Kelvin Mubiana Katukula
Manager for Resource Mobilisation and Grants Management
Windhoek,KH
Summary
Kelvin Mubiana Katukula serves as Manager for Resource Mobilisation and Grants Management at the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia. In this capacity, he works across research funding, grant oversight, and strategic collaboration to support the country’s research and innovation agenda. He also serves on the International Science Council Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science and represents Namibia on the Global Research Council’s Responsible Research Assessment Working Group.
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Science and Technology Studies at Stellenbosch University. His doctoral research focuses on narrative CVs for responsible research assessment in Namibia. He is also pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management at the University of Pretoria, a programme designed to strengthen leadership and management capability in the public sector.
Katukula holds a Master of Philosophy in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University and a Master of Arts in Primary Education from the University of Eastern Finland. Before joining NCRST, he held academic, grants management, and administrative roles at the University of Namibia, including grants coordination, lecturing, examination administration, and research support. His professional and scholarly interests span research management, science policy, responsible research assessment, bibliometric analysis, and inclusive knowledge systems.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager: Resource Mobilisation and Grants Management
National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
01.2025 - Current
- Leads national research funding portfolio and grant management systems
- Oversees pre-award, award, and post-award processes
- Supervises monitoring and evaluation of all funded projects
- Coordinates international partnerships and funding mechanisms
- Provides strategic input to executive leadership and national policy processes
Coordinator: Grants Management and Resource Mobilisation
01.2021 - 12.2024
- Coordinated grants and performed project management training and general grants and project management activities.
- Managed and coordinated over 50 Grant Research Projects totalling over 150 million Namibian dollars.
Research Fellow
Political Economy of Education Research Network, African Hub
01.2021 - 12.2024
- Carried out research to inform socially just education systems and provision for children and young people in contexts of conflict and protracted crises.
- Strengthened political economy analysis of education in these contexts.
Part-time Lecturer
University of Namibia
Khomasdal
01.2021 - 12.2024
- Lectured ‘Science of Teaching’ to 2nd-year B Ed Honours students in Junior and Senior Primary.
Part-time Lecturer
University of Namibia
Southern Campus
01.2019 - 12.2021
- Lectured ‘Curriculum Planning and Development’ to 4th year B Ed Honours.
- Lectured ‘Science of Teaching’ to 2nd-year B Ed (Honours) and Diploma students in Junior Primary.
- Lectured ‘Project Based Learning’ to 2nd-year Diploma and 3rd-year B Ed (Honours).
- Lectured ‘Physical Education and Health’ to 2nd-year Diploma students in Junior Primary.
- Lectured ‘Environmental Education’ to 1st, 2nd and 3rd year B Ed (Honours).
Examination Officer
University of Namibia
Southern Campus
01.2016 - 12.2021
- Oversaw the overall comprehensive oversight and accountability of the flow of the University Examinations.
School Teacher: Physical Science and Mathematics
Eembaxu Combined School
Eenhana
01.2007 - 12.2016
- Oversaw physical science and mathematics lessons, using various teaching methods and instructional technologies to cater to different learning styles.
Education
PhD in Science and Technology Studies - undefined
Stellenbosch University
04.2026
MPhil in Science and Technology Studies - undefined
Stellenbosch University
01.2023
MA in Primary Education - undefined
University of Eastern Finland
01.2018
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management - undefined
University of Pretoria
01.2026
Skills
- Grant management systems and digital platforms
- Research evaluation and performance metrics
- Policy analysis and advisory
- International research collaboration frameworks
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Budgeting and financial management
- Writing professional and technical reports
- Academic Publication
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Negotiation
- Relationship building
- Partnership management
- Self-Motivation
- Strong Work Ethic
Accomplishments
- Mobilised and managed multi-source research funding portfolios, including bilateral and multilateral streams aligned to national priorities and STISA frameworks.
