Introduction

The continued neglect of local agriculture, high food prices, the threat of serious drought, conflict, the displacement of people and changing climatic patterns have combined to create an emerging food crisis across the Sahel Region in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, food insecurity and malnutrition are increasing significantly with more than 18.7 million people directly at risk in 8 countries

In responding to this issue, the Comité permanent inter-État de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS) an international organization consisting of countries in the Sahel region of Africa) has been established primarily to fight against drought and to ensure sustainable improvement of food security in member states countries. Although it is well understood amongst CILSS member States that trade and market opportunities can play a vital role in enhancing food security in all its four dimensions (availability, access, utilization and stability); insufficient and inappropriate information, weak institutions and inconsistent regulatory frameworks relating to trade, and in particular, Cross-Border Trade (CBT), remains a major bottleneck for countries in the region to realise the full benefit of a dynamic regional agricultural trading system.

In response, FAO in partnership with CILSS commissioned a scoping study to identify and analyse constraints to trade in agricultural products (including livestock, forestry (including forestry) and fisheries) between member countries of the CILSS / ECOWAS, and to capitalize on best practices on cross-border trade in the region in addition to proposing an appropriate strategy for promoting trade and an advocacy tools.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to validate the findings from the scoping study and benefit from dialogue with representatives of CILSS member states and relevant development partners engaged in trade development and food security issues in the sub region.  Recommendations from the workshop will be used to finalize the conclusion of the study.

Objective and Approach:

  The overall objective of the workshop is to

• To present preliminary results on stocktaking of issues and constraints that impedes formal and informal trade and food security in the CILSS member states.
• To validate findings on the structure of cross-border trade, and highlight potential priority agricultural commodities for trade policy development in CILSS member states.

• To discuss and recommend proposals for action to address identified constraints and scale up opportunities to enhance trade and food security in the CILSS member states with a focus on building on best practices.

Expected output

It is envisaged that participants will be better informed on policy options to enhance informal and formal trade flows in the Sahel through strengthened advocacy between CILSS member states and development partners. The agenda will include presentations and working group sessions involving a broad range of stakeholders engaged in in-depth discussions and activities on enhancing trade integration and food security in the Sahel.

Documentation

The preliminary scoping study on agriculture trade integration based in a value chain approach will be made available during the workshop by CILSS secretariat and FAO. After the workshop, a report with the proceedings and major conclusions of the workshop will be produced and distributed to all participants, including policy recommendations and agreements made by stakeholders on options for further outreach and capacity development activities.

Participation

Participants in the workshop will be government officials from CILSS member countries, technical officers from FAO and relevant development partners from the West Africa sub region engaged in trade development and food security issues.

Venue

Royal Beach Hotel,Ouagdougou