Calling for measures to mitigate pandemic disruptions to the global trade of goods in Kenya

June 28, 2022 – A team of local PEP researchers held an online national policy conference to present their recommendations for modifying Kenya’s Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) to mitigate disruptions to the global trade of goods. 

The team brought together 26 decision makers, policy stakeholders, academics, and representatives of civil society for their event.  

The key policy stakeholders in attendance were a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mombasa County’s Director of Budget & Economic Planning, an economics advisor to the State Department of Planning and a National Treasury policy analyst.   

PEP researchers Ismael Fofana and Miriam W. Oiro Omolo presented their findings and recommendations from their research project which evaluated policy responses to the Covid-19 crisis to promote inclusive policy decisions. 

They explained that ERS program incentives, like soft loans to hotels for refurbishment and subsidized supplies of farm inputs, will allow Kenya to revive the tourism and agriculture sectors. However, modifications to the ERS are needed to address disruptions of the global trade of goods in order to recover from the negative shocks caused by the pandemic.

During the discussion, audience members were very engaged and asked many questions about data, food nutrition, security, and agricultural policy. Nutrition International's national director described the information presented by PEP researchers as “very useful". She said the team’s findings would be helpful to development partners in planning responses and recovery strategies to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The research team organized the event with financial and advisory support from PEP under the Covid-19 Responses for Equity (CORE) program funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).