USAID support to KARI
I. Historical Perspective
Support to Kenya’s research system by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dates back to 1964, under the defunct East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization (EAAFRO). Thereafter the USAID sponsored Food Crops Research Project (FCRP-615-229) started in 1967. This gave birth to most of Kenya’s maize hybrids and facilitated capacity building in NRS – Kitale, Embu and Katumani.
The next phases of support were under the National Agriculture Research Project (NARP). Phase I in (1987) and Phase II from 1992 to 1998. The USAID Support for NARP I was largely implemented by the host country contract between KARI and the Mid- American International Agricultural Consortium (MIAC) and carried out under the leadership of the University of Missouri, USA. The second phase of the NARP began in 1992 for a further five years with MIAC and the University of Missouri again as the project management agency. During these two phases USAID supported KARI Maize and Sorghum breeding programmes. Several KARI scientists were trained. They were trained in PhD and Msc. levels. Further, USAID, UNDP and the World Bank supported most of the on-station sorghum and millet research programmes, capacity building and infrastructure. USAID supported the Kenya Dual purpose Goat Programme under NARP II. Evaluation of vegetables, fruits and cut flower imported varieties was undertaken. By the time the USAID support terminated in September 1998 these funds had supported 29 projects with the USAID and other USA institutions playing a centre stage in the project management and coordination. Other major donors at this time had their Liaison officers or technical personnel based at KARI headquarters to oversee their funded programmes implementation. The USAID Development Assistance Grant Agreement No. 615-007 between the United States of America and the Republic of Kenya aims to Increase Rural Households Incomes under USAID Strategic Objective 7 (SO7).
II. Current Programme Components
As a consequence of NARP I and NARP II, ADSP was crafted upon a solid foundation of past USAID investment in agriculture research. The Goal of the ADSP is to increase the strength and competitiveness of agricultural markets where the PURPOSE is to increase the participation of the private sector in agricultural markets so as to effectively supply yield- enhancing agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers and to increase demand for agricultural outputs from these small holder farmers. The ADSP (NARP III) was thus a logical continuation of past USAID investments in agricultural research.
The KARI component of ADSP is organized in three components, all aimed at increasing participation and efficiency of the private sector in supplying agricultural inputs to smallholders and providing output market services. The following are the 5 – strategic outputs of the project .
1. Commercially oriented technological packages developed with small-holders
2. Commercially viable seed production system established
3. Appropriate technology uptake pathways identified
4. Enabling policy frameworks that permit development and uptake of the technologies defined
5. Institutional capacity building.
This is in line with USAID/Mission Strategic Objective of Increased commercialization of smallholder agriculture and Natural Resource Management. This would in turn “Increase Rural Household Incomes”.
Under the current Strategic Objective 7 support by USAID, emphasis has been given in the following areas:
Biotechnology Programme
Kenya Maize Development Programme
Kenya Dairy Development Programme
Kenya Horticulture Development Programme
Soil Fertility Research Project
Nutribusiness Activity
III. USAID – KARI Programmes Coordination Unit
With completion of NARP II and end of tour of duty of MIAC and USAID appointed technical staff, and at the request of Director KARI to ensure local capacity building in project management a USAID/KARI Programmes Coordination Unit was conceived in 1999 with the following Terms of Reference.
Constant linkage between programmes and USAID offices
Financial management and control
Preparation of tenders for procurement of equipment in collaboration with KARI supplies Division and follow-up of supplies contracts
Technical coordination of research activities and evaluation of implementation status through KARI’s Assistant Directors
Coordination of formulation of research proposals for USAID support
Coordination of preparations of workplans and technical and financial reports
Monitoring and Evaluation of research programmes
Establishment of linkages with all stakeholders
Appointment of short-term consultants and contractors, in liaison with KARI management and USAID
IV. USAID/KARI Programmes Steering Committee
To ensure that programmes under SO 7 comply with USAID and KARI regulations and on policy issues a Programme Steering Committee is an advisory and a monitoring and evaluation entity consists of the following members:
Director KARI or representative – Chairman
USAID Director or representative
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture or Representative
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development or representative
Ministry of Finance (USAID Desk Officer)
USAID Programmes Coordinator (Secretary) The Programme Steering Committee will meet quarterly and will be presented with the Programmes reports from the Programme Coordination Unit.
V.Technical Steering Committees
Each programme sub-component has a Technical Steering Committee that meets quarterly and is composed of the following members.
Program sub-component field manager
Assistant Director responsible for the component – Secretary
Research Scientist for the particular components
Centre Director of the site or representative
USAID Programmes Coordinator – Chairman
USAID Programmes Finance & Administration Manager.
This committee will discuss among others, the following
Technical reporting (annual and quarterly)
Financial reports
Constraints in programme implementation
Centre level daily coordination and management of activities
Expenditure and accounting of project funds
VI. USAID-KARI Programmes Coordination Unit Staff
The unit comprises of a Programmes Coordinator, Finance & Administration Manager, one Accounts Assistant, one accounts clerk and a clerk cum secretary. They work in close liaison with Programme sub-component Managers, KARI’s Assistant Directors, Centre Directors and individual research scientists in the programmes sub-components. The coordinator on behalf of Director – KARI is responsible for reporting to the USAID on matters relating to the overall management and implementation of the programmes