ECOWAS: Strengthening agri-food trade in the region through institutional coordination and business support

Overview

Summary

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.

Partners

Funder

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Implementer

Communaute économique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO)/Commission de la CEDEAO - Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)/ECOWAS Commission

Implementer

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Video

26 March 2024

View more on Youtube

ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme

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.

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.

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.