Mali
ECOWAS: Training Programme for AfCFTA and Trade Facilitation Committees
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Implementing partners
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
<p>The intervention will equip selected existing and new members of the ECOWAS Regional Trade Facilitation Committee and trade facilitation focal points of National AfCFTA Implementation Committees (both target committees) as well as other identified target groups with necessary knowledge, methodologies, tools, and skills to effectively design and mobilize funds for regional trade facilitation reforms, coordinate their implementation at community and national levels and monitor/evaluate results for Member States and their business communities in line with evolving priorities and international or regional best practices.</p>
Type
Project
Date
-
External ID
C230
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ECOWAS: Strengthening agri-food trade in the region through institutional coordination and business support
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Video
26 March 2024
Agricultural trade challenges in West Africa
Credit: Aidan O'Neill
Malnutrition, rapid population growth, and heavy reliance on food imports are some of the key challenges facing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Addressing these issues would foster economic development across the region. These factors also emphasize the urgent need to address food security and the effects of global geopolitical pressure on food prices.
Enhancing coordination on food trade policies within the region is paramount to tackling food security issues and mitigating the volatility of food prices. For this purpose, the ECOWAS Commission has developed various instruments, such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), aimed at boosting intra-regional agricultural trade volumes and coordination efforts.
However, recorded data on intra-regional agricultural trade volumes remains low. Customs points have Inadequate infrastructure and resources. Regional and national legislation need to be harmonized. Opaque administrative procedures lead to delays and unexpected costs. And businesses have limited information on market opportunities.
To address these issues, which are often at the origin of informal trade practices, the EAT programme aims to foster an environment conducive to intra-regional agricultural trade. It seeks to improve the capacity of policymakers to make informed decisions on trade and food security matters, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and streamline administrative procedures at the border to ensure the safety and quality of traded goods. Additionally, it aims to equip agri-food businesses with the tools and knowledge needed to better trade within the region, with a specific focus on gender and youth inclusion.
How we work
Within the framework of the EAT programme, ITC implements a multi-level and multi-stakeholder strategy, closely collaborating with the ECOWAS Commission, Member States, civil society, the private sector, and various trade entities. This holistic approach addresses the political, economic, gender, climate, food, and nutrition security aspects of regional agricultural trade.
ITC’s commitment under the EAT programme reflects its broader objectives. Those include bolstering regional institutions in Africa, promoting gender-sensitive and sustainable agricultural trade and enhancing local trade promotion services for the private sector to ensure the sustainability of the action.
ITC will provide advice and assistance to reinforce the ECOWAS Commission's capacity in coordinating agricultural trade policies, by facilitating public-private dialogues, introducing trade intelligence and monitoring tools, as well as advocating for cooperative trade facilitation approaches.
Regional organizations and national authorities will undergo tailored capacity-building programmes to improve their services to businesses and to ensure the application of agricultural trade measures at the border, with particular attention to testing their efficacy. The whole action is ultimately tailored to benefit small businesses and small agricultural traders, by upscaling their skills and providing them with a more conducive ecosystem for trading within the region.
All the topics covered during our trainings have strengthened our abilities in preparing our businesses for trade shows and exhibitions. At the fair, this allowed us to enhance our services to our members, for example, through the preparation and arrangement of visual elements and the development of a pitch for our products.
All the topics covered during our trainings have strengthened our abilities in preparing our businesses for trade shows and exhibitions. At the fair, this allowed us to enhance our services to our members, for example, through the preparation and arrangement of visual elements and the development of a pitch for our products.
Reine Don-Koffi
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire
The segment of the webinar focusing on the preparation of communication tools for my business was particularly valuable. After attending the webinar, I initiated the creation of a video teaser and translated my business cards, brochures, and flyers into English. This proved to be indispensable, especially with English-speaking visitors at my booth. I am keen on participating in more training sessions as they consistently provide me with new ideas and a clearer understanding of how to enhance my work methods and habits.
Furthermore, I successfully sold dehydrated attieke, fresh attieke, soumbala, maize flour, cassava, and starch, totaling a value of $1,200.
Furthermore, I successfully sold dehydrated attieke, fresh attieke, soumbala, maize flour, cassava, and starch, totaling a value of $1,200.
The segment of the webinar focusing on the preparation of communication tools for my business was particularly valuable. After attending the webinar, I initiated the creation of a video teaser and translated my business cards, brochures, and flyers into English. This proved to be indispensable, especially with English-speaking visitors at my booth. I am keen on participating in more training sessions as they consistently provide me with new ideas and a clearer understanding of how to enhance my work methods and habits.
Furthermore, I successfully sold dehydrated attieke, fresh attieke, soumbala, maize flour, cassava, and starch, totaling a value of $1,200.
Furthermore, I successfully sold dehydrated attieke, fresh attieke, soumbala, maize flour, cassava, and starch, totaling a value of $1,200.
Florence Bassono
Owner of Faso Attieke in Burkina Faso
Programme outputs
Trade Policy Harmonization: Advising the ECOWAS Commission and Member States on the coordination and harmonization of policies and initiatives to improve the region’s agricultural trade ecosystem.
