Dr. Calvince Ouko Othoo

  • Personal Info

  • Dr. Calvince Ouko Othoo

  • Contact & Designation

  • Community Development and Environmental Management (DCEM)
  • Lecturer, Chair of Department (COD)
  • couko@cuk.ac.ke
  • +254726096564

  • Education

    • Level Qualification Institution Year

    PhD

    PhD in Climate Change and Adaptation

    University of Nairobi

    2021

    Masters

    Masters of Science in Environmental Monitoring and Analysis

    University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK

    2014

    Undergraduate

    BSc. Environmental Management

    University of Nairobi

    2011
    Level Qualification Institution Year

    Climate Risk Assessment and Modelling (CRA)

    Certificate in CRA

    Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA)

    2025

    Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risk

    Certificate

    Bread for the World (BroT)

    2025

    Short Course

    EIA/ASIA

    University of Nairobi

    2011

  • Work Experience

    • Period Institution Position

    May 2015 - To Date

    The Co-operative University of Kenya

    Lecturer

    2025

    Technical University of Berlin, Germany

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    2023-2026

    Glocal Centre on Adaptation (GCA) & University of Nairobi

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    2021-2024

    European Union- One-Planet Climate Fellowhsip

    Reserch Fellow

    2020-2022

    Climate & Energy Advisory (CEA)

    Senior Consultant

  • Research Statement

    • General statement on area(s) of research

    I am an environment and climate change scientist specializing in climate resilience building and vulnerability analysis. My research centers on the nexus between climate extremes particularly floods and critical infrastructure in vulnerable settings, with a strong focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems in urban informal settlements. My I recently assessed the impacts of floods on sanitation infrastructure in the unplanned settlements in Kenyan cities, generating insights into flood-risk vulnerabilities of proximal dense sanitation facilities and public health implications.
    Much recently I have been intensely engaged in participatory climate and disaster risk assessment (using tools such as PACDR) among pastoral and ASAL communities as well as rural communities across east and western Africa, besides I have been engaged in climate risk assessment, climate scenarios and projection modelling, loss-and-damage modelling, ecosystem-based climate adaptation approaches (EbA) including green engineering for infrastructure resilience. I also work on environmental urban migration-climate interactions.

    My recent engagements span postdoctoral work on climate-resilient critical infrastructure under the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), and at the Technical University of Berlin (SMUS, Berlin) where I was similarly engaged in climate resilience studies for the African emerging urban spaces, biodiversity-climate risk assessments. These efforts have advanced my passion on multi-disciplinary collaborative research and interest in networking between the global north and south..

  • Research Project

    • Title Area(geographic) Funding Body Date

    Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risk (PACDR)

    Nigeria and Kenya

    Bread for The World (BRot)

    2026

  • Grants and Projects

    • Project / Programme Title Partner / Agency Dates

    “Enhancing and
    Scaling up Climate Adaptation for Resilient Infrastructure in Kenya and the
    East African Region.

    Global Centre on Adaptation

    2023-2025

    Kenya Rural Transformation Centers Digital Platform Project (KRTCDP)

    African Development Bank

    2021-2024

    Post-Drought Disaster Needs Assessment and Reporting (PDDNA)

    National Drought Management Authority (NDMA)

    2025 -2026

  • Publications

    • Journal Title/Name Date of Publication Volume and Pages Internet Link

    Tagele, A. B., Tarkegn, T. G., van Oel, P. R., Ray, R. L., Tefera, G. W., Demessie, S. F., ... & Othoo, C. O. (et al.). Evaluating the performance of selected CMIP6 GCMs for simulations of historical temperature over Ethiopia. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 157(121)

    		 05/01/2026

    157(121)

    DOI: 10.1007/s00704-026-06066-5.

    Assèdé, E. S. P., Othoo, C. O., Ly, A., Bayisa, G., Tarkegn, T. G., Zohoun, M., & N’goran, A. J. Research progress on climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pest in sub-Saharan Africa: A Assèdé, E. S. P., Othoo, C. O., Ly, A., Bayisa, G., Tarkegn, T. G., Zohoun, M., & N’goran, A. J. (2025). Research progress on climate change adaptation strategies to control invasive crop pest in sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliometric and systematic review. Frontiers in Climate, 7, 1478721. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2025.1478721

    		 31/01/2025

    Vol. 7. 1428721

    DOI:10.3389/fclim.2025.1478721

    Othoo, O.C. (2025). Assessing Climate and Disaster Risk Using Participatory Techniques: Experience from Pastoral Communities of Kenya. In: Leal Filho, W., Matandirotya, N., Yayeh Ayal, D., Luetz, J.M., Borsari, B. (eds) Climate Change, Food Security, and Land Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71164-0_72-1

    		 10/06/2017

    Vol. 2. No.1, pp. 119-132

    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71164-0_72-1

    Ouko, O. C. (2024). Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risk Among Pastoral Communities of Africa-A Case Study of Kajiado County, Kenya. African Journal of Emerging Issues, 6(12), 53-76. https://www.ajoeijournals.org/sys/index.php/ajoei/article/view/647

    		 30/10/2024

    6(12),53-76

    https://www.ajoeijournals.org/sys/index.php/ajoei/article/view/647

    Mbengei, C. M., Osano, S., & Othoo, C. (2026) A Coupled Multi-Physics Climate-Responsive Model for Predicting Performance Degradation of Kangundo Road under Coupled Hydrological–Thermal–Geotechnical Loading.Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 15(3), 453–477. DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2025.153025 (also available via SCIRP: scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=145357).

