Transcript Slide 1

FEATS PROJECT
Kenya: Draft Terms of Reference for Second Phase Research Study
Regional Trade in Agriculture: Performance of and Prospects for Kenya with a Focus on
Food Security and Rural Livelihoods
By Rashid S. Kaukab
Deputy Director and Research Coordinator, CUTS Geneva Resource Centre
[email protected]
www.cuts-grc.org
BACKGROUND

Findings of phase one study affirm the importance of agriculture in Kenyan
economy
◦ Agriculture sector contributes substantially to GDP, provides bulk of employment, foreign
exchange earnings and export diversification efforts focused in agriculture
◦ Yet, rural areas have high poverty rates and substantial informal sector employment
◦ Livelihood and employment concerns must be included in development of the agricultural
sector

Criteria for topic
◦ Within “trade in agriculture”; important for livelihoods and employment; and an area
where further research and analysis can add real value

Feedback from Kenya National Reference Group
◦ Desire a topic in agriculture in the broader context of regional trade with particular
emphasis on rural poverty and livelihoods, and food security
◦ This study will provide valuable insight for future actions based on the analysis of the
past and current patterns of regional trade in agriculture and their impact on food
security and rural livelihoods in Kenya.
STUDY OBJECTIVES

To collect information on and analyse the recent trends in regional trade in agriculture,
and on food security and rural livelihoods in Kenya;
• To identify and quantify the volume and composition of informal trade in agriculture
products between Kenya and its regional trading partners;

Examine the relationship between regional trade in agriculture and food security and
rural livelihoods

Generate new insights and knowledge that carry practical implications

To contribute to finding national and regional policies that can harness regional trade in
agriculture to improve food security and rural livelihoods so as to achieve the
objectives of Kenya Vision 2030
KEY SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES TO BE COVERED

Kenyan participation in regional trade in agriculture including both the imports into
and exports from Kenya to its regional trading partner countries;

Informal regional trade in agriculture including its magnitude and composition as
well as main factors determining these;

Main issues and concerns related to food security and rural livelihoods in Kenya;

Role and impact of multilateral (WTO) and regional agreements (EAC, COMESA as
well as EPA) on volume and composition of regional trade in agriculture, and food
security and rural livelihoods in Kenya;

National policies related to agriculture, trade, and regional integration;

Linkages and relationships among various issues with focus on identifying areas for
synergetic action; and

Development of a framework to leverage regional trade in agriculture to improve
food security and rural livelihoods in Kenya.
METHODOLOGY

Principles
Pooling of knowledge and expertise on regional trade, trade in agriculture, food
security, and rural livelihoods;
 Cross-fertilization of ideas and experiences during the study process through
involvement of national and international experts;
 Facilitation of buy-in of the research and its findings by the relevant stakeholders in
the country by involving them through KNRG and meetings etc.


Plan
Literature search to expand and annotate research questions;
 Data collection, fact finding and testing of hypotheses through KNRG consultations,
other meetings, on-line collaboration with national, regional and international
experts and partners, and targeted surveys;
 Consultation with the Project Advisory Committee;
 Presentation of draft findings to another National Stakeholders Dialogue for
validation and finalization.

DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Organization of Sections
 INTRODUCTION
 ANALYSIS

RECOMMENDATIONS
DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Introduction
◦ Brief economic, trade and social profile of agriculture sector: trend in total and main
crop-wise production, agricultural exports and imports, formal and informal
employment in agriculture, rural poverty, and rural livelihoods (annual time series for
last ten years or so)
◦ Trends in regional trade in agriculture: volume and composition of agricultural
imports into and exports from Kenya to its regional trading partners (annual time
series for last ten years or so)
◦ Trends in food security and rural livelihoods: evolution and key developments in the
last ten years or so
◦ Policy framework: key features of development, trade, agriculture and regional
integration policies and their linkages
DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Analysis
A. ) Regional trade in agriculture
What are the main factors that contribute to or hinder regional trade in
agriculture?
 How much of regional agriculture trade involving Kenya is through informal means?
What are the key factors that encourage such trade?
 What is the relationship, if any, between flows of formal and informal regional trade
in agriculture involving Kenya?

B.) Food security and rural livelihoods
What are the key elements of food security situation in Kenya? What are the main
factors responsible for the current food security situation?
 What have been the key developments regarding the improvements or otherwise of
rural livelihoods? How are the food security and rural livelihoods conditions
related?

DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Analysis (cont…)
C.) National, regional and international policy dimensions, and the
role of stakeholders

What are the key features of national policies related to agriculture, trade and regional
integration? How do they take into account food security and rural livelihoods concerns?

What is the impact of regional (e.g., EAC, COMESA) and international (under the WTO)
rights and obligations on national policies on trade, agriculture and regional integration?
How do these regional and international commitments impact on food security and rural
livelihoods?

Who are the main domestic stakeholders in relation to policy formulation and
implementation on agriculture, trade, and regional integration issues? What is the level of
their respective capacities and involvement in relevant policy making and implementation?

What is the role of external stakeholders, e.g., governments of regional trading partner
countries, relevant REC institutions, and international donors?
DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Analysis (cont…)
D.) Synthesis of linkages
• What are the existing positive and negative linkages between regional trade in
agriculture one the one hand, and food security and rural livelihoods in Kenya on the
other? How well are these linkages understood? How can the understanding of these
linkages be improved among policy makers and relevant stakeholders?
• How do the relevant policies (e.g., related to agriculture, trade, and regional
integration) take these linkages into account? What are the gaps?
• What are the positive and negative impacts of regional and international
commitments under the relevant trade agreements on food security and rural
livelihoods in Kenya?
• How can the positive linkages be strengthened and negative linkages addressed?
What can be a holistic framework for comprehensive analysis and coherent responses
to leverage Kenyan participation in regional trade in agriculture – both formal and
informal - to improve its food security and rural livelihoods?
• What are the main capacity building needs in this regard?
DETAILED DRAFT TOR OF THE STUDY
Recommendations

Recommendations to the government

Recommendations to the regional partners, e.g., governments of regional
trading partner countries, relevant REC institutions, other regional
stakeholders

Recommendations to the CSOs, particularly farmers and rural development
organizations

Recommendations to the private sector
TIMELINE
Research
Sept. 2009:
June 2010:
Sept. 2010:
Advocacy
Networking
Detailed ToR to be finalized
First draft shared with
PAC and peers for review
Revised draft research
studies ready
Oct.-Dec. 2010:
Jan. – March 2011:
Present draft to
National Dialogues in
all project countries
Share research
results at
international
conference in
Geneva
Thank You.
Looking Forward to Your Comments and Suggestions to
Finalize the ToR.