The EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme Phase II (MARKUP II), has partnered with three national Quality Associations to provide coaching support to 25 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
Through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with the National Quality Association of Tanzania (NQAT), the Quality Assurance Association of Uganda Ltd. (QAAUL), and the Association of Quality Professionals (AQP) in Kenya, this collaboration aims to enhance the capacity of MSMEs in quality and food safety. Focused on the MARKUP priority sectors—coffee, cocoa, avocado, spices, and leather in these countries—the Quality Associations will equip enterprises with the skills necessary to meet international market standards and increase exports.
The establishment of these Quality Associations was a key achievement of the first phase of the EU-EAC MARKUP programme, which concluded in January 2023. Their continued involvement in MARKUP II underscores the sustainability of the project’s impact, ensuring long-term capacity-building and ongoing support for quality compliance in the region.
As part of this partnership, the Quality Associations are also leading awareness-raising activities and providing training sessions designed to improve MSMEs' ability to implement quality standards and food safety practices. This initiative aligns with ITC’s broader mission of strengthening trade-related technical assistance, fostering regional integration, and supporting MSME growth across East Africa.
