Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) - Strategic Plan 1999 – 2003

P. O. Box 20412, Nairobi
Tel: 254-154-32891/2/3 or 254-154-32541
Fax: 254-154-32844
E-mail: kefri@arcc.or.ke

Foreword The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), which operates under both the Science and Technology Act (CAP 250) and the State Corporation Act (CAP 446), was established in 1986. Since then the Institute has achieved a lot. This has been made possible by funding from many donors, the major ones being the governments of Kenya, Japan, Germany, Canada, Belgium and the United Kingdom among other supporters. Also, to make rapid gains in research efforts, KEFRI developed a collaborative mode with many institutions and stakeholders. Some of the major research partners are KARI, FD, ICRAF, UNEP, UNESCO, AAS, ACTS, several NGOs and many contact farmers.

As KEFRI entered its tenth year in 1996, it had become evident that the Institute had undergone a process of rapid personnel and programme expansion, which had created some problems in co-ordination and harmonization of research programmes. Research had become more discipline-oriented and priorities were not well focused to effectively address pressing problems facing forestry in the country. Following this realization, an internal review of the Institute was undertaken in 1995. This was followed by an external research programme and management review in late 1996/early 1997. The external review urged KEFRI to develop a research plan with prioritized research activities. The review report also recommended development of a flexible research structure based on the following as core research programmes: Farm Forestry, Natural Forests, Forest Plantations and Dryland Forestry. A third important recommendation was that KEFRI should focus on problem-oriented and multidisciplinary research.

These recommendations were adopted by the KEFRI Board of Management. To implement these recommendations, a Priority Setting Workshop was organized in July 1997. The Workshop participants were drawn from a large spectrum of stakeholders. The Workshop participants reviewed forestry research and development in the last decade, and identified and prioritized forestry problems which should be addressed by research. The forum also prioritized the four core research programmes and key Regional Research Centres. Preparation of this strategic plan has been therefore based on the recommendations of the July 1997 Workshop.

In order to achieve the development interests of the stakeholders as elaborated by the workshop, the Strategic Plan is therefore expected to achieve several outputs, among them: moving from single to multidisciplinary-oriented research approach; undertaking problem oriented research; reducing duplication of efforts and thus ensuring cost-effective and efficient use of the limited resources; enabling efficient and problem focussed capacity building; decentralizing research activities to facilitate improved interaction and linkages with the users; developing beneficial partnerships and enhancing information exchange and dissemination.

The plan has seven chapters covering the following areas: KEFRI's mandate, mission, objectives, achievements; development and challenges of forestry research in Kenya; problems identification and priority setting; research and development activities; strategy for programme implementation; resource endowment and requirements; and monitoring and evaluation.

The Board of Management commends the five year plan to the Government of Kenya, donors, our collaborators and to all those who consider research an important tool for forestry and national development.

H. M. Ngibuini
Chairman, KEFRI Board of Management

Table of Contents

Acroynyms

Kenya Forestry Research Institute

Development and Challenges of Forestry Research in Kenya.

Problem Identification and Priority Setting'

Research and Development Programmes

Annex I: Problem ranking and research activities

Annex II: Location of KEFRI's Regional Centres and Sub-Centres

Strategy for Implementation

Resource Endowment and Requirements

Annex III: Short-term training

Annex IV: Short-term training

Monitoring and Evaluation