Development of an Innovation-led Bioeconomy Strategy for Eastern Africa

EASTECO with support from Bio Innovate Africa program, is leading a consortium of 4 other partners in the process of developing a regional innovation driven bioeconomy strategy shared by the countries in the Eastern Africa region. The overall development objective of the BiSEA project is to develop a regional innovation driven bioeconomy strategy and a policy agenda shared by the countries in the eastern Africa region. This is being done in close consultation with Science and Technology Councils / Commission and relevant ministries and stakeholders in all six Bio Innovate countries. The regional bioeconomy strategy is expected to inspire and catalyze the development of national bioeconomy strategies and subsequent policy development and interventions that are able to create new jobs and a sustainable.

The expected outcome of the BiSEA project is increased knowledge and awareness about the state of bio-economy issues, landscape and development in eastern Africa.

The development of the regional innovation driven bioeconomy strategy will involve establishing the status of the bioeconomy in each of the participating countries including identifyingkey actors, assessing policy options, gaps, and challenges for future biobased economic growth in the region; an in-depth assessments and empirical studies of strategic issues, and factors enabling biobased economic growth in eastern Africa. National Working Groups (NWGs) have been established in all the participating countries as well as a Regional Drafting Group (RDG). Consultation is on-going at the national and regional levels.

Stakeholders who attended the BiSEA Project inception meeting in Kampala, Uganda