Michael Touchton, PhD, is a professor of political science at the University of Miami, and faculty lead for global health at the institute for advanced study of the Americas. His interests are in relationship between governance, human, and economic development at the local, national, and international levels and has secured over a million US dollars international grands for research work on the field in Kenya, Brazil and other parts of the world.
He has a wealth of experience in participatory budgeting, having done numerous research in the area, and presented research papers in international conferences all over the world with World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank among other international bodies and universities.
Touchton studies governance and development, primarily in East Africa and Latin America, and is the author of three books and more than 30 academic articles. His most recent work focuses on participatory budgeting in Kenya, with the support of the World Bank and county governments, one being on an evaluation of participatory budgeting for taxation in multiple counties across Kenya in partnership with other partners.