Capability Statement
CUTS-Africa Resource Centre, Nairobi
Introduction
Consumer Unity and Trust Society, Africa Resource Centre, popularly known as (CUTS ARC, Nairobi) is
a non governmental Organisation (NGO). The organisation was duly registered as an NGO in Kenya in
the year 2000 but began its operation in the year 2003. The organisation is a Resource Centre of CUTS
International, headquartered in India. Over the past years, the Centre has established itself and contributed
effectively in the policy making process in Eastern African region and particularly in Kenya. The strength
of the organisation is drawn from its work methodology viz. research, advocacy, networking and capacity
building in three key programmatic areas.
CUTS Vision:
Consumer sovereignty in the framework of social justice and equality, within and across borders
CUTS ARC, Nairobi Mission:
To function as a resource, coordination as well as networking Centre to promote South-South cooperation
for a sustainable, people-centred economic development.
Programmes
Trade and Development
Consumer Protection and Governance
Competition, Investment and Economic Regulations
Major Activities
Research
Evidence Based Advocacy
Outreach and Dissemination
Capacity Building (Training)
Networking
Resources
Five programme centres and six resource centres spread in India, Africa, and Europe. Visit
www.cuts-international.org
Seven staff with great diversity, experience and dedication.
In-house editorial, desk top publishing and a library with research materials on contemporary issues
of global economic development and governance.
A network of local and international experts with whom the Centre regularly consults with.
Attributes and Values
Adopting a
centrist approach
in our research, advocacy and capacity-building activities.
Ensuring outputs, outcomes, and effective follow-ups for implementation of policy recommendations.
Focus on areas (subject areas and geographical areas) where need exists.
Carved a niche for itself in research, advocacy and networking on several issues of public interest
(modelled on an evidence-based advocacy and capacity building approach)
Provided capacity building support to various groups of stakeholders across Africa.
Outreach
Publishing a wide spectrum of material for information dissemination for semi-literates to
professionals in a reader-friendly format ranging from policy briefs to research reports
Have created sustainable networks from national, regional and international levels.
Extremely proficient at organizing campaigns, meetings, workshops and seminars from the village
level comprising 5-6 participants to the international level with over 500 participants
Advisers
The Centre carries its activities forward under the guidance of its advisory board and project-specific
advisors who are renowned experts and practitioners on Centre’s programme areas.
Current and future research areas, significant achievements
a)
Current Research Areas
The Centre presently focuses on research and capacity-building activities at the national and multi-
country levels, these include:
Involvement in Competition Policy and Law of CUTS International project (2008-2010) in select
seven west African countries: Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo
funded by IDRC and DfID through the CUTS India office.
Agriculture and Market Linkages: a project themed Fostering Equity and Accountability in the
Trading Systems (FEATS) funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation through the CUTS
Geneva office.
http://www.cuts-grc.org/FEATS-Projects.htm
Building the capacity of civil society organisation in East Africa to respond to policy challenges in
integration of the EAC vis-à-vis external bilateral, regional and multilateral trade arrangements like
EPAs and WTO, a 2008-2010 project funded by German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ) through the CUTS Geneva Resource Centre
www.cuts-grc.org/
Research on formulation of a joint African Strategy, looking at the aspect of the customs union i.e.
challenges and opportunities; a project funded by FES, Kenya (2008 ongoing).
Regional Integration (ongoing since 2007): initially launched with seed funds from
CIDA
and
DfID
to do capacity-building around the objectives of regional integration enshrined in the New Partnership
for African Development (
NEPAD
) in the ongoing East African integration meant to become a
Federation by 2010. Since then
FES, Kenya
has also come in as a key supporter of the Centre’s
regional integration activities.
Research Project on the Competition policy and regulations in the energy sector in Kenya Supported
by
Trust Africa [
2008-2009].
EPAs (ongoing since 2005): a research, advocacy and capacity building project for Civil Society
Organizations in six countries viz. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia and Malawi. It is
supported by
Royal Danish Embassy
. Subsequent support has been made by Overseas Development
Institute, London; European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), Netherlands;
and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Kenya.
b)
Concluded Research Projects and Policy Advocacy/Selected Milestones
a.
