Training workshop on Transformation, Cluster Development, Work Plan and Responsibility Matrix Design for Project Beneficiaries was held during 1 - 4 December 2015 at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Though the "Greening SMEs Leather Clusters and Leather Tanning Industry in Kenya" project funded by the European Union(EU) through the United Nations Environmental Programme and the United Nations Officer for Project Services (UNEP/UNOPS), the workshop was organized by COMESA/LLPI and KLDC.
On a broad scale, the project aims at encouraging eco-friendly entrepreneurship, sustainable production and consumption of the leather and leather products, tannery waste management and adoption of practices to check of carbon emissions to the atmosphere. The main objective of the training was focusing on:
- Training for project beneficiaries on the Switch Africa Green (SAG) Project and the areas of focus for the leather sector;
- Training on Cluster Development;
- Design of Workplan and Responsibility Matrix.
During the workshop the following training and presentations were delivered:
- Training for Transformation;
- The importance of Standards in Industrial Development and Certification Requirements (By Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS))
- The Role of the Ministry in Building the Capacity of Enterprise to meet Environmental Requirements; How can the Government Work with Stakeholders in designing a Road Map for Meeting Environmental Regulations(By Ministry of Environment);
- The importance of Cleaner Production in the Leather Value Chain: What Strategic Role can the Cleaner Production Centre Play (By Cleaner Production Center);
- The Role of the Academia in MSMEs development (By Dedani Kimathi);
- How can KIRDI Assist the Development of MSMES Clusters (By KIRDI)
- Introduction to Clusters
- Project Overview: Greening SMEs Leather Clusters and Leather Tanning Industry in Kenya (COMESA/LLPI)
- Presentation of the Responsibility Matrix
- Presentation of profiling tools
Besides to the presentations made, group discussions were undertaken on the following topics:
- What Challenges MSMEs face in Clustering and How can these Challenges be Addressed;
- What Challenges MSMEs face in Resource Efficiency Management and the Certification Process;
- What Challenges are Tanneries Facing in Meeting Environment Regulations & What should be done to Assist them;
- Improve SMEs competitiveness through energy, space and machinery optimization by promoting joint use under Clusters;
- Promote recycling and reduction in the use of chemicals with a negative impact to the environment;
- Developing a roadmap for improving effluent management and quantification of carbon footprint in the leather sector.
During the workshop, leather footwear and leather goods were showcased to share experiences of SMEs among themselves.
In general, the training workshop has given good understanding of the cleaner production and consumption for participants/stakeholders in the leather and leather products sector.
