource settings.

View on IATED Library →
2015

Technology for Early Childhood Education: Karibu Centre Evaluation

iHub Research (Anne Salim, lead researcher)

iHub Research Report, 2015

Evaluated a computer-based learning programme across four schools in Thika, Kenya — 326 students, 22 teachers, 20 parents. Found that 5-year-olds using the Karibu Centre computer programme consistently outperformed 7- and 8-year-olds in control schools on literacy measures. Waterford Early Learning Software's ability to track individual progress was identified as a key differentiator for teacher support and programme effectiveness.

2012

Creating an Applications' Repository for Innovations in Kenya

Anne Salim & Rhoda Omenya

Academy of Innovation & Entrepreneurship / iHub Research

Documented iHub Research's effort to map 90+ mobile, web, and desktop applications built by Kenyan developers across sectors including health, education, finance, and agriculture. Used crowdsourcing, desktop research, and referrals to build the repository. Key lessons: crowdsourcing alone is insufficient without campaign infrastructure; local innovation repositories are a catalyst for visibility, usability, and scale for emerging market developers.

Read on Academia.edu →
2013–

Growth of Mobile Education Platforms and Other EdTech

Anne Salim

Research Report

Analysis of mobile education platform growth trajectories, user adoption patterns, and enabling conditions for EdTech scaling across sub-Saharan Africa. Draws on longitudinal data and platform metrics to identify what separates pilots that scale from those that stall.

Forthcoming Research

In Progress

Papers currently in draft — to be released as open access on publication.

No drafts listed yet — check back soon.

How We Research

M&E Methodology

Combining quantitative rigor with qualitative depth — because numbers without context miss the story.

👁️

Participant Observation

Embedded fieldwork in programme sites — workshops, classrooms, community settings — to capture what surveys miss.

🎥

Video Ethnography

Structured video interviews and session recordings to document learning behaviour and programme impact over time.

📋

Trainer & Facilitator Reports

Systematic data collection from programme staff, including observation checklists, curriculum logs, and incident notes.

🔁

Iterative Curriculum M&E

Embedding evaluation loops within programme cycles so findings feed directly back into design — not just into a final report.

📊

Platform Analytics

Usage data, growth metrics, and user behaviour analysis for digital tools and EdTech platforms.

🌍

Context-First Framing

Research designed from the ground up for African contexts — not imported frameworks retrofitted onto local data.

Commission Research

Need evidence for your programme?

We design and run M&E frameworks for EdTech initiatives, government digital programmes, and innovation pilots across Africa.

Programme Evaluation

End-to-end evaluation design, data collection, analysis, and reporting for digital programmes.

Learning Impact Studies

Rigorous measurement of learning outcomes for EdTech products and training programmes.

M&E Framework Design

Build the measurement infrastructure your programme needs before you start collecting data.

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Research that moves programmes forward

Let's design an M&E framework that gives your team the evidence it needs to improve, scale, and sustain impact.

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