Research
Linkages between Trade, Development and Poverty Reduction (TDP)
The Centre has been
coordinating the Linkages between Trade, Development and Poverty Reduction project, over a period
of the last four years (January 2005 to December 2008) with support from the Royal Netherlands
Embassy and DFID, UK. This Project was implemented in selected countries in Asia, Africa and
Europe in a partnership mode. Research, capacity building and advocacy were carried out during the
period. The Centre coordinated research, advocacy and networking aspects of the project in the East
African region with partner organisations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. (2005-2008).
Comparative Study of Sectoral Regulation in Developing Countries: Lessons for Policy, Governance
and Implementation – A Case Study of Kenya. Unpublished Research Report
(2007).
A multi country Diagnostic Research on Supply-Side Capacity and Export Response (2008).
This is a multi country research project funded by the Commonwealth Fund and covers four
countries, viz. Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. The broad objective of the research project
was to find out the factors determining export success of a few firms in certain sectors of least-
developed countries (LDCs) and small and vulnerable states (SVS) and to learn lessons from the
success experiences so that appropriate interventions can be undertaken for the benefit of other
potential entrepreneurs to strengthen the countries’ efforts towards diversification.
A multi country study on trade on services and domestic regulation: background paper for
Kenya,
2007
. The Kenya study provided background information on the country’s services sector
over the last two decades. It outlined and analysed the evolution of the sector in Kenya since two
decades and its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic product, employment, exports and
imports, investment flows and sectoral linkages. The study also analysed the competitiveness of the
different sub-sectors in the service sector with the particular reference to inter -industry trade and
intra- industry trade. This research project was funded by the Commonwealth Fund.
Investment for Development (IFD Project, 2002-03) –
a two-year research and advocacy project
aimed at supporting pro-development foreign direct investment (FDI) in seven select developing
countries: South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia in Africa and four other countries.
b.
Advocacy
Strengthening Skills on Commercial and Economic Diplomacy and Trade Policy Issues: Training
Programme for Trade Ministry Officials from Selected Commonwealth.
Nairobi, 15-17 June, 2009
Supported by
Commonwealth Secretariat
.
http://www.cuts-citee.org/commercial-diplomacy.htm
Awareness on the multilateral trading system: Opportunities and challenges for East Africa.
Implemented in corporation with the
WTO.
29
th
-30
th
April 2009, Nairobi.
www.cuts-grc.org/
Civil Society Response to Challenges of EAC integration; a regional conference organised under the
BIEAC project, 27-28 April, 2009, Nairobi with the support of GTZ.
www.cuts-grc.org/
Trade Integration in East Africa: Assessing the Impacts of the Customs Union and the Challenges for
the Common Market. This was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) (July 2008).
The Center in liaison with CUTS Center for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation
(CUTS C-CIER) has been involved in research, advocacy and capacity building of national level
stakeholders in seven select countries of east and southern Africa of Uganda, Ethiopia, Namibia,
Malawi, Botswana, Mauritius and Mozambique.
http://www.cuts-ccier.org/7Up-model-en.htm
International Conference on “Civil Society Organisations and Aid for Trade: Roles and
Realities”, 15
th-
-16
th
March, 2007, Nairobi (CITEE)
Economic Partnership Agreement Project (EPAs). This is a research and advocacy-based capacity
building project for CSOs in six countries viz. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia
and Malawi. The initial phase covering the period 2005-2007 was supported by the Royal Danish
Embassy. Since then, several other donors and partners have supported the project; these include
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES); Overseas Development Institute (ODI); the Commonwealth
Secretariat; the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and the German
Development Institute (DIE). Major achievements under this project include:
a)
Capacity-building of civil society organizations
b)
Capacity building of media institutions and Journalists on professional reporting on trade and
integration issues
c)
Publication of a Guide Book on Development Benchmarks in the EPAs funded by FES
d)
Publication on EPAs and Services in the ACP funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat
Regional Integration (ongoing since 2007):
initially launched with seed funds from CIDA and
DFID to do capacity-building around the objectives of regional integration enshrined in the New
Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) in the ongoing East African integration meant to
become a Federation by 2010. Since then FES, Kenya has also come in as a key supporter of the
Centre’s regional integration activities and has carried out the following activities:
a)
A Changing Global Order: Eastern Africa’s Role and Interests, event was carried out in 2007
b)
Formulating Joint African Trade Strategy, event carried out in 2008.
