The Kenya Country Capacity Assessment on Agribusiness Sector focusing on the Tea sub-sector was launched on Monday, 21 March 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya at a workshop organized by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) and the Kenyan Government Public Service Transformation Division (PSTD).
The Assessment will undertake a comprehensive review of capacity assets, needs and options for strengthening capacity of key targeted institutions responsible in the value-chain of the Tea product. The review will also identify structural and institutional factors including agents that can influence change resulting from a capacity development investment to improve the performance of the product.
These factors will include the conduciveness of the socio-political environment, efficiency of prevailing policy instruments, effectiveness of organizational arrangements, as well as technical skills and knowledge.
“ACBF’s support through KIPPRA for conducting the Kenya Country Capacity Assessment on Agribusiness Sector is crucial so that it will be used to strategize possible interventions to take us to the desired level of capacity” said Mr. Michael Mugo, Secretary, Public Service Transformation Division, at the Kenya Vice President Office during the launch of the stakeholder’s workshop on the capacity assessment exercise.
“It is timely that this assessment is done focusing on the Tea sub-sector as it earns 23% of the country’s foreign currency supporting 5 million Kenyans directly or indirectly,”
“Despite Kenya being the 3rd tea producer globally next to China and India, there are several capacity challenges at each stage in the value chain. ACBF support through KIPPRA for conducting this assessment is crucial so that it will be used to strategize possible interventions to take us to the desired level of capacity” adds Mugo.
“The Kenya Country Capacity Assessment will benefit from the vast experience of ACBF in conducting capacity assessments and of KIPPRA excellence in policy research”, said, Mr. Beruk Negash, ACBF’s Program Officer representing ACBF at the meeting.
He mentioned that ACBF investment in capacity building in Kenya has reached USD43.4 Million and this country capacity assessment is a continuation of ACBF support through KIPPRA.
The Assessment was officially launched by Mr. Saitoti Torome, Principal Secretary for State Department of Planning, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, through his representative who gave an assurance that the Ministry will provide all the necessary support for effective implementation of the assessment.
The workshop had representatives from the public, private and civil society as well as academic and research institutions relevant to tea production, processing, marketing and branding. They made a commitment to play their part for the success of the assessment.
The assessment is expected to be finalized by the end of May 2016 when a validation workshop will be undertaken with all stakeholders involved. Tetralink Taylor Consultants will conduct the Assessment.
