Bridging Borders: Facilitating DRC’s Integration into the EAC Customs Union
In a move to foster regional integration, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2022, becoming the seventh member of the bloc. This pivotal move prompted collaborative efforts to align and harmonize the DRC with the EAC’s trade regulations and systems, laying the groundwork for seamless trade and mutual […]
Ethiopia and Kenya Forge Ahead with a Strategic Framework to Enhance the LAPSSET Corridor
Ethiopia and Kenya are moving forward with a strategic framework to enhance the Lamu sections of the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor following the adoption of the pre-feasibility study on the Ethiopia-Mombasa and Ethiopia sections – in September 2023. Led by the LAPSSET Joint Technical Committee and funded by USAID-ERRA, these crucial […]
USAID Launches Fleet Management System Worth $550,000 to Boost Ethiopia-Djibouti Trade
USAID-ERRA has committed US$550,000 towards the development and implementation of an integrated Fleet Management System (iFMS) along the Ethio-Djibouti corridor. Spearheaded by Smartwatch Solutions Ltd and supervised by the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics, this project will optimize fleet operations along this critical corridor, through which 95% of all trade flows. This new system […]
USAID Supports the Greening of an Industrial Warehousing Space to Attract Garment Investors
On February 28, 2024, TradeMark Africa (TMA), through USAID-ERRA, signed a $530,000 grant with Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA), its commercial arm that was recently established to support trade and investment to support the ‘greening’ of industrial warehousing space in the EPZ Athi River, Kenya. The aim is to address the growing demand for a more […]
Seeding Growth: How USAID Uganda’s US$2.3 Million Buy-In Will Boost Food Security
USAID Uganda has finalized a ‘buy-in’ to the USAID-ERRA program, providing an initial funding support of US$2.3 million. The program will enhance Uganda’s role as East Africa’s ‘food basket’ by boosting exports and value addition in the staples and horticulture sectors, which despite their vast potential, face significant challenges. These include low productivity, inadequate quality […]
The African Union Adopts the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol: A Critical Enabler for Trade Facilitation
In February 2020, the African Union (AU) Assembly of the Heads of State and Government endorsed the inclusion of a Digital Trade Protocol into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement Framework. This initiative, supported by technical support from USAID-ERRA, saw the commencement of detailed negotiations among State Parties in 2022 to flesh out […]
USAID-ERRA Launches a Call for Applications for Job Creation in Kenya
Concept Notes Submission Deadline: March 29, 2024, 11:59 PM EAT. A priority focus of USAID-ERRA is to create jobs by supporting export-oriented value chains. To achieve this objective, we announced an Annual Program Statement (APS), which provides comprehensive information about future funding opportunities that USAID-ERRA will support in the East and Horn of Africa. Specifically, […]
EAGC and USAID-ERRA Sign Partnership to Strengthen Structured Trade and Food Security in Staples in East Africa
The war against Ukraine has brought East Africa’s reliance on imported staples into sharper focus and exposed the systemic problems in the region’s food trade system. While Uganda and Tanzania are the food baskets for the region, exporting to other food deficit countries in the region, such as Kenya, challenges such as low farmer productivity, […]
Stakeholders Chart a Path for Improving Food Safety for 2024
USAID-ERRA’s Standards and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS/SQI) workstream enhances the quality and safety of tradable goods, increasing market access for agricultural commodities. The first-year work plan focused on supporting the East African Community (EAC) in establishing a harmonized regulatory framework. This framework facilitates seamless trade across regional and international borders by aligning national policies to […]
USAID-ERRA Holds a Vibrant CLA Event to Promote a More Competitive and Sustainable Logistics Sector in the East and Horn of Africa
Logistics involves a spectrum of activities, from aggregation and warehousing to transportation, delivery, distribution, and freight forwarding. Logistics services are a key enabler in driving trade and catalyzing economic growth by streamlining the movement of goods, storage, and clearance at borders. They are key in enhancing e-commerce and modernization when integrated with digital solutions. Recognizing […]