Gum Arabic Value Chain Development (ITC, 2024)

Context:

Under the International Trade Centre’s MARKUP II program, Kennedy was engaged as a National Consultant to develop South Sudan’s gum Arabic and packaging sectors. Gum Arabic – a key agricultural export – held untapped potential due to fragmented value chains and quality control challenges

Action:

Kennedy conducted a comprehensive value chain mapping for gum Arabic, from harvesters and cooperatives to exporters. He carried out on-the-ground stakeholder surveys to identify bottlenecks in production quality, processing, and market access. In parallel, he helped establish a centralised business registry of gum Arabic producers and traders to improve sector coordination. Kennedy facilitated workshops that brought together farmers, exporters, and government officials, ensuring that voices across the chain were heard. His approach combined data-driven analysis with capacity-building – providing recommendations on quality standards (SPS/TBT compliance), packaging improvements, and market linkage strategies.

Result:

The project delivered a clear roadmap for enhancing the gum Arabic sector’s competitiveness. By identifying critical intervention points, Kennedy’s work enabled ITC and local agencies to target resources more effectively – for instance, training producers on quality standards and advising policymakers on export incentives. The immediate outcome was a set of actionable recommendations adopted by the program, leading to improved coordination among stakeholders and initial steps toward higher export quality. In the long run, this laid the groundwork for South Sudan to increase its gum Arabic exports, benefiting rural livelihoods and diversifying the country’s export base.