The Intensified Social Forestry Project in S emi-arid Areas (ISFP) constitutes part of the support for the implementation of Kenya Forestry Development Policy. In particular, ISFP directly supports the articulation of policy implementation regarding farm forestry and dryland forestry development. These two are key core functions of Forest Department (FD) and are considered the main avenues for the expansion of the area under forests in Kenya.

The other significance of farm forestry and dryland forestry development lies in their potential as a viable alternative for the production of forestry goods and services besides their indirect support for the conservation of the high forests. The high forests are important reservoirs for biodiversity as well as water sources for Kenya 's industrial and domestic uses.

JICA has been providing support to the forestry sector development for a long period of time in Kenya , first concentrating in the strengthening of forestry research activities and presently focusing on supporting capacity development of FD to carry out farm forestry extension in the drylands. Thus ISFP is a follow up to past technical cooperation efforts by JICA. Some of the observations regarding JICA assistance are that it has been consistent and substantial in terms of forestry sector development.