Africa

Least developed countries can become authors of their technological revolution
Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 5 February 2020

In the current trade climate, what are the risks and opportunities for developing countries? (Part II)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) economists Martin Kaufman and Papa N’Diaye discuss trade, climate change mitigation and technology in Part II of their interview.

The AfCFTA – a free trade area and a flagship project of the African Union
Despite impressive progress in the negotiations, it is still not possible to trade under the AfCFTA as the negotiations of preferential tariff concessions and rules of origin have not been completed.

The African Continental Free Trade Area: Dawn of a new era
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will transform the way Africa trades, with intra-African trade expected to increase by 15-25 per cent, and the boost to trade in industrial goods accelerating diversification of Africa’s economies.

Ambassador Morten Jespersen: On making trade work for LDCs, now
The EIF Steering Committee Chair talks contemporary trade challenges and using resources the right way

H.E. Dr. François Xavier Ngarambe: Aiming for ecommerce success in Rwanda
Following UNCTAD’s Ecommerce Week in April 2019 and on the cusp of a new partnership with EIF to boost ecommerce, Rwanda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva discusses the state of play for online trade in the country

For LDC exporters and EU importers, getting back to origins
Digital system set to streamline procedures for trade from LDCs to the EU

Friendship across borders: When trade brings peace
Businesswomen creating a united front in Rwanda and the DRC

Togo seeing soy in its future
Country is diversifying into soy, and farmers are seeing profits

Supporting sustained collaboration key to coherent agriculture and trade outcomes in Africa, report says
Implementation is everything in aligning trade and agriculture in LDCs in Africa

Aligning agriculture and trade
In countries where farming sustains families and economies, sustainable trade in agricultural products means everything

Speaking from the heart: Empowering women to share business ideas
EIF has been working with hundreds of entrepreneurs for the past few years, to help them build and implement strategies for brand promotion, participate in regional and international trade fairs, improve in processing capabilities and value addition as well as provide support to cooperatives

GTPA partners with the EIF Programme as part of Africa eCommerce Week
The Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA) is delighted to partner with the EIF Programme on a session focussed on building skills for the digital economy through education, interaction & advocacy as part of Africa e

Monique van Daalen: On women, better business and Rwanda’s trade landscape
Following a recent visit to Rwanda with EIF, Netherlands Ambassador to the WTO and LDC Sub-Committee Chair Monique van Daalen discusses seeing the country’s cross border trade efforts in person, as well as the country’s policy in action

Can LDCs leverage tourism for manufacturing?
To transform LDCs, turning tourism into new kinds of growth

In the business of buying and selling across borders, financing for a better future
Funding for traders, for government trade support and for infrastructure means resources at work in critical spaces in Rwanda

Crossing borders for better business
In Rwanda, new market centres mean improved trade at the border

EIF's 2017 Annual Report
The results of the Enhanced Integrated Framework in 2017

Homemade chili sauce means business for Malawi entrepreneur
After help finding new markets, one man’s chili sauce empire is taking off

High-level panel calls for integration of fragile states into the global economy
A high-level panel at this year’s Public Forum examined the link between peace and trade, focusing on the opportunities and challenges that conflict-affected states face in developing their capacities to trade

In Zambia, enhancing women’s economic horizons
Launch of country’s SheTrades initiative to focus on agriculture and textile industries

In fast-evolving trade landscape, addressing the structural challenges
WTO’s Aid for Trade programme putting a spotlight on LDCs

Christina Chatima: On using trade as an engine for growth
Increasing agricultural proceeds, processing and marketing are critical in Malawi’s development plans

Protecting an enigmatic commodity with enormous potential – gum arabic
For an arid swath of Africa, a sap-like substance offers income possibilities for the poorest of the poor, along with environmental benefits

Information on new product requirements for LDCs – now direct to your inbox
ePing platform helping countries keep track of assorted requirements, transforming communication and comment

What’s going on with Aid for Trade in the Least Developed Countries
Funding for aid for trade in LDCs is increasing – find out how much, from who, and where investments are going

EIF @ WTO Public Forum 2018
The EIF will be participating in a variety of activities at the WTO Public Forum, 2-4 October

Minding the gaps between field and marketplace
Strategic alliances and alignments are key to making trade in agriculture work, for all

Exploring the agriculture and trade nexus in Africa
A multimedia collection from the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

Agriculture & Trade Magazine
In some of the most impoverished countries in the world, agriculture is the backbone of the economy

Buba Jawneh: Managing a family cashew enterprise, readying for global commerce
In The Gambia, family-owned cashew processors are primed for expansion

Comoros in bloom
Island nation focusing on its unique, specialty plant life to kick start economic growth

In Malawi, enriching what happens between farm and table
Malawians are forging new markets for their agricultural exports, within and without Africa

Malawi reaping what it's sowing
Targeting soy and groundnuts for export, the country and its farmers are seeing rewards

Clement Kumbemba: On obtaining markets for Malawi’s harvests
The country is striving to enhance agro-processing, secure new markets and increase exports

Improving agriculture, enriching trade, transforming lives
When agriculture and trade align, change happens for incomes and economies

Harnessing Zambia’s position in global trade
Zambia is acting to make trade faster and more efficient within and across its borders by partnering with the Enhanced Integrated Framework

The Gambia sounding out its agricultural potential
With cashew prices surging and armed with solid trade policy, the country is looking to boost its farmers and processors

Comoros making scents
Three tiny, volcanic Indian Ocean islands are producing 60% of the world's supply of ylang-ylang

Don't shut trade down, make it truly inclusive
Originally published by Devex on 5 July 2018

Video address of Director-General Roberto Azevêdo to participants of the EIF Global Forum
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo's welcome message to participants at the Global Forum on Inclusive Trade for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Using trade as a tool for development
Improving economic opportunities and prospects for the world’s least developed countries remains a key global challenge

Trading for Malawi's farmers, and the future
Malawi's farmers have been cultivating new crops with the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi, supported by the Government of Malawi and EIF

Gambia getting more from cashews
The Gambia has been working across its supply chain to enhance trade in the country

#trade4dev and EIF
EIF is the only multilateral partnership working to support trade for development in the world's poorest countries. Check out how we are doing this, on the ground, with our partners, together with governments, always for development, always for the Least Developed Countries.

Taking trade online
What do a mountainous landlocked country, a post-war African nation, and three small island developing states have in common?

Outcome statement: The Global Forum on Inclusive Trade for LDCs
The Forum, which was held from 13 to 14 June 2018 at the World Trade Organization (WTO), fostered practical solutions, offered results-oriented theoretical discussions, presented on-the-ground successes, and supported an innovative call to ramp up actions on inclusive trade for LDCs

Entrepreneurs in action in Comoros
The ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves that grow in Comoros are being used to spur economic growth, with young entrepreneurs leading the way

Free trade in Africa: How can LDCs benefit?
Increasing trade between African countries offers great potential for building sustainable economic development and integration, including creating higher-wage jobs and unlocking greater business opportunities

Princess of Burkina Faso Abze Djigma: On the need to support small businesses in LDCs, and good finance
We need to be in the driver's seat of economic growth because it's important for us and for the next generation, and is the right pathway to trade with other countries. It's my duty to start doing some of the homework to facilitate trade

Minding the trade gap: What lies ahead for Least Developed Countries
In the last two decades, there has been a boom in world trade driven by large reductions in trade barriers and unprecedented interlinkages among countries, and South-South trade has grown. Yet the world's poorest nations, designated Least Developed Countries (LDCs), engage in