Dr Kathryn Kraft holds a PhD in Sociology of Religion from University of Bristol UK and holds academic postings in the United Kingdom alongside her work with World Vision. 

Throughout her career she has joined research with practice. She has engaged in peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity work at the grassroots level; has supported institutional strengthening for local NGOs; and has led monitoring, evaluation and accountability in disaster management programmes. Her research interests have focused on the role of local faith organisations in facilitating community healing and nurturing hope. Her teaching and research focuses on the role of faith as a dimension of social change. 

As Global Research Technical Director for World Vision International, she coordinates global research strategy and capacity across the organisation. As a leading research in the field of religions and development, her approach to research ensures that World Vision’s Christian identity and faith values are integrated into all evidence and learning initiatives. She is particularly passionate about qualitative methodologies and has used narrative techniques integrated with theological reflection to strengthen World Vision’s approach to Child Well-Being.

Her main research priority currently is Faith and Child Flourishing, a landmark multi-country longitudinal study designed to strengthen our understanding of children’s spiritual formation and how it interplays with other aspects of child well-being, developing innovative measures for child flourishing, and identifying the role specific interventions play in supporting flourishing among the most vulnerable children.