- Led the digital transformation of NCRST’s grant management through the Online Grant Management System, improving efficiency, transparency, and tracking across the full funding lifecycle.
- Designed and implemented structured calls for proposals across priority sectors, including artificial intelligence, water security, and climate-smart agriculture.
- Strengthened national research governance through the development of evaluation frameworks, reviewer systems, and performance monitoring aligned to institutional strategic plans.
- Coordinated international partnerships and co-funding mechanisms with regional and global agencies, enhancing Namibia’s participation in collaborative research programmes.
- Advanced responsible research assessment and metascience agendas through engagement with global platforms, contributing to emerging reforms in research evaluation systems.
- Provided strategic advisory support to executive leadership on funding allocation, research policy alignment, and system-level innovation.
- Led initiatives to enhance researcher recognition systems and national research visibility, including benchmarking international rating frameworks.
- Contributed to institutional risk mitigation by accelerating grant execution pipelines and improving post-award monitoring systems.
- Facilitated multi-stakeholder engagements linking government, academia, and international partners to strengthen Namibia’s research ecosystem.
Languages
Silozi
English
Society Membership
- Member of the Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science of the International Science Council
- Member of the Working Group of the Global Research Council Responsible Research Assessment
- Contributor to Metascience and international STI policy platforms
Timeline
Manager: Resource Mobilisation and Grants Management
National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
01.2025 - Current
Coordinator: Grants Management and Resource Mobilisation
01.2021 - 12.2024
Research Fellow
Political Economy of Education Research Network, African Hub
01.2021 - 12.2024
Part-time Lecturer
University of Namibia
01.2021 - 12.2024
Part-time Lecturer
University of Namibia
01.2019 - 12.2021
Examination Officer
University of Namibia
01.2016 - 12.2021
School Teacher: Physical Science and Mathematics
Eembaxu Combined School
01.2007 - 12.2016
PhD in Science and Technology Studies - undefined
Stellenbosch University
MPhil in Science and Technology Studies - undefined
Stellenbosch University
MA in Primary Education - undefined
University of Eastern Finland
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management - undefined
University of Pretoria
Scientific Publications (Selected)
- Uusiku, A., Katukula, K. M., & Josua, L. M. (2025). A Social Realist Panorama on Quality Assurance: A Case of the University of Namibia. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13, 232-245. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2025.136016
- Uusiku, A., Katukula, K. M., & Josua, L. M. (2025). Reflective Understanding of Effective Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Post COVID19: A Perspective of an Early Career Educator Paper. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13, 604-624. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2025.137033
- Katukula, Kelvin Mubiana, Beatha Set, and Azeem Badroodien. "Language as a form of violence and assimilation: stakeholder views of Silozi as a medium of instruction and learning in the Zambezi region of Namibia." Education and Conflict Review 6 (2025): 55-62.
- Katukula, KM, Set, B, & Nyambe, J. (2023).Language Ideologies and the Use of Mother Tongues as the Medium of Instruction and Learning in a Namibian Junior Primary Schools: A Case Study. In E Mikulec & H Kayi-Aydar Contemporary Perspectives on English as a Medium of Instruction. Information Age Publishing Inc.