    		 10/02/2026

    15(3), 453–477

    DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2025.153025

    Othoo, C., Dulo, S., & Olago, D. (2021). Flood-risk vulnerabilities of sanitation facilities in urban informal settlements: Lessons from Kisumu City, Kenya. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, 2(4). DOI https://doi.org/10.37425/eajsti.v2i4.371
    xi.
    Othoo, C. O., Dulo, S. O., Olago, D. O., & Ayah,

    		 30/09/2021

    2(4)

    DOI https://doi.org/10.37425/eajsti.v2i4.371

    Othoo, C. O., Dulo, S. O., Olago, D. O., & Ayah, R. (2020). Proximity Density Assessment and Characterization of Water and Sanitation Facilities in the Informal Settlements of Kisumu City: Implications for Public Health Planning. Journal of UOEH, 42(3), 237-249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7888/juoeh.42.237.

    		 30/09/2021

    42(3)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7888/juoeh.42.237.

    Othoo, C. O., Dulo, S. O., Olago, D. O., & Ayah, R. (2020). Effects of Shallow Water Table on the Construction of Pit Latrines and Shallow Wells in the Informal Settlements of Kisumu City. Sanitation Value Chain, 00020. https://doi.org/10.34416/svc.00020

    		 21/12/2020

    20

    https://doi.org/10.34416/svc.00020

    OTHOO, C. O. (2021). The Impact of Climate Extremes (Floods) On Sanitation Infrastructure In Unplanned Settlements In Kisumu City, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).

    		 12/07/2022

    NA

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Calvince-Othoo-2/publication/379696849

    Maureen, M., & Othoo, C. O. (2026). Bottom-up approach in flood risk management in Kibra informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya. International Journal for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction, 3(2), 1–16.

    		 14/07/2026

    3(2) 1–16.

    Mbengei, C. M., Osano, S., & Othoo (2025), C. Integrating grey and green engineering in infrastructure risk and resilience assessment: A case of Kangundo Road. Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 15(3), 453–477. DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2025.153025.

    		 31/10/2025

    15(3), 453–477

    DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2025.153025.
    Title/Book or Chapter Publication and/or Publisher Editor Date of Publication Page Numbers

    Othoo, O.C. (2025). Assessing Climate and Disaster Risk Using Participatory Techniques: Experience from Pastoral Communities of Kenya. In: Leal Filho, W., Matandirotya, N., Yayeh Ayal, D., Luetz, J.M., Borsari, B. (eds) Climate Change, Food Security, and Land Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71164-0_72-1

    Climate Change, Food Security, and Land Management. Springer

    Leal Filho, W., Matandirotya, N., Yayeh Ayal, D., Luetz, J.M., Borsari, B

    		 28/06/2025 8
    Title Conference Date

    Leveraging Evidence-based Research and Data in Urban
    Mobility Planning and Development.

    Africa E-Mobility and Infrastructure Africa Summit Transforming Transportation: Pioneering E-Mobility and Infrastructure for Africa.

    26-27th November 2025

    Spatio-temporal analysis of soil erosion in fragile erosion-prone landscapes in Kenya using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)

    4th Edition of Global Conference on Agriculture and Horticulture (AGRI 2024)

    16-18th September 2024

  • Courses Taught

    • Name Description Period

    GIS &RS

    Teaching and practicals on applications of GIS and RS

    2014 to date

    Environmental Management and Studies

    Teaching and research

    2015 to date

    Environmental Sciences

    Variety of environmental units in science, management and conservation

    2014 to date

  • Postgraduate Student Supervision

    • Name Institution Qualification Title of Dissertation Period

    Maureen Masila

    National Defence University

    Master in Crisis Response and Disaster management

    Bottom-Up Approach in Flood
    Risk Management in Kibera
    Informal Settlement, Nairobi,
    Kenya

    2022-2026

  • Professional Affiliations

    • Organisation Role Period

    Environmental Institute of Kenya (EIK)

    Member

    2026

    British Early Career Network Academy

    Member

    2017 to date

    ESRI East Africa

    CUK GIS champion and patron

    2015 to date

    TVET-Authority Kenya

    Trainer

    2017-2018

  • Other Contributions

    • Other Contributions

    Acting Dean, School of Cooperatives and Community Development, Exam Coordinator, Department of DCEM. Peer Reviews, Mentorship and Consultancy