In these projects, the centre has published policy brief and conference volumes which are
continuously shared with relevant stakeholders in all conferences organized by the Centre
Strategic
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
The Centre plans its activities in close consultation with the Head office and other resource centres that
are theme based. Centre advisors in the region and overseas are also key in developing and monitoring the
strategic purposes of every ongoing and intended activities. The Centre enjoys a broad-based network of
non-state actors, government and development partners from the South as well as renowned consultants
who enable the organization to participate fully in policy advisory activities. These are links that enable
the organization’s work to have an impact on all the relevant stakeholders from the top to the grassroots,
owing to their positions and sectors they represent. Our multi-sectoral based partners have been very
much involved in our regional programmes in the Eastern and Southern Africa; worthy to mention is
recognition of the crucial role played by governments in policy making and implementation thus our
partnership with various governments in the region. We continue to undertake our work here in Kenya
following strict adherence to terms of reference formulated at high-level consultations.
Partners
The organization works with several national, regional and international organizations on issues of
developing countries’ interests, apart from working with several policy-making bodies, governmental
bodies and inter-governmental bodies. Our major partners include, but not limited to:
PARTNERS
FUTURE PARTNERS
Donor Agencies
IDRC,
TRUST AFRICA, Senegal
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
European Centre for Development Policy Management
(ECDPM);
German
Ministry
for
Economic
Cooperation
and
Development (BMZ)
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Kenya
DfID-Kenya
Canadian International Development Authority (CIDA)
Commonwealth Secretariat
MS- Uganda
GTZ
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
DANIDA
SIDA, Kenya
Ford Foundation, Eastern Africa
Henrich Boll Foundation
US-AID
DFID-UK
Civil Society, NGO, and INGOs
CUTS Centres in India, Lusaka, London, Geneva and Hanoi
Kenya
Econews Africa
Institute of Economic Affairs
Oxfam
Kenya Civil Society Alliance (KCSA)
Action Aid
Social Development Network Kenya SODNET
Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and
Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)
Central Food Network
Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum (KSSFF)
Kenya Debt Relief Network (KENDREN)
Eastern Africa Coalition on Economic, Social and Cultural
rights (
EACOR
)
Consumer Information Network (CIN)
Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development
(ACORD)
Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
Uganda
SEATINI
Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations
(DENIVA)
Community Development Initiative (CDI)
Consumer Education Trust (CONSENT)
Africa Centre for Trade and Development (ACTADE)
Tanzania
Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organisations
(TANGO)
Rwanda
ACORD
Burundi
Association des Commerçants du Burundi (ACOBU)
1
ONG
Ethiopia
Action Aid
Aha
Ethiopian
Consumer
Protection
Association
(AHaECoPA)
Malawi
Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN)
Research Institutions
Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.
(KIPPRA).
Institute of Policy analysis and research (IPAR).
Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA)
Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Tanzania
Centre for Social Research (CSR), Malawi
1
Association of Burundian Traders
Governments
Kenyan Ministries of Trade, Industrialization, Planning and
National Development, Agriculture, and East African
Cooperation;
Various government departments in Kenya, Tanzania,
Ethiopia and Uganda,
Government of Rwanda
Government of Burundi
Government Agencies
Uganda Communications Commission
Communications Commission of Kenya
Monopolies and Prices Commission of Kenya (MPC)
Kenya and European Post Lome Trade (KEPLOTRADE)
ERC
Private Sector
Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF)
Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI)
Uganda Manufacturer’s Association (UMA)
Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
Various regional Chamber of Commerce Offices in Tanzania
Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Rwanda Private Sector
Burundi Private Sector
IGOs
East Africa Community (EAC)
Common
Market
for
Eastern
and
Southern
Africa
(COMESA)
Africa Union (AU)
UNECA
UNDP Office-Kenya
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
UNCTAD
NEPAD
EAC SECRETARIAT
COMESA
Universities
University of Nairobi
University of Dar es Salaam
Addis Ababa University
Makerere University
University of Rwanda
University of Burundi
Address
Consumer Unity & Trust Society
Centre for International Trade Economics and Environment (CUTS-CITEE)
Yaya Court, Second Floor, Room No.5 Ring Road Kilimani
P.O.BOX 8188, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
Ph: +254 20 3862149/50,+254.20.2329112
Fax: +254-20- 3862149
Mobile: +254 721 612 664/ 733 990 202
Email:
nairobi@cuts.org
Website:
www.cuts-international.org
