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Title Institutional and Governance Arrangements Shaping Kenya-Uganda Cross-Border Trade in Charcoal
Full text https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/institutional-and-governance-arrangements-shaping-kenya-uganda-cr
Date 2022
Author(s) Gambo, Jared Oluoch; Sola, Phosiso; Ingram, Verina
Abstract Governance of woodfuel value chains, especially charcoal, remains a challenge in most African countries. Institutions for supporting, regulating and guiding its production and trade are often spread across several ministries and agencies resulting in legal pluralism that is often poorly coordinated. In Kenya forest charcoal rules have been implemented since 2009, aimed at formalizing and legalizing charcoal production and trade. However, their implementation came short of expectations, contributing to deforestation in gazetted and protected areas. As a result, in February 2018, a logging moratorium was imposed that banned charcoal production in public and community forests, leading to increased cross-border trade with significant flows coming from Uganda, as well as DRC and South Sudan. This study sought to understand the institutional mechanisms shaping formal and informal charcoal cross-border trade flows across the Kenya-Uganda border post at Busia. Stakeholder and value chain actor interviews were conducted, complemented by a market survey, literature review and document analysis. Quantitative data on charcoal trade was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and qualitative data analyzed using Atlas.ti 9. Between August 2018 and December 2020, approximately 155,500 tons of charcoal were formally imported into Kenya from Uganda (97.3%), DRC (2.5%) and South Sudan (0.2%). More men (67%) than women (31%) participate in the formal trade. Formal imports by men accounting for 55%, women 41% and 4% by companies during the same period. An estimated 24% of 5682 bags of charcoal traded during the two-weeks market survey was informal. The findings suggest that formal trade in charcoal is regulated largely by national forestry and revenue administration's laws, with the role of East Africa Community trade protocols ambiguous Corrupt practices were reported at roadblocks and tax collection points, raising questions on the effectiveness of regulations. Enhanced harmonization of national regulations, coordination and cooperation across agencies within and across borders are recommended to attain more sustainable charcoal value chains in East Africa.
Subject(s) Life Science
Language en
Publisher SSRN
Relation https://edepot.wur.nl/585504
Type of publication Working paper
Format text/html
Rights Wageningen University & Research
Identifier 10.2139/ssrn.4236030
Repository Wageningen - University of Wageningen
Added to C-A: 2023-01-25;10:27:01