Dr Amwata has thirteen years work experience in Agriculture and Food Security, Rangeland and Natural Resource Management and Environmental Management. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Science Degree in Rangeland Resource Management. Currently she is a Lecturer and Chairman Department of Range and Wildlife Sciences, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU). Her duties include mentoring students and conducting research on sustainable dryland and environmental management as tool to transform lives in the drylands. Her Ph.D was on “Influence of climate variability and change on land-use and livelihoods in southern Rangelands of Kenya’. She does mentorship to high school and university students on life skills. Examples include SEKU, Kenya High School, Loreto High School, Wiobiero high School among others.

Dr.Amwata has a great wealth of experience on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Currently, she is supporting the African Group of Negotiators under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the capacity building component. She is also supporting Inter-GovenrmentalAuthourity for Development (IGAD) in developing a resilience framework for Kenya in the drylands. She has previously supported the development of Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Profile (World Bank and CIAT Colombia), Evaluation of Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa supported by Climate Change and Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS-East Africa), Evaluation of the Climate Advisories in Africa supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, Screening of Climate Smart Agriculture in selected Africa countries supported by Africa Union/NEPAD. She has also provided technical backstopping in the , development of the Comprehensive Framework on Climate Change for Africa and SADC Climate change Framework supported by African Ministerial Conference of Environment (AMCEN) among others. She is also a technical expert on the national appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA) for the Kenya national climate change strategy and action plan. She has also been the lead expert for the SADC climate change programme, supported by IDRC Canada.

Prior to joining SEKU, She was a Research for Development Programme Officer, Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS) based in Tunisia, from April 2007-August 2010. At OSS, she worked with 23 African countries on multilateral environmental agreements; conservation of biodiversity, mitigation of the impacts of desertification and climate change within sub-Saharan Africa. Her main focus was on bridging the gap between research and policy and creating of synergy on the Multilateral Environmental Agreements and integrating them into national, regional and international frameworks such poverty reduction, Millennium Development Goals, among others. Dr.Amwata was the Nairobi Work Programme Focal Point, EMC’s Ecosystems Analyst and Participatory Rural Appraisal expert.

Having also worked for Kenya Wildlife Service for five years, she has a wide experience in research with respect to ecosystem dynamics, livelihoods and food security, natural resource management, and conflicts management in the drylands. She has supported the development of the Shaba National reserve management plan and Narok/Mara management plan, Kenya elephant management strategy among others.

Publications and articles

1. Nyariki, D.M and Amwata, D.A.(2019). The Value of Pastoralism in Kenya: Application of Total Economic Value Approach.Journal of pastoralism: Policy and Reaserch, 2019 (9). DOI:10.1186/s13570-019-0144-x.
2. Amwata. D. A, Omondi P. O and Kituyi. E .(2018). Uptake and use of climate information services to enhance agriculture and food production among smallholder farmers in eastern and southern africa region. Interational Journal of Advanced Research, 6(5), 859-873 ISSN: 2320-5407. Article DOI:10.21474/IJAR01/7106. DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/7106.
3. Nzevu, J.M., Amwata, D.A. and Mutua, A.K. (2018). Status of socio-economic parameters of fish farmers in Kitui Central Sub-county, Kitui County. Journal of Research in Agriculture and Animal Science, 5(1)28-41. ISSN(Online) : 2321-9459. www.questjournals.org/
4. Ndungwa, K.A., Kanui, T.I. and Amwata, D.A. (2018). The Status of livestock production systems in semi-arid farming and arid pastoral agro-ecological zones in Kitui County, Kenya. International Journal of Education and Research, Vol. (6): 2
5. Mutavi, S.K., Amwata, D.A. (2018). Constraints and opportunities among small scale peri-urban dairy farmers in the south eastern Kenya rangelands. International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology, ISSN: 2313-3759,Vol. 5(1 )
6. Nzevu, J.M., Amwata, D.A. and Mutua, A.K. (2018).The contribution of fish farming to household wellbeing of Fish Farmers in Kitui Central Sub-County, Kitui County. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS), e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 11(1):69-76 www.iosrjournals.org.
7. Mganga, K.Z., Nyariki, D.M. N., Musimba, N.K.R. and Amwata, D.A. (2018). Determinants and rates of land degradation: Application of stationary time-series model to data from a semi-arid environment in Kenya. Journal of Arid Land, 10(1): 1–1 . Science Press Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany. http://jal.xjegi.com; www.springer.com/40333/
8. Mutavi, SK., Kanui, TI, Njarui, DM., Musimba, NRK. and Amwata, DA. (2016). Innovativeness and adaptations: the way forward for small scale peri-urban dairy farmers in semi-arid regions of the south eastern kenya. International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovation Technology. ISSN2313-3759(3)5.
9. Nguku, S.A., Njarui, D.N., Musimba, NKR, Amwata, D.A. and Kaindi, E.2016. Primary production variables of Brachiaria grass cultivars in Kenya drylands. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 19: 29 - 39
10. Mwobobia R. M., Kanui T. I, Amwata D. A and Nguku A.S. (2016). Comparing use of ethno veterinary products among rural and periurban chicken farmers in Katulani District, Kenya International Journal of Advanced Research (2016), Volume 4, Issue 1, 550- 558
11. Murangiri, M.R Amwata, D.A. and Kanui, TI..(2016). Extension Support Services among Poultry Farmers, a Case of Katulani District, Kitui County. International Journal of Livestock Research, 6 (3), 8-15. doi:10.5455/ijlr.20160313125928
12. Amwata D. A., Nyariki, D. M; Musimba, N.R.K (2015). Factors influencing agropastoral and pastoral households’ vulnerability to food insecurity in the drylands of Kenya: A Case study of Kajiado and Makueni Counties. Journal of International Development, DOI: 10.1002.:3123.
13. Nyasimi M., Amwata, D. A., Hove L, Kinyangi ,J., Wamukoya, G. (2014). Evidence of Impact: Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa. CCAFS Working Paper no. 86. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
14. Amwata D. A. and Mganga, K. Z. (2014). The African Elephant, Loxodonta africana, and Food Security in Africa: Experiences from Baringo District, Kenya. The African elephant specialized group/Journal, Pachyderm 55: 9-15.
15. Amwata, D. A., Omondi, P.O. and Bitok, E. (2006). Human-wildlife in Baringo District, Kenya: case of elephants in Mochongoi forest. The African elephant specialized group/Journal, Pachyderm: 41: 30-36.
16. Briki M., Ben Khatra N., Jauffret S., Amwata D. A., Requier Desjardins M., Benhanafia K., Lamine Gacemi M. Hassani A. 2007; Combining local observation and remote sensing for rangeland monitoring in arid zones » Actes du colloque Range Monitoring Expert Consultation Meeting organise par la FAO, Le Caire, 26-28 November 2007.

Books

1. Amwata D.A., Nyariki, D.M. and Musimba, N.K.R. 2014. Climate Variability, Land-Use and Livelihoods in theRangelands: Socio-Economic Perspective, ISBN 978-3-659-58445-9. Lambart Publishers, Germany.
2. Nyasimi M, Amwata D, A., Hove L, Kinyangi J, Wamukoya G. 2014. Evidence of Impact: Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: Success stories. CTA 2014 – ISSN 2212-633.

Download CV