The Limits of Policy Success: The Case of the Dairy Sector in Kenya

The Limits of Policy Success:

The Case of the Dairy Sector

in Kenya

Rosemary Atieno, Ph.D.Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi,

Kenya

Future Agricultures Consortium Workshop onPolitics and Policy Processes for the

2008 World Development Report on Agriculture

22-23 January 2006Institute of Development Studies, UK

www.future-agricultures.org

WDR Politics and Policy Processes

WorkshopIDS – Jan 07




Agriculture Sector Policy-Making in Kenya

Policies since independence have varied from total control by the government to liberalisation, with market forces and private individuals playing important role

Role of Political Elite & Interest Groups1. Political environment has been a major factor in

determining policy initiatives and implementation

2. Concentration of power among ruling elite orientation of the policy priorities of government

3. Politics of patronage from Office of President on down

4. Parliamentary approval process serves as impediment

5. Nature of politics political factions/interest groups/alliances







Role of Donors

1. Donor-driven policies often have not received strong political support from elites

2. Establishment of new class of technocrats aim at overcoming prevailing resistance to change

Role of Civil Society/NGOs

1. Since mid-1990s, multi-party democracy rise of Civil Society advocacy and lobbying

2. Alliances between donors and Civil Society

3. Mobilisation of farmers/communities to engage in policy process




The Dairy Sector

1. The dairy sector viewed as long-running ‘success story’

2. Classic ‘New Agriculture’ case:– smallholder-based; – private-sector integrated; – pro-poor; – commercially orientated







Elements of Policy Success• Smallholder oriented from the start• Strong political backing across regimes • Focused on high-potential areas with

sound market infrastructure• Attractive to private investment• Effective farmer unions/groups• Consistent and strong donor support

But…unresolved issues remain • Post-liberalisation, policy mainly favours large-

scale dairy processors• Market access for smallholders; conflicts

between raw milk vendors (mainly women) and dairy processors (mainly men) gender dimension

• Legal and regulatory framework out dated and controlled by large processors

• Not transferable to lower potential areas same conditions do not exist

• How ‘pro-poor’ is this ‘success story’?







Lessons:

• Replicability need to locate policy in particular political and agroecological contexts (policy process)

• Distribution ‘pro-poor’ policy outcomes are not a given – requires strategic interventions at high levels (politics is important)

Documents

The Limits of Policy Success: The Case of the Dairy Sector in Kenya