AfCFTA Implementation Support Programme

Implementing Partner

AfCFTA Secretariat, recognised REC Secretariats in Africa, AfCFTA State Parties/ Member States

Implementation Period

July 2022 – June 2026

Project Participants

Continental

Funding Partners

FCDO (UK)

Project Rationale

The AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019, and since then, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and State Parties have been engaged in discussions and negotiations towards the full implementation of the agreement. The AfCFTA is a flagship project of Agenda 2063 of the African Union. It aims at accelerating intra-Africa trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.

TMA’s AfCFTA Implementation Support Programme is designed to provide technical and financial support to the AfCFTA Secretariat and its State Parties and Member States to implement the Agreement (collectively with all its annexes).

Implementation Strategy

Implementation of the programme takes a 4-layered approach drawing in trade facilitation interventions at the continental, regional, trade corridor(s), and national level as the framework for reducing trade barriers. This builds on TMA’s more than a decade of experience of implementing trade facilitation interventions along key trade corridors.

Progress

Completed

Facilitation of capacity building activities, and other engagements in the implementation of agreed interventions. These included the continental dedicated workshop for National Committees on Trade Facilitation (NCTFs) to assess the status of the NCTFs; to propose a platform for dialogue between the Committeesin accordance with Article 28 Annex 4 of the Protocol on Trade in Goods; training for NCTFs on the AfCFTA Information Sharing Platform; joint ECOWAS/Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Maturity Assessment and Workplan Development workshop for members of the Ghana NCTF; training for members of the Togo NCTF on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, the AfCFTA provisions and the NCTF maturity model self-assessment tools.
Infrastructure upgrade works at the Akanu-Noepe JBP, including improvements to renewable energy systems,sanitation and water supply, and refurbishment/installation of canopies forthe pedestrian walkway.
Enhancement of customs management system and internet connectivity, and supply of end user devices to agencies at the Elubo Border.
Development of a national trade facilitation strategy and implementation roadmap for Côte d’Ivoire.
Integrated and coordinated border management assessment for the Noe-Elubo and Seme-Krake Borders.

Ongoing

Development of AfCFTA digital platform for electronic certificates of rules of origin (E-CO).
Development and/or review of JBP procedures, operational manuals and institutional frameworks for the ECOWAS Region.
Upgrade of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) web portal and gap analysisforthe extension and operationalisation of the regional E-CO.
Bilateral agreement on customs-to-customs cooperation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Development of national trade facilitation strategy for Togo and Benin.

Emerging Results

Impact

An effectively negotiated and implemented AfCFTA reduces barriers to trade, drives inclusive and green economic growth and reduces poverty.

Outcome

Country and REC AfCFTA implementation on trade facilitation is supported through harmonising policies and standards, operationalising policies, installing digital solutions, and training.

Continental AfCFTA negotiations and implementations on trade facilitation is supported through harmonising policies and standards, operationalising policies, installing digitalsolutions, and training.

Technically capable African institutions coordinate well and use strong policy knowledge to enable an effective and inclusive AfCFTA.