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Review of Policy ResearchVolume 29, Issue 4, July 2012, Pages 492-522

The Role of Policy Brokers: The Case of Biotechnology in Kenya(Article)

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  • aAfrican Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya
  • bThe Open University, United Kingdom

Abstract

Debates about biotechnology continue to be polarized despite its potential to improve the living standards of the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the backdrop of this polarized scenario, this paper asked, is there a place for brokers in bringing about a productive debate that is pro-development? The paper argued that if potential intermediaries are analyzed from the perspective of understanding their role and stakeholding in the regulatory change process, this may help breakout the current polarized anti- and pro-biotechnology debates and thereby focus on how to enable productive biotechnology development. Informed by insights from innovation brokering, the functions of brokers in biotechnology regulation are analyzed through the lens of organizations involved in agricultural biotechnology debates in Kenya. The analysis found that policy brokering function attracts varying opportunities and challenges appropriate for informing relevant policy. The paper drew lessons from Kenya's experience to inform a productive policy brokering model for biotechnology regulation. © 2012 by The Policy Studies Organization.

Author keywords

AfricaAgricultural biotechnologyAgricultural policyKenyaPolicy brokerRegulatory policy process

Indexed keywords

GEOBASE Subject Index:agricultural policyagricultural technologyappropriate technologybiotechnologypolicy approachregulatory frameworkstakeholdertechnological development
Regional Index:KenyaSub-Saharan Africa
  • ISSN: 1541132X
  • CODEN: RPREC
  • Source Type: Journal
  • Original language: English
  • DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-1338.2012.00573.x
  • Document Type: Article

  Kingiri, A.N.; African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya
© Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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