West Africa Trade Facilitation Programme

Implementation Partners

ECOWAS, UEMOA Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority Port Authorities and Customs agencies Ministries of Trade, Transport, Environment SPS & SQI Institutions, National Trade Facilitation Committees) Private Sector

Implementation Period

2024 – 2026

Project Participants

ECOWAS, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin

Funding Partners

Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

Project Rationale

The project aims to enhance trade between Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria by improving the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. Aligned with the AfCFTA’s continental integration agenda, it focuses on boosting corridor efficiency, harmonising trade procedures and enhancing customs, strengthening local commercial capacity, developing sustainable corridors, and expanding economic opportunities for vulnerable populations. Its overarching goal is to foster stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable regional economic integration in West Africa. It comprisestwo components: and Togo

ECOWAS:
- Promoting women’s accessto trade
- Harmonizing standards and improving connectivity between customs and border agencies
- Implementing trade agreements, including AfCFTA and WTO TFA.
National: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin:
- Supporting cross-border traders, especially women
- Improving border formalities and operations
- Implementing regional trade instruments.

Progress
(as of May 2025)

Ongoing

Assessment of existing simplified goods declaration processes as a building block for a simplified trade regime framework in West Africa.
Development of a non-tariff barriers (NTBs) resolution platform for cross- border traders with Ghana Shippers Authority.
Procurement for provision of solarstreetlights for Akanu-Noepe Joint Border Post. • SIGMAT connectivity at selected borders along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. • Support for refurbishment of ECOWAS e-hub to provide seamless connectivity to the centralised system.
Côte d’Ivoire export cliniquesto improve export by women in cross-border trade.
Procurement of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) tools and laboratory equipment for Côte d’Ivoire’s SPS institutions.
Strengthening the capacity of Standards and Quality Infrastructure (SQI) and SPS institutions along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.