Kirama, Stephen

Stephen Luke Kirama [Cert (Philosophy);B.A (hons); M.A in Economics; PhD (Economics); is a Senior Lecturer and Senior Consultant at the  Department of Applied Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, School of Economics and a Research Fellow at the Environmental for Development Tanzania (EfDT) Centre with over fifteen (15) years’ experience in the: Energy (Natural Gas, Oil and Electricity), Environmental and Natural Resources (Wildlife, Forest and Marine); Public Sector Economics (budget and Taxation), Transport Economics (Roadway Pricing, Budgeting, Value for Money for Transport); Health Economics (health financing), Social Infrastructure (Education and Health) Economic Evaluation (EE); Impact Evaluation (Mid Term and Final Evaluation) as well as on Monitoring Evaluation (M&E)

Before joining the Department of Economics, Kirama worked as a Senior Economist at the Ministry of Communications and Transport in the Government of Tanzania (2003 -2005. In addition, Dr Kirama has worked with the Regional and International Organization on Collaborative Research and Consultancy in various disciplines. These are but not limited to USAID (Public System Strengthening (PS3 and PS3 Plus); SIDA (Mid Term and Endline Evaluations); DfID (Evaluations), NIRAS (Evaluation) and American Institute of Research on Pipeline Partnership Program P3 an extension of AIR`s equity initiative that aims to address systemic inequity and increase opportunities for people and communities. Currently, Dr Kirama is a locally based Researcher and Senior Consultant.

Dr Kirama interest on Research and Consultancies is but not limited to: Public Spending and Growth, Energy (Natural Gas, Oil and Electricity); Impact Evaluation, Natural Resources (Exhaustible and Renewable); Poverty Analysis and Wildlife. Dr Kirama’s teaching subjects are currently Environmental and Natural Resources Economics; Health Economics, Energy Economics, Public Sector Economics, Econometrics. Quantitative Methods and  Evaluation  (Monitoring Evaluation and Impact Evaluation).

Research interest

1. Renewable and Non Renewable Energy (Energy mix, energy access, Energy transitions, Energy security, unblocking the renewable energy)
2. Health Economics (Healthcare financing)
3. Transport Economics (Roadway Pricing, logistics, value for money)
4. Natural Resources Economics (Marine, Wildlife, Forestry and Minerals)
5. Impact Evaluation

Mentoring

1. Masters Students, School of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam.
2. PhD Students, School of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam

