Under the leadership of CSAO / OCDE and in close cooperation with WACTAF, a major milestone has been reached with the publication of the report: Intra-regional Food Trade in West Africa: New Evidence, New Perspectives.
West Africa’s regional food trade is often underestimated, yet it represents a hidden giant worth more than USD 10 billion annually — nearly six times more than official statistics suggest. Around 85% of these flows remain unrecorded, covering staples, vegetables, and animal products that feed millions across the region every day.
Drawing on its unique field expertise and direct engagement with cross-border traders, WACTAF provided critical evidence and insights that shaped this report, making visible the true scale and importance of informal food trade in West Africa.
The findings confirm that this hidden trade:
- Sustains diets and strengthens household resilience during shocks,
- Stabilises food prices across markets,
- Provides the annual caloric needs of nearly 80 million people,
- Stimulates agricultural development, generates employment, and expands opportunities for women in food processing and marketing.
This achievement was realized within the framework of the EAT Programme, financed by GIZ, with SWAC/OECD as the lead institution and WACTAF as a key partner.
