Final Evaluation of Standards for Market Access Programme (SMAP) (2019)

In particular, this evaluation was deemed to serve at assessing what the Action has achieved in terms of (1) domestication by Kenya of international standards for animal and plant-based products; (2) enhancement of the capacities of the key Kenyan institutions in the enforcement of safety standards in animal and plant-based products and service delivery (KEBS, DVS, KEPHIS) and; (3) in broadening the demand for SPS testing and standardization of quality in animal and plant-based products. Furthermore, this evaluation has, in effect, analysed what have been the factors that made possible or created obstacles to the achievement of the action results.

The methods applied for the final evaluation of SMAP have included: a) Desk Research: collection and analysis of the materials supplied to the team by the EUD prior to travelling to Nairobi and gathered during the mission. b) Structured Interviews: with the key stakeholders and with other relevant parties identified during the first workshop with the Reference Group and through subsequent consultations. The structured interviews took place along the guidelines relating to the evaluation questions and judgement criteria explained in Annex 4 of this report. C) Site visits: Missions took place in three counties that benefited from the Action: Kirinyaga regarding activities conducted by KEPHIS and FPEAK in support to green beans producers (SPS expert);, regarding activities conducted by UNIDO and DVS in the milk sector (Animal Health expert); Nakuru, regarding receipt of Laboratory equipment at the Regional Veterinary Investigation Laboratory (RVIL) and interview with County veterinary personnel who benefitted from SMAP training; and Mombasa for KEBS operations at the port regarding conformity assessments processes (Team Leader, Trade expert). Site visits took place also in and around Nairobi, i.e. process and facilities at Muguga, JKIA, laboratories of KEBS, KEPHIS, and DVS.

The SMAP programme was developed to address perceived shortcomings in the capacity and infrastructures of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and Kenya Plant Health Inspection Service (KEPHIS) to facilitate outreach to stakeholders outside these organisations at national, regional and international levels.

The overall objective of the SMAP programme was to enhance market access and competitiveness of Kenya’s plant and animal-based products through greater adoption of relevant international standards and improved regulation and enforcement in Kenya.  The programme had three specific objectives:  1. To contribute to the domestication by Kenya of international standards for animal and plant-based products;  2. To enhance the capacities of the key Kenyan institutions in the enforcement of safety standards in animal and plant based products and service delivery;  3. To broaden the demand for SPS testing and standardization of quality in animal and plant- based products.  As the project focused on standards of rural products, the environmental sustainability dimension of production and value addition processes were fundamental cross cutting issues.

The expected results of the programme were:

1. Enhanced set of standards and regulations for Kenyan Plant and Animal based products. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as the main standards setting body in Kenya conducted   specific studies to identify the relevant standards to be domesticated using inputs from the Department of veterinary services (DVS) for animal based products and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for products of plant origin.
2. Stronger institutional capacity for relevant testing and certification of Kenyan plant and animal based products. KEPHIS, KEBS and DVS were expected to improve surveillance, risk analysis, testing and certification capabilities. The three institutions upgraded their laboratories through the acquisition of state of the art equipment, enhanced the technical capacity of their staff through training and further strengthened the decentralisation of service delivery.
3. Improved outreach and service delivery in regard to testing and certification to producers, processors and traders of Kenya's plant and animal based products. UNIDO reached out to Business Member Organisations (BMOs) to increase their knowledge and uptake of SPS standards. This was done through training and in return the BMOs raised awareness to their members which resulted in better quality production. UNIDO also engaged with consumer organisations to stimulate the demand side of certification.