Africa Leather Institute sets out strategy at ICT meeting
Nicholas Mudungwe, executive director of the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), has outlined a multi-pillar strategy to strengthen the industry across the continent.
Speaking at the open session of the International Council of Tanners meeting ahead of the APLF, he said the programme will focus on building staff capacity, supporting enterprises and upgrading internal systems. Communication and visibility are also central, with the institute aiming to counter negative perceptions and highlight the value the sector creates.
Environmental and public-management systems are being reinforced within the institute itself, setting an example for enterprises in the region. “Seeing is believing,” Mr Mudungwe noted, explaining that industry players are more likely to adopt good practices when they see them implemented at institutional level.
The institute is also working to establish national representation in all countries where it operates, ensuring stronger policy engagement and wider impact.
These initiatives form part of ALLPI’s broader institutional direction. The organisation’s long-term aim is to be Africa’s leading catalyst for a sustainable, inclusive and competitive leather value chain, one that drives industrialisation, supports trade and contributes to shared prosperity under the AfCFTA.
Its mission is to empower the sector through integrated technical assistance, evidence-based policy advocacy and innovative partnerships that raise productivity, quality, sustainability and market access across the continent. The intention is for the leather value chain to become a driver of inclusive industrialisation, job creation and global competitiveness in line with Agenda 2063.
