Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) facilitated training of SMEs as ToT (Training of Trainers)  in transformative Entrepreneurship, Footwear and Leather Goods Design, Craftsmanship, Export readiness, Costing/Pricing and Record Keeping, was successfully conducted from May 16 to 28, 2022, at the Training and Production Center for Shoe Industry (TPCSI), Thika, Kenya. The training was organized in collaboration with the Kenya Leather Development Council, under BADEA Technical Assistance grant.

The aim of the training was to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs to attain growth through shifting  their  mindset and embrace changes, enhance SMEs technical capacity and economies of scale to supply both Public and Private Sector institutional buyers and promote replication through knowledge sharing & dissemination.A total of 30 participants, thirteen females and 17 male, with the majority from small and medium enterprises attended the training.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) continues to intensify efforts to boost its member states Leather sector SMEs Productivity and Competitiveness.
This intervention is made possible through the grant funding support provided by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

The support comprises provision of “basic equipment for footwear production” and “capacity building Training in Footwear and leather good Design, Craftsmanship, Export Readiness, Transformative Entrepreneurship,  Costing and Record Keeping”.

Earlier this year ALLPI completed installation of equipment at the Training and Production Center for Shoe Industry (TPCSI) Thika, Kenya. TPCSI is a regional training center that was established by the Government of Kenya with support from UNIDO and other cooperating partners in the early nineties and the Government of Kenya and its cooperating partners have invested in infrastructure development support in terms of machines and equipment for the center over the years. The equipment provided by ALLPI recently through BADEA technical support is meant to facilitate the establishment of the Satellite Design Studio that aimed at enhancing design capacity development for the SMEs in Kenya.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) continues to intensify efforts to boost its member states Leather sector SMEs Productivity and Competitiveness.
This intervention is made possible through the grant funding support provided by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). The support comprises provision of “basic equipment for footwear production” and “capacity building Training in Footwear and leather good Design, Craftsmanship, Export Readiness, Transformative Entrepreneurship,  Costing and Record Keeping”

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Leather Industry Development Institute started the training of Artisans/MSME’s on Vegetable Tanning Techniques on April 11, 2022 in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. The Training aims at developing the Artisans/Traditional Tanners products to the quality front.

The training is planned based on the need assessment mission conducted and the identified gap during June 2019.
The 10 days training is being conducted by Mr. Harrison Mungai, Leather value chain Expert (ALLPI), a resource person from Ethiopia, Mr. Habtamu Shiferaw and Co-Trainer from Ethiopia Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI) Mr Tarekegn Jida Lead researcher (Leather Technology) and facilitated by ALLPI Investment, Trade and Marketing expert Mrs. Birkinesh Gonfa.

A team of delegates from Kenya composed of the Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) staff and Board Members visited ALLPI. The Team was facilitated by UNIDO to visit the leather-based enterprises and industrial parks in Ethiopia. In Addition, visiting ALLPI was part of their mission plan. The Team of visitors was led by the Board Chairman of KLDC and was assisted by the CEO of KLDC.

The objectives of the Kenyan Delegates visit to ALLPI were to pay courtesy call to the Executive Director of ALLPI Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, who has recovered from serious illness and to get briefing about the activities of ALLPI in the Member States and specifically in Kenya.

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS has announced the winners of the 2022 IUR research grants to be awarded to two young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the work of young talent in the leather sector.

This is the eighth year of the grants which have been generously supported by industry and IULTCS alike. The Selection Committee of the IULTCS Research Commission (IUR), chaired by Dr Michael Meyer, is pleased to announce the following recipients:

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), following the invitation made by the Honorable Minister of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism of Burundi, H.E. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE, participated in the meeting held on 11^th February 2022 in Bujumbura, Burundi. The purpose of the meeting was to jointly develop Action Plan in some 24 activity areas that were identified as priority projects by the Ministry for the year 2022.  The meeting was attended by more than 50 representatives of different international and national institutions that included World Food Program, UNDP, ALLPI, UNIDO and many others and was chaired by the Honorable Minister H.E. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE. ALLPI was represented by its Programs Coordinator, Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin and the Advisor to the Executive director, Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) have kicked of the Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy Review process aimed at developing a new strategy.

The first round of the process has been started on 15th November 2021 virtually involving 4 COMESA countries namely, Eswatini, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe.