KEPSA participated in a three-day stakeholders’ workshop on Green Supplement to the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and Action Plan for Kenya held from October 1^st through to October 3^rd, 2024 at the Trademark Hotel, Nairobi organized by the State Department of Trade in collaboration with United Nations Economic Commission of Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. The workshop's primary focus was the validation of the draft Green Supplement to the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and Action Plan for Kenya.

The Green Supplement aims to guide Kenya in harnessing opportunities for green intra-African trade and climate adaptation within the tea and coffee sectors. It aims to integrate sustainable practices, promote climate resilience, and align trade with environmental goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The key takeaways that underscore this are: -

1. Addressing sectoral climate adaptation needs and sustainability by promoting regenerative agriculture and Sustainable Consumption and Production Practices (SCPs) to build resilience, enhance sustainability and value addition in the tea and coffee sectors;
2.  Leveraging green trade opportunities within the AfCFTA that can enhance competitiveness;
3. Promoting regulation alignment and adoption of green standards
4. Women and youth empowerment in trade by advancing their roles in the value chains and targeted capacity-building programs that enhance inclusive growth;
5. Fostering cooperation among value chain actors such as farmers, processors, exporters, and policymakers to streamline sustainability goals;
6. Policy and incentive development through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to advance climate-resilient projects, incentives for green certifications, non-tariff measures (NTMs), and economic policies that support sustainable trade.

In his remarks, Mr. Joseah Rotich, the Ag. Director, External Trade, highlighted why tea and coffee were used as the pilot sectors towards the Green Supplement initiative. He noted that tea and coffee sectors contribute highly to the country’s GDP with tea accounting for 23%, and supporting 650,000 farmers while coffee is the 4^th leading foreign exchange earner with 60-70% of production from small-scale farmers. He noted that the two sectors are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and stressed the need for greening and climate change adaptation to promote climate-resilient trade and practices. He further stated that the Ministry is currently developing a Trade Development Bill, which will establish a foundational legal framework for the trade sector.

KEPSA plays a pivotal role in advancing food and nutrition security through the adoption of sustainable practices in Kenya's tea and coffee sectors. By aligning its initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), KEPSA is well-positioned to champion climate change adaptation strategies that will enhance the resilience of these critical industries. This not only strengthens Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets but also ensures sustainable growth.

To access the draft Green Supplement to the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and Action Plan for Kenya please click here.