Michelle Ouma

A Physical Planner and Research Officer with over 5 years experience participating in a broad range of environmental, physical planning, and socioeconomic project implementation programs. I bring with me in-depth knowledge of working with donor-funded programs, Kenya County Government Projects, and Private Sector urban planning. 

My research skills, combined with my experience participating in a broad range of urban planning and development programs, have not only strengthened my knowledge as a Physical Planner but contributed significantly towards my pursuit of my Masters in Environmental Planning and Management. 

My innate ability to effectively communicate with a broad range of multinational and multicultural individuals from disadvantaged areas to decision-makers serves as an asset of value in ensuring top-level project implementation. 

My wealth of experience conducting baseline surveys, research, and data collection positions me as an asset of value in supporting organizations in developing robust policies and frameworks to support and achieve their project implementation goals.

May 2022 to date: Research Officer at the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) 

Key Achievements 
• Successfully planned and executed the AAK Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) 7.0 which encompassed eight sessions and 40 different speakers with each session garnering about 150 participants;
• Instrumental in providing program management support in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International on a multi-stakeholder project where an assessment was conducted on the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Housing in informal settlements;
• Successfully provided technical support in the development of the Guidelines for Healthy Homes;
• Successfully spearheaded the conceptualization and successful execution of the #KenyaWeWant Campaign 2022;
• Participated in the Kounkuey Design Initiative where we developed the Inclusive Integrated Infrastructure Framework (3IF) and subsequently published four policy briefs to support the projects goals in improving the delivery of infrastructure within Kenyan informal settlements;
• Participated in developing and maintaining the AAK Build Hub portal that records information on 26 counties within the portal.

January 2019 to May 2022: ESIA Associate Expert, Gtech Consultants Limited  

I served as the associate expert where I conducted the ESIA studies for various roads across the country. I served as the lead liaison to clients and key stakeholders. A large part of my role involves coordinating consultancy teams, conducting baseline data collection and analysis, and coordinating public consultation.

May 2021 - Dec 2021 Research Officer, Dadaab Regeneration Strategy Project, UN-Habitat 

Key Responsibilities
• Participated in re-planning in re-planning the two closed camps in Daadab Refugee Complex (IFO2 and Kambioos) where they were converted for utilization by the host community;
• Conducted baseline surveys to support the design and implementation of the regeneration strategy project;
• Collaborated and engaged with stakeholders and the wider community to identify their needs and designed the project as a Socio-Economic Baseline Survey for the Dadaab area.

March 2021-December 2021: Research Officer, Preparatory Study on Urban Environment Improvement Against Covid-19 (CURIEP) In Kenya by JICA 

My role predominantly involved conducting a Preparatory Study on Urban Environment Improvement Against COVID-19. I conducted an in-depth analysis of the changes in water and sanitation demand against the available supply in Mombasa and Nairobi Cities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

2013- 2016: Bachelor of Arts, Urban and Regional Planning

2019: Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit

2020 to date: Master of Arts, Environmental Planning and Management