Deborah Mong'ina

Deborah Mongína is a Kenyan agroecologist and PhD candidate in Management of Agroecosystems and Environment at the University of Nairobi. Her work focuses on resilient agroecosystems, sustainable land and water management, and pollution mitigation in smallholder farming systems. She has extensive experience in soil-water-plant dynamics, agroecological intensification, and science-policy integration for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.
Deborah has served as a Research Fellow with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Graduate Fellow with CGIAR’s Environment and Biodiversity Impact Platform, and Agronomist with Everestfresh Africa Enterprises. In these roles, she has designed and scaled nature-based solutions, investigated nutrient and pesticide runoff, and advanced soil health literacy across African drylands. She has participated at global biodiversity policy forums, including UNCBD COP16 and UNCCD COP16, contributing to dialogues on pollution mitigation and soil biodiversity.
Her publications span peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, and policy briefs, addressing irrigation efficiency, organic soil amendments, and environmental pollution impacts on ecosystem health. She has received prestigious awards, including the Erasmus+ Mobility Scholarship (University of Granada, Spain) and the AWARD Climate Action Fellowship.
Deborah is a member of the African Association for Precision Agriculture and the Global Land Programme. She brings strong skills in project evaluation, MEL, data visualization, and science communication. Fluent in English and Kiswahili, she is committed to advancing climate-resilient, biodiversity-friendly farming systems that empower smallholder farmers and contribute to global sustainability goals.