Grants and consultancy

• Team Lead: Data Collection in the Collaborative Research work on “Optimal Park Pricing of National Parks: Case Study of Serengeti, Maasai Mara and Kruger National Parks”.  Data Collection was done in in Serengeti in March, 2013. The same was also done in Maasai Mara and Kruger National Parks. Main task was leading preparation for the field work, recruitment and training of the enumerators, testing of the data collection instruments and field work in the Serengeti National Park and Kruger National Park.
• Local Consultant on External Review and Evaluation of the Swedish Development and Cooperation Support to the Climate Parliament: The main goal of the Evaluation work was to evaluate the SDC support to the Climate Parliamentarians in taking action to mitigate climate change with a focus on the promotion of renewable energy resources and develop country case studies for Morocco, China, India and Tanzania. Main tasks included: map the electricity sector in Tanzania and collect data on key impact, outcome and output indicators; arrange interviews with key stakeholders in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma (Parliamentarians); participate in the field mission partaking actively in the interviews; follow up any outstanding issues after the field mission and review the country case study report
• Team member: Consultancy on Developing the Biofuel Policy Framework for Tanzania. Assignment on this was to develop and establish the socio economic conditions for the policy. Data was collection from the biofuels growers, producers and related organizations.
• Field Manager, Research Study on the Small Hydropower Projects in the Southern Highlands Tanzania. Organised the field work; recruitment and training of enumerators, field logistics, data collection, coding, entry and preliminary analysis. The Team constitute 2 Consultants, One Team, One Supervisors and 8 Enumerators.
• Team Lead: Data Collection in the Collaborative Research work on “Coexistence of Wildlife and Human in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA): Exploring the Socioeconomic aspects and the Possibilities for the Replication of the ‘Ngorongoro Model’ in Tanzania. Data Collection was done in all the 25 Villages in the NCA.
• Team Member, Cost benefit Analysis of the Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Project (JNHHP) contracted by TANESCO as part of the consultancy services for additional studies to update ESIA and SESA at JNHHP, Lost 2, Cost Benefit Analysis
• Team Lead: Final Evaluation of the Ikondo Energy Project in Njombe. Ikondo Energy Project is funded by CEFA (CEFA – Comitato Europeo per la Formazione e l’Agricoltura ONLU ) an Italian based NGOs and MVC (Matembwe Village Company Ltd) and it deals with electricity generation and distribution in Ikondo Ward, Njombe District in Njombe Region. The Villages covers Ikondo, Isoliwaya, Kanikelele, Nyave, Uheni, Kitole and Ukalawa
• Consultant: Readness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE) Project in Tanzania. The objective of RISE is to establish global indicators across the three focus areas of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative: Energy Access, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy. RISE measured country performances on the indicators, both against each other and over time to monitor progress and to help the climte for private sector investments. RISE will contribute to domestic policy debate by providing policy makers with a global reference to identify what institutional, regulatory and legislative systems support investments in sustainable energy. The RISE pilot report covered 17 developed and developing countries. More project information  is available here: http://rise.worldbank.org
• Consultant on Evaluation of the Impact of the Rural Electrification in Selected Villages in Mwanza, Shinyanga and Tabora, contracted by JUMEME. JUMEME is a private power developer company aiming to generate and distribute electricity to selected remote villages which are not accessible to the National Grid by TANESCO or in the REA rural electrification project. The baseline includes the ex ante survey and the ex post survey in selected ten (10) villages in three (3) District. The survey will be administered to Households, Business Enterprises, Public Institutions (Schools and Health facilities) and to communities (Village Administration). The ex ante is scheduled July to August, 2016 and ex post October – November, 2017.
• Researcher: Final Evaluation for the AfDB Sponsored Projects on Maternal and Child health Care in Mtwara, Tabora, Mara, Unguja and Pemba. Tasks included review of the evaluation instruments, field work planning, recruitment and training of enumerators, data entry and cleaning and preliminary analysis and report writing.
• Researcher: Value Chain Analysis of the Logistics Subsector in Tanzania contracted by REPOA. The main objective of the assignment is to provide assessment of trade and transport facilitation readiness in Tanzania. In addition, the assignment also intends to identify specific bottlenecks on the logistics chain including institutional, policy, regulatory and implementation frameworks as well as operational challenges that impede the seamless flow of goods on the logistics chain in Tanzania (December 2020 to May 2019
• Team Lead, Research study on Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), titled Maasai Household and Village Socioeconomic Status and Decisions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tasks involved preparation of the data collection instruments, interpretation of the instrument into Kiswahili and Maasai, recruitment of enumerators and training, monitoring the data collection in all the 25 villages of Ngorongoro, data entry and analysis and preliminary report writing.
• Local Researcher, on Evidence Based Research on the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Budget Financing on Large Scale Infrastructure Projects in Tanzania 2010 to 2019, contracted by REPOA under the auspices of Uongozi Institute. The Research involved identifying and conduct an in-depth analysis of five (5) projects under five (5) Ministries: Education, Health, Water, Energy and Works, Communication and Transport. Period of Study December, 2019 to April, 2020.
• Senior Advisor, Financing Component of Public Sector Systems Strengthening Project (PS3); A USAID funded project in Tanzania: The main goal of the project is to provide technical assistance to the Government of Tanzania to strengthen public sector systems in support of the delivery, quality, and use of public services, particularly for underserved populations. The project covers thirteen (13) regions namely: Kagera, Kigoma, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Rukwa and Shinyanga and all the ninety-seven (97) Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in the above regions. The project has two Phases, Phase I covering two LGAs for each region and Phase II covering the remaining LGAs.
• Principal Investigator, Final Evaluation of ORIO Projects – Rehabilitation of Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania (ORI10/TZ/21) contracted by Erasmus Mundi University – Rotterdam and the Government of Netherlands. The main tasks included review of relevant project documents, assist establishing contact with relevant stakeholders, preparation of field visits, conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders in Tanzania, contribute to the elaboration of the study case report and respond to feedback of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the draft Evaluation Report (Time Period: July – November, 2019)
• Team Member: Evidence Based Research and Policy Review on Oil and Natural Gas Sectors in Tanzania contracted by WWF
• Team Member for the Endline Evaluation of the FCS Strategic Plan 2025 – 2020 contracted by SIDA through the NIRAs Tanzania using OECD/DAC Evaluation Criteria. Tasks involved preparation and testing of the evaluation matrix questions, administration of the instrument for data collection, data analysis and report writing. This evaluation was backward looking in terms of assessing achievements, and forward looking in terms of informing the FCS’ next strategic plan. The Evaluation team prepared an evaluation matrix in which the evaluation questions listed in TOR are structured according to the evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence and coordination, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability, as well as cross cutting issues.
• Researcher & Instructor: The Microfinance Games on Assessing the Demand for Health Insurance in microcredit Groups; a joint work between the Department of Economics University of Dar es Salaam and Stichting Amsterdam Institute for International  Development. The games were played with over 500 clients with Tujijenge Afrika in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.
• Researcher: The Economic, social and financial Implication of Fertilizer Taxes in Tanzania; a survey on farmers and traders of inorganic fertilizers in three regions in Tanzania, namely Ruvuma, Iringa and Kilimanjaro,  as well as Fertilizer Importers and Regulatory bodies in Dar es Salaam contracted  and work with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
• Research Team Member: Manyara Region Value Chain Development Project: Livestock and Sunflower Subsectors conducting baseline survey and training needs assessments undertaken by SIDO Tanzania and the University of Dar es Salam, Department of Economics. The Value chain was undertaken for Livestock Keepers; Sunflower farmers; Traders and Processors of sunflower and livestock products and to the Officials. Report has been written and submitted.

