Faced with the numerous challenges that brake agricultural trade in West Africa, WACTAF is strengthening its commitment with the ECOWAS Agriculural Trade Programme (EAT-GIZ) to sustainably improve intraregional trade.
The EAT-GIZ programme, with a budget of 15 million euros and running from 2022 to 2026, aims to enhance the competitiveness of agricultural value chains and reinforce trade facilitation tools within the ECOWAS region. The programme places a strong emphasis on digitalisation, gender, and cross-border trade facilitation.
Overview of WACTAF’s activities under the EAT-GIZ Programme
Digitalisation and training of actors under the road fluidity operation
The agro-livestock road fluidity operation, already recognised for reducing illicit payments by up to 90% along several corridors, is entering a new phase through digitalisation.
With the support of the EAT programme, WACTAF will train focal points, traders, and transporters to ensure effective adoption of a modern platform for reporting and analysing road harassment.
Modernisation of the Aflao TIBAD (Togo–Ghana)
The Trade Information and Border Assistance Desk (TIBAD) at Aflao – Kodjoviakope (Ghana – Togo) border will be fully renovated: modern equipment, solar energy, and improved customer service.
This initiative will strengthen access to commercial information and improve the fluidity of cross-border movements.
Establishment of the Journalists and Communicators Network
Because trade facilitation cannot succeed without communication, WACTAF, supported by EAT-GIZ is creating a network of journalists, influencers, and communicators responsible for promoting simplified regulations, raising awareness of road harassment, and amplifying the voices of traders, particularly women and youth.
Strengthening WACTAF’s institutional capacities
To fully assume its expanding role in trade facilitation, the organisation will receive support in equipment, staff training, external auditing, and internal governance strengthening.
The objective : to become an even stronger, more efficient, and more credible partner for national and regional institutions.
