The Institute, in partnership (GIZ), the ABS Initiative, and the County Government of Marsabit, successfully completed a three-day Valorization Training on Gums and Resins Value Chains on 10th July 2025 in Marsabit.
The programme brought together gum and resin producers from key harvesting sub-counties, equipping them with practical skills in market value chain development, quality assurance, financial literacy, and the creation of training toolkits.
Participants also received guidance on registering Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and strategies to promote the active involvement of women and youth in bio-trade.
The training was officially opened by the Chief Officer, Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources, County Government of Marsabit, joined by directors from the Departments of Trade and Investments, and Water, Environment and Natural Resources, as well as senior officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
Sessions were facilitated by Dr. Harmut Meyer from GIZ and experts from the Institute’s Training Division, led by Course Coordinator Mr. Richard Soi.
This initiative supports the Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by empowering local communities to sustainably manage and benefit from natural resources, while fostering stronger market connections for their products.