Policy Engagement

• Team Member, Evidence Based Research on the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Budget Financing on Large Scale Infrastructure Projects in Tanzania 2010 to 2019, contracted by REPOA under the auspices of Uongozi Institute. The Research involved identifying and conduct an in-depth analysis of five (5) projects under five (5) Ministries: Education, Health, Water, Energy and Works, Communication and Transport. Period of Study December, 2019 to April, 2020.
• Senior Advisor, Financing Component of Public Sector Systems Strengthening Project (PS3); A USAID funded project in Tanzania: The main goal of the project is to provide technical assistance to the Government of Tanzania to strengthen public sector systems in support of the delivery, quality, and use of public services, particularly for underserved populations. The project covers thirteen (13) regions namely: Kagera, Kigoma, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Rukwa and Shinyanga and all the ninety-seven (97) Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in the above regions. The project has two Phases, Phase I covering two LGAs for each region and Phase II covering the remaining LGAs.

Awards

1. Fellowship Award, Brown University, Rhode Island, United States Fall Semester, 2009.
2. A Symposium on “Charting a Path to  a Sustainable Energy Future – Perspective from North and South” organized by South Africa Association for Energy Economics (SAAEE) on 21st August, 2023 where I presented a talk titled: Energy Landscape in Tanzania: Status, Potentials, Mix, Transitions and Challenges”.
3. Panelist, on the TRENDS Discussion under the title: “Constraints to Renewable Energy Roll-Out in Africa” held online on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. Kenya time. The event was moderated in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya. The discussion aimed to examine and analyse the following themes: • Renewable and other energy potential • The regulatory and policy responses and limitations • How other actors are seeking to secure their energy needs • How to unblock the potential of renewable energy roll-out!
4. Resource Person on Continental Framework on Natural Resources Accounting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in April, 2013 and on the International Conference on “Valuation and Accounting of Natural Capital for Green Economy (VANTAGE)” in Africa, December, 2013 at  UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi

Relevant Links:

1. https://sites.google.com/view/stephenkiramaphd/mwanzo  or
2. https://efdinitiative.org/about-efd/people/kirama-stephen
3. Google Scholar:

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