The Centre for International Market Access (CIMA) is the marketing arm of Kenya Gatsby Trust (KGT).It was initiated by the "Good Woods" partners in Kenya; WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF), Oxfam and KGT, in 2004 to promote sustainable utilization of forests and tree resources in Kenya. The product range has expanded to include a wide range of crafts.

Objective:
CIMA's main objective is to promote the development and marketing of Fairtrade and Environmentally friendly products from MSEs. This is done through a rigorous production and quality assurance system that seeks to reward producers to ensure sustainable production of the products.

Further, CIMA works with a team of highly dynamic designers to ensure  that the products continually satisfy market needs and trends. CIMA thrives to become a centre of excellence in linking small scale producers with local and international high value markets.       

Services:                                
CIMA offers a range of services both to local and international buyers;

Management:                             
CIMA is managed on a day to to day basis by KGT, and guided by KGT's Board of Trustees. On the other hand, the Good Woods partners are brought together through operations meetings and the management committee to contribute technical expertise to the company and its partner producer organizations.

Services to International Buyers include;
Quality assurance and control
Products packaging and shipping arrangements
Ensure certification procedures for all products ordered from certified wood. (CIMA-in co-operation with certified wood farmers and carvers-is the only organization in Kenya that has the capacity to provide FSC certified wood products)
Timely delivery of all orders (delivery dates are discussed during negotiation period and through CIMAS experience with the local producers realistic dates are ensured)
All contracts are made directly with CIMA, shifting responsibility, accountability and liability to a reliant and competent partner
One stop shop for variety of Kenyan products
CIMA ensures that all products benefit local communities directly and adhere to fair trade principles
CIMA primarily seeks out products which ensure environment conservation and high levels of social responsibility

Services for Local Producers include;
Provision of access to local and international high value markets.
Provision of marketing services such as promotion of products in CIMA's catalogues, brochures, website and through trade shows. Support in product design and product development to create unique and competitive designs.

Support in the certification process for certified wood products.
Financial support (through KGT's factoring facility and order pre- financing facilities) to ensure timely processing of orders Legal and administrative support, ensuring local procedures don't have to take
high risks when dealing with international buyers and large orders.

Products;
Currently, CIMAs product range includes but is not limited to:
O Wooden Products (FSC Certified)
O Sisal Products (made by producers in the famine prone ASAL areas of Eastern Kenya)
O Beaded products (made by producers in the ASAL areas of Samburu and Magadi).
O Flip flop art products made from recycled flip flop generated as an effort to clean the Indian Ocean beach at Kiunga Island in Kenya.

Producer relations
CIMA has a unique relationship with  its producer groups, majority of who are drawn from the database of the producer groups supported by KGT and its partners various parts of the country. groups, associations or co-operative societies), constitutes thousands of producers whose operations are at micro levels.

Currently, the different product lines support a number of producers as follows:
Good woods - contributes to the improvement of livelihoods of over 6,000 artisans,   2500 private farmers and approximately 100,000 families in total. The Sisal products line- over 1000 women producers in Kitui The beads product line - over 200 female producers in Samburu and Magadi Flip flop art product lines. directly supports over 500 women and youth in Kiunga Island.

Buyer relations
CIMA believes in fair trade principles and negotiates reasonable prices both with the producers and the buyers.

For more Information, Contact;
Centre for International Market Access (CIMA)
P. 0. Box 44817 - 00100, Nairobi
Tel: 254 020 2720711/703/571 Fax: 254 020 2721707
Email: cima@kenyagatsby.org