International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) is an international scientific research institute, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya which works towards improving lives and livelihoods of people in Africa. icipe was founded in 1970 by a renowned Kenyan entomologist, Thomas Odhiambo, with strong encouragement from Carl Djerassi, a professor of Chemistry at Stanford University. The center’s main objective is to research and develop alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management strategies, that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and which are affordable to resource-limited rural and urban communities. icipe's mandate further extends to the conservation and utilization of the rich insect biodiversity found in Africa. Today, icipe is the only international center in sub Saharan Africa working primarily on arthropods. icipe focuses on sustainable development using human health as the bases, and the environment as the foundation for sustainability. icipe works in a holisitic and integrated approach through a 4-H paradigm -- Human, Animal, Plant and Environmental Health, with the aim of improving the overall health of communities in tropical Africa by addressing the interlinked problems of poverty, poor health, low agricultural productivity and degradation of the environment.