Sub-Saharan Africa

The role of intra-regional trade as a catalyst for agricultural development is recognized in the 2003 Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the 2014 Malabo Declaration, and remains a core aspect of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in 2019 provides a concrete and timely mechanism to realize its continental agricultural policy commitments, expediting efforts to promote intra-regional trade in agri-food products. FAO supports countries in achieving their commitments to boost intra-African trade through in-depth analysis, capacity development, technical assistance and focused regional and national trade policy dialogue events. As part of these efforts, FAO has helped establish a regional network of agricultural trade policy practitioners in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Key messages

generate evidence on the implications of regional trade agreements, and developments in negotiations for food security and agricultural development;

develop the capacities of national stakeholders on the rules and agreements governing trade and their implications for food security, and preparing stakeholders for negotiations and implementation; and

facilitate dialogue between representatives of ministries of agriculture and ministries of trade, nationally and regionally, with the aim of improving understanding and promoting coherence and consistency in their policy processes.