Trade Facilitation: Supporting the implementation of gender-sensitive and sustainable trade facilitation measures and services at the border to unleash the potential of intra-regional agricultural trade and increase incentives to conduct formal trade operations.
Private Sector Promotion: Equipping small businesses and small agricultural traders, in collaboration with local business support organizations, with the knowledge and skills needed to tap into the opportunities offered by the regional agricultural market.
Target Products
Rice cultivation leverages the agro-ecological advantages of seasonal wet-dry conditions and economies of scale, making it a cornerstone for food security and economic stability in the ECOWAS region. With ECOWAS countries like Nigeria being among the top rice producers in Africa, enhancing rice production can significantly reduce import dependency and bolster local economies.
Onions thrive in diverse agro-ecological conditions and are high-value perishable products, crucial for market profitability and the livelihood of farmers in the ECOWAS region. ECOWAS countries can capitalize on their favorable growing conditions to become leading suppliers of onions in West Africa, increasing export revenues and improving farmer incomes.
Tomatoes benefit from seasonal wet-dry conditions and are high-value perishables essential for fresh produce markets, contributing significantly to the agricultural economy in the ECOWAS region. With Nigeria being one of the top tomato producers in Africa, there is significant potential to expand production and processing for both domestic consumption and export.
Corn's comparative advantages through economies of scale make it a staple food with high demand, essential for regional food security and sustaining the diets of people in the ECOWAS region. As one of the leading producers of maize in Africa, ECOWAS can leverage this crop to enhance food security and support agro-industrial development.
Cassava can reduce both hunger and poverty in the ECOWAS region by providing a reliable source of food and income for smallholder farmers. As the first producer and exporter of cassava globally, ECOWAS countries, especially Nigeria, can further capitalize on this advantage by developing new cassava products and expanding market access.
Fertilizer production benefits from economies of scale, crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable farming practices in the ECOWAS region. Increased local production and use of fertilizers can significantly boost crop yields and reduce the need for imports, supporting food security and farmer livelihoods.
Processed meat is a high-value perishable, important for economic returns in the agri-food sector and for meeting the protein needs of populations in the ECOWAS region. By developing the meat processing industry, ECOWAS countries can increase value addition, create jobs, and improve food quality and safety.
Pineapples, with their high market demand, are vital for the profitability of the agri-food industry and for driving export revenues in the ECOWAS region. With countries like Ghana being top pineapple exporters, there is a significant opportunity to expand production, improve processing techniques, and capture larger shares of international markets.
Nianda, Agriculture and Trading company, worker working on the drying process of cassava
Photo by Aidan O'Neill
Main partners and beneficiaries
The programme is implemented under the guidance of the ECOWAS Commission, involving directorates overseeing agriculture and rural development, trade, customs, free movement of people, and the Gender Development Center. ITC is an implementing partner, alongside GIZ and the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC). Additional partners encompass regional and national trade associations, chambers of commerce and agriculture, pertinent national ministries and authorities, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders. Directly benefiting small businesses, cooperatives, and associations of small-scale cross-border traders operating in the agri-food sector.
Target country
EAT workshop on export potential on programme value chains
Photo by ITC
Dibia Variants, Agriculture helpline, Women workers, working the cassava
Photo by Aidan O'Neill
Rescue Gorama, women workers presenting cassava plant
Photo by Aidan O'Neill
Recipients
Implementing partners
<p>The ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) programme, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), "One World – No Hunger" special initiative, is a crucial component of the German-ECOWAS cooperation and implemented by The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and The International Trade Centre (ITC). This initiative is designed to tackle regional policy coordination, economic integration and food security, focusing on enhancing intra-ECOWAS agro-food-trade.</p><p><br></p>
Type
Project
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Funding partners
Date
-
External ID
C232
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OIC: Trade and market intelligence for ICDT
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Recipients
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
<p>The project will strengthen ICDT services on trade intelligence to support the public and private sector from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to make better informed decisions and, in the long term, to contribute to an increase of trade between OIC Member States through the embedding of Market Analysis Tools, the development of an online Trade Helpdesk and the development of trade-related studies.</p>
Type
Project
Open data portal link
Funding partners
Date
-
External ID
C175
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AIM for Results: Improving TISI performance and measurement (Phase I)
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Recipients
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
<p>AIM for Results is an intervention approach that strengthens the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of TISIs and builds their capacity to provide more effective support to the internationalisation needs of their clients, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).</p><p>AIM stands for Assess, Improve and Measure. It is a holistic and targeted integrated three-step-approach focusing on measurable results in order to improve the managerial, operational and service delivery performance of TSIs. The three pillars of AIM are offered either as a single module or as a complete performance improvement programme, depending on the needs of the beneficiary institutions.</p><p> In 2017, the project aims to improve the operational and managerial performance of 40 TISIs applying ITC’s AIM For Results methodology.</p>
Type
Project
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Date
-
External ID
A776
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