Regional Africa Leather and Footwear Industry Programme

6 Summary The evaluation of the UNIDO Leather Programme in Eastern and Southern Africa, based on field visits to four countries, concludes that the Programme is relevant as it addresses actual needs of development partners and target beneficiaries (institutions, industrial companies, hides and skins extension services, etc.) in a sector with a potential to produce competitive companies. The Programme was managed and implemented in an efficient way with minimal complaints about the quality of UNIDO inputs (experts, training, equipment). Some inconsistencies in timing of UNIDO's and the partners' inputs were noted, usually due to factors beyond the control of Programme management. Good results were obtained in particular in rehabilitation of tanneries, establishment of effluent treatment plants, rehabilitation of a number of footwear manufacturing plants and establishment of the Training and Produc tion Centre for the Shoe Industry (TPCSI) at Thika, Kenya. Gender issues were addressed intensely, with good results achieved in supporting female entrepreneurs, training of women and promoting female professionals, but less evident results in generating new job opportunities for women. Results in hides and skins improvement were less satisfactory mainly due to the complexity of the socioeconomic factors affecting the sub-sector, including the diminishing direct budgetary support of central governments to hides and skins improvement. In spite of that, positive results were achieved in some target areas. Significant impact will be achieved particularly in the elimination of effluent once all effluent treatment plants are in full operation; this impact will be achieved with cost efficiency well comparable with the elimination of a similar amount of pollution in Europe. Another impact is demonstrated in increased availability of locally produced finished leather of good quality and the upgraded quality of shoes produced in some companies supported by the Programme. A few companies managed to establish themselves in export markets in Europe and USA. Although the quantity and value of exported shoes are modest, they represent a pioneering accomplishment. In some leather products companies, however, the impact was rather marginal. The Programme approach, manifested in supporting a number of clients and beneficiaries in various sub-sectors connected through input-output linkages, contributed to the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Programme as the linkages produced synergy effects. Sustainability of the developed capabilities varies; even though none of the supported institutions achieved full sustainability in financial terms, TPCSI, which is owned by the industry association, achieved remarkable results by covering almost all operating costs …