SAFE TRADE EMERGENCY FACILITY

TMEA set up the Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme as a response to Covid-19. Now valued at US$32 million, the programme has enabled governments to undertake critical measures along the transport and trade routes to ensure trade continues safely while protecting livelihoods in Eastern, Southern and the Horn of Africa. The Programme has three main components, and seven pillars, as follows:

  • img Limited availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at borders, ports and key trade routes resulting to increased infection rates and fear
  • imgEnsuring food security and access to critically required medicines; and,
  • img Supporting measures that reduce jobs losses and sup ports exports.

Safe Trade Snapshot

  • img Emergency Personal Protective Equipment
     TMEA facilitated various Government Agencies with personal protective equipment (PPE) worth US$2,100,000, including reusable masks, safety boots, hand sanitisers, hand washing points, disinfectantspray, infrared thermometers, and face shields for frontline workers to ensure continuous trade at major Ports and Borders across Eastern, Southern and the Horn of Africa.
  • img Trade Technology Interventions
    113,000 drivers have since been registered on EAC Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking system (RECDTs), with 70 percent of them receiving at least one digital COVID-19 certificate on the mobile phone based application, easing the traffic at borders caused by testing waiting periods.
  • img Trade Policy Interventions
    In partneship with EAC Secretariat, developed COVID- 19 protocols indicating step by step border clearance process flows, to facilitate faster movement across borders. The protocols were disseminated across all EAC borders.
  • img Supply Chain Support
    E-commerce We partnered with KEPSA to train MSMEs on utilisation of digital platforms to access markets and efficient logistics services. The programme surpassed its target of 2,000 by registering 2,545 MSMEs for the programme. 1,605 of them onboarded onto various platforms.
  • img Standards and SPS Projects
    To sustain operations in line with the COVID-19 health protocols, 1,131 Kenyan farmers were trained on compliance with food safety standards.
  • img Advocacy interventions
    Advocacy through TMEA-EABC partnership contributed to a reduction of backlog of trucks at key East African Borders of Busia, Malaba, Isebania, Rusumo, and Namanga, and promoted mutual recognition of COVID-19 health certificates thus eliminating the need for multiple tests across borders, and reducing time and costs of trading.
  • img Gender Inclusion,Women in Trade and Safe Zones
    Safe Trade Zone Markets constructed in Busia, Kenya, Tog-Wajaale Somaliland and Ethiopia, and in Rwanda. Approx 1,000 women cross-border traders will benefit.