Kenly's Bio

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Kenly has over 15 years of experience specializing in social research in Africa, particularly concerning public opinion in eastern and southern African communities. She resides in Maputo, Mozambique, and is also the director KGF Pesquisas e Associados in Mozambique, a local research firm specializing in qualitative evaluations and assessments.  She spent six years with the United States State Department in INR's Office of Opinion Research, where she oversaw research across nine eastern and southern African countries, including designing and analyzing qualitative and quantitative projects across Somalia. Kenly has overseen numerous qualitative and quantitative research projects throughout Africa; research in refugee camps in South Sudan and Ethiopia; research projects with local clients such as Oxfam, Concern, Save the Children, World Vision, Care, USAID and COSACA regarding food security, agriculture and markets, gender, and development (including the use of DAC criteria for analysis); and other academic research projects on the continent.  She has also worked in the State Department’s Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues where she oversaw grants and advised policymakers on issues pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to State, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech and holds a PhD in Political Science and International Development (focus on sub-Saharan Africa) from the University of Florida. Kenly is also proficient in Portuguese.