Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) - Strategic Plan 1999–2003 - Resource Endowment and Requirements

Human Resources

Status of Scientific Staff

At present (1998), KEFRI has a total staff strength of 1,470 comprising of scientists, technicians, enumerators, nursery attendants, seed collectors, janitors, drivers, mechanics, administration, supplies and finance staff. There are 95 research scientists, (PhD, 11; MSc, 51; and BSc, 33). There are 24 scientists on training (PhD, 13 and MSc, 11).

This brings the total number of scientists needed to 75. The trend in the past is that approximately 20 percent of the Institute's scientists have been on training at a given time. This is expected to continue in the next five years. This, therefore, implies that there will be no excess number of scientists.

Capacity Building

KEFRI has prioritized training of its staff to enhance productivity. The future focus will be to train and properly designate scientists according to the needs of the research programmes. Annex III and IV indicate the projected short-term and long-term training in the next five years.

Physical Facilities

The existing facilities are shown in Table 2. Table 3 shows the physical facilities and financial requirements in the next five years ( details are in Annex V) . KEFRI physical facilities are fairly good at Kitui, Muguga and Maseno. However, facilities in otherresearch centres are inadequate and improvement is required to support the recommended decentralization of research activities. Physical facilities, i.e, laboratories, offices, houses and glass houses must be constructed to improve research facilities especially in the field centres.

Table 2. Physical Facilities at headquarters (Muguga) and regional centres

Table 3. Summary of budget for facilities required in the next five years. (Ksh. Millions) - 1999 to 2004

Financing Strategy

Government Funding

In the last two years, approximately 20% and 80% of the total budget were spent on operational and personnel costs respectively. Efforts will be made to increase the allocation of funds for operations to approximately 30 - 40% of the total budget.

Donor Funding Donor funding, especially in the form of infrastructural development, has been an important source of funding for the Institute. KEFRI will continue to seek donor assistance for improvement of research facilities in regional centres and for specific projects. To improve the level of donor funding, the office of the Assistant Director (Service Programme) will support the Director in sourcing for donor funds. Special requests will be made to enable strengthening of the six Regional Research Centres. Workshops will periodically be held to inform donors and source funding.

Collaborative Research

The existing collaborative links with various research and development organizations will be strengthened and new ones developed. In addition, joint sourcing for funds with other relevant institutions will be enhanced. Close working relationships will be strengthened with beneficiaries of forest research to develop mission-oriented research targeted to particular clients. Such a strategy has a great advantage in ensuring direct transfer of technologies and benefits, enhancing feedback mechanisms and cost sharing in research implementation.

Contract Research

KEFRI has the capacity to carry out consultancy services in forestry and related fields for deserving clients. The Institute will advertise its capability for such demands to interested parties.

Income Generation

Revenue generating activities will be initiated and managed by the Service Programme. This would relieve core research programmes from devoting much of their time in income generating activities at the expense of undertaking research. The following revenue generating activities have been identified: sale of tree seed and seedlings, timber and furniture at Karura Centre, logs from closed experiments, use of conference and catering services and conducting short term forestry courses. Management of Karura Workshop and that of training and catering facilities at Muguga and Kitui will be improved with the help of professional advice.

Financial Status

The main sponsor of research and development in the Institute is the Kenya Government. Government grants to KEFRI comprise approximately 90% of KEFRI's total expenditure. The budget for 1998/99 is approximately Ksh. 255 million. Most of the government funding goes towards payment of salaries and related personal allowances. A few donors have assisted the Institute in the development activities. These include JICA, FRG, EU, the Belgian government and other smaller donor funding. During 1998/99 Financial Year, total donor funding is approximately Ksh.64.4 million. There is need to boost the development budget in order to have the physical facilities and infrastructure in place which is a prerequisite in the implementation of this strategic plan. The physical facilities in the field centres will be rehabilitated and upgraded to facilitate the proposed decentralization of research activities.

Efforts however will be made towards mobilization of resources by soliciting funds from donors and private organizations. Also the existing income generating activities will be strengthened in order to improve the financial status of the Institute.

Proposed Budget

Implementation of this strategic plan will require substantial financial resources for personnel expenses, operational expenses and capital development (training included). Currently, there are only four projects which are supported by donors. These include: Social Forestry Project, Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management, ARIDSAK and AFRENA Projects. Capital development and maintenance are critical to ensure the establishment of physical facilities and infrastructure particularly at the research centres. The main objective of this plan is to decentralize research activities to the centres. Efforts will be made to improve research facilities in these centres through construction and renovation of staff houses, offices, glass-houses and seed propagation sheds. Details of the recurrent and capital budgets in the next five years are shown in Annexes V and VI.

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