Kenya

Activities and Achievements

Fields of intervention

In the context of Article 5, Article 6, Article 21 and Article 22 of the Nagoya  Protocol on ABS the cooperation focusses on awareness creation and capacity development with an objective of strengthening the national regulatory, institutional and administrative ABS framework and contributing to a functional national ABS system.

  • Development of domestic regulatory measures, institutional arrangements and coordination amongst partners
  • Creation of institutional arrangements and fostering coordination amongst six key institutions through the development of an IT-based single window system for application and permitting of access to genetic resources and monitoring of their utilization to enhance benefit sharing compliance (IT-System).
  • Capacity development to strengthen institutional capacities for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS in Kenya and the enhancement of the national ABS framework.
  • Capacity development required for the key institutions in three pilot counties and for indigenous people and local communities to effectively participate in the ABS framework based on needs assessments of the Government of Kenya.
  • Capacity development to enable providers of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge to negotiate mutually agreed terms / ABS contract through specific training courses.
  • Awareness raising concerning the importance of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources and issues of benefit sharing.
  • Supporting the establishment of business partnerships for biodiversity-based ABS-compliant value chains. Such partnerships should bring back benefits from utilization of genetic resources to the communities providing the resources and thus contributing to rural development and food security. For that purpose, a dialogue forum between private sector and public sector users and providers of genetic resources in Kenya should be established.

Activities

Conducting national stakeholder planning workshops and other consultations

  • Scoping mission on developing ABS activities at county level
  • Conducting Phase 1 to 3 of the development of the IT-System for ABS Applications Permits and Monitoring
  • Convening a national training on ABS contract negotiations
  • Supporting the development of the biocultural community protocol with the Endorois Welfare Council
  • Conducting national stakeholder planning workshop
  • Supporting participation at the UEBT Beauty of Sourcing with Respect Conference/Paris
  • Convening awareness raising events for the ABS committees in the three pilot counties Baringo, Kakamega and Laikipia 
  • Showcasing ABS and biodiversity-based products at the 5th Devolution Conference
  • Convening awareness raising events for indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs)
  • Facilitating IPLC participation at COP MOP 3 of the Nagoya Protocol/Sharm el-Sheik
  • Conducting Phase 4 of the development of the IT-system
  • Presenting concept and work on the IT system at COP MOP 3 of the Nagoya Protocol/Sharm el-Sheik
  • Supporting the development of the biocultural community protocol with the Endorois Welfare Council
  • Conducting technical conference on ABS for the three pilot counties
  • Conducting awareness raising events for IPLCs
  • Showcasing ABS and biodiversity-based products at the 6th Devolution Conference
  • Supporting participation at the UEBT Beauty of Sourcing with Respect Conference/Paris
  • Supporting ABS contract negotiations in the three pilot counties
  • Finalising the biocultural community protocol with the Endorois Welfare Council
  • Supporting partner institutions in upgrading internal IT systems for permits related to ABS
  • Supporting ABS contract negotiations in Baringo County
  • Supporting partner institutions in upgrading internal IT systems for permits related to ABS
  • Partnering with Kenyan institutions for celebrating 10 years of the Nagoya Protocol in Baringo County

 

 

Major achievements

  • Three CEO meetings (up to 23 institutions, represented by their Directors/CEOs or deputies) on the development of an IT-based ABS application, permitting and monitoring system and presentation of the IT system at COP MOP 3 of the Nagoya Protocol under the lead of H.E Ambassador Maj. Gen Joff Otieno (Kenyan Ambassador in Egypt)
  • Development or upgrading of internal IT systems of partner institutions for various permit applications and approvals
  • Development of a central pilot IT system for the coordinated work of the six partner institutions essential for the functioning of the ABS system
  • Showcasing ABS at local level at two national Devolution Conferences and mentioning of developing and adopting common ABS structures in all 47 counties in the opening speech of the H.E Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya (Chair of the Council of Governors & Governor Kakamega County)
  • Support for the negotiation of major commercial ABS agreements (2 PICs concluded, 2 MAT under negotiations)
  • Development and adoption of the Endorois Peoples’ Biocultural Protocol “Sustainable Biodiversity Resource Management for Access and Benefit Sharing and Protection from threats to Culture”