ECA, partners dialogue on developing cross-border agricultural value chains

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and stakeholders on Friday will hold a one-day dialogue on parameters towards developing a cross-border agricultural value chain to enhance diversification in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

It is supposed to strengthen member States capacity to develop regional agricultural value chains to enhance diversification and intra-African trade.

Specifically, the workshop aims to: present the project on strengthening capacity to develop cross-border agricultural value chains to enhance diversification between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana to stakeholders, present the methodology and results of pre-analysis of the potential crops/products for cross-border value chains analysis in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana as well as discuss and agree on the selected crops/products and the way forward.

According to a release from ECA, the expected outputs include two crops/products including cocoa are selected for the regional value chain analysis in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, a report of the proceedings of the meeting; and a reviewed inception report.

ECA, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and development partners, has developed the AU-Guidelines for the Development of Regional Agricultural Value Chains in Africa, which was endorsed at the Third Ordinary Session of African Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment STC, in October 2019.

The Guidelines serve as a framework that provides policy makers in the Member States, as well as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), principles and tools to inform and guide during the formulation of policies intended to promote a viable and sustainable agricultural development process in Africa through the fostering of regional agricultural value chains.

The project on Strengthening Member State capacity to develop regional Agricultural Value Chains implemented by ECA, in close collaboration with ECOWAS Secretariat, with a view to promote the application of the AU Guidelines for the Development of Regional Agricultural Value Chains in Africa for improved intra-regional trade in agricultural goods in the ECOWAS region, particularly in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

The project will be implemented within the context of the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) programme, which was adopted by the African Union as a programme associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area in October 2019.

The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative is part of a larger strategy to create regional agro-industrial hubs, aimed at increasing the supply of domestically produced and locally processed foods and goods.

Toward developing Africa’s second common agro-park, and based on the experience in supporting the development of Africa’s first envisaged common agro-industrial park (CAIP) between Zambia and Zimbabwe, ECA, is intended to develop a fully-fledged capacity building project, within the context of the CAAPs programme, to support Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in developing a common agro-industrial park with the aim of contributing to building a case for the development of a common agro-poles as a transformational development mean for the 2 countries, as well as to fostering related institutional and policy innovation at the national regional level.

The aims of the present phase of the project include assessing cross-border value chains for two strategic commodities, including cocoa; and examining relevant policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks in support of promoting cross-border value chains of identified commodities.

Expected participants and institutions include, Ghana COCOBOD, Ghana Coffee Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Ministry of Development. Universities, Private Sector, NGOs, CSO’s, international organizations and development partners.