The PPG aims to assess the impact and effectiveness of the Centre of Phytosanitary Excellence (COPE) in enhancing phytosanitary capacity across Africa. This evaluation will identify opportunities and challenges for regionalizing COPE, providing a foundation for scaling it up as a regional entity. The findings will inform the development of a project proposal to strengthen COPE's role in supporting African countries gain better access to market by complying with international phytosanitary standards.
The Centre of Phytosanitary Excellence (COPE) was launched in 2011 in Kenya with support from an STDF-funded project (STDF/PG/171) to improve the capacity of national phytosanitary systems in East Africa.
Managed by KEPHIS and supported by various regional and international partners, COPE offers trainings in plant health, seed certification, and food safety to public and private stakeholders. COPE also organizes phytosanitary related conferences and publishes the African Phytosanitary Journal.
COPE was created 13 years ago and despite its achievements and KEPHIS active support for its sustainability, its results, impacts and benefits to countries in the region have not been properly assessed. At the same time, the region still faces several phytosanitary related challenges. While COPE's current curriculum covers various phytosanitary topics, the assessment's findings could help define whether this curriculum is still fit for purpose to address existing and emerging phytosanitary challenges.
This PPG will evaluate COPE's contributions, governance, and sustainability, aiming to enhance its role in addressing phytosanitary challenges and improving market access for African agricultural products.