- Katukula, KM, Set, B., & Nyambe, J. (2023). Language Ideologies and the Use of Mother Tongues as the Medium of Instruction and Learning in Junior Primary Schools: A Case Study of Parents and Teachers in a Namibian School 11(4): https://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijoe.2023v11i4.48164
- Katukula, KM, Set, B., & Nyambe, J. (2023). Scaffolding Epistemological Access in the Context of Forbidden Discourses: A Case Study of a Grade 4 Natural Science Class in a Namibian School. Innovare Journal of Education, 11(3), 48–53: https://doi.org/10.22159/ijoe.2023v11i3.47647
- Katukula, KM, Mwazi, R. S, Garegae, K. G., & Kambeyo, L. (2023). Investigating Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding and Practices of Learner-Centred Teaching in Junior Secondary Schools within Katima Circuit in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. Innovare Journal of Education, 11(4): https://doi.org/10.22159/ijoe.2023v11i4.76048
- Namukwambi, R, Shikongo, S, Ngozu, J., & Katukula, KM. (2023). Entrepreneurship Intentions Among Nursing Students at the University of Namibia: A Case of Windhoek and Southern Campuses. Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development 4(3). JBSED-05-2023-0040
- Katukula KM, Junias, K., & Kambeyo, L. (2022). An analysis of a teacher education programme at a Namibian tertiary institution: https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=119538
- Set, B., & Katukula KM. (2022). Beyond the linguistics challenges: A multilingual and multimodal approach to support Science learning. International Congress on English Language Education and Applied Linguistics (ICELEAL 2022). The Education University of Hong Kong: https://www.eduhk.hk/lml/iceleal2022/
- Katukula KM., & Set, B. (2022). Parents’ and teachers’ language ideologies about the mother-tongue instruction and Language Education Policy Implementation in the //Karas Region Parents’ and teachers’ language ideologies about the mother-tongue instruction and Language Education Policy Implementation in the //Karas Region. Re-Imagining Education: A Discourse on Resilience, Adaptability, Inclusivity, and Quality. University of Namibia, Keetmanshoop: https://www.unam.edu.na/educon2022
- Katukula, K.M. (2023). Language as a form of violence and assimilation: stakeholders’ views of Silozi as a medium of instruction and learning in the Zambezi region of Namibia. Africa in Conversation with Political Economy.
- Katukula, KM, Mutenda., & Tjazapi, U (2023). Students’ and supervisors’ views towards promoting success in postgraduate studies. A case of the University of Namibia: School of Education. (The International Conference on Postgraduate Research 2023): the University of Namibia: https://www.unam.edu.na/icopr2023
- Leonard, A., & Katukula, K.M. (2022). Namibia’s research contribution toward sustainable development goals: a descriptive bibliometric analysis. National Research Symposium: NIPAM, Windhoek: https://ncrst.na/2022/08/05/national-research-symposium-2022/
- Katukula, KM., Junias, K., & Kambeyo, L. (2022). The Quality of Teacher Education in Namibia: An Analysis of Teacher Education Programme at a Namibian University. University of Namibia, Keetmanshoop: https://www.unam.edu.na/educon2022
- Katukula, KM., & Kambeyo, L. (2021). A critical analysis of the impact of research in education: A systematic review: https://repository.unam.edu.na/bitstream/handle/11070/3281/katukula_education_2021.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y
- Katukula, KM., Kambeyo, L., & Shaakumeni. (2021). Namibian preservice science teachers’ scientific epistemic beliefs. 2nd Postdoctoral Research Conference of Southern Africa. Stellenbosch University: https://www.postdocsa.co.za/
- Katukula, KM. (2018). Teaching methods in science education in Finland and Namibia (Master’s thesis, Itä-Suomen yliopisto): https://erepo.uef.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/20721/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20181259.pdf?sequence=1
- Katukula, KM. (2017). The Making of Finnish Education System: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=9WMq2RAAAAAJ&citation_for_view=9WMq2RAAAAAJ:a9-T7VOCCH8C
- Katukula, KM. (2017). Finnish Educational Systems and Organisations: The Making of the Finnish education system: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=9WMq2RAAAAAJ&citation_for_view=9WMq2RAAAAAJ:9pM33mqn1YgC
References
- Dr Nhlanhla Lupahla, General Manager RSTICs, National Commission on Research, Science & Technology, nlupahla@ncrst.na, +264 81 841 0578
- Professor Sifiso Nyathi, Registrar, Namibia University of Science and Technology, nyathi@nust.na, +264 81 386 6557
- Professor Sari Havu-Nuutinen, Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland, sari.havu-nuutinen@uef.fi, +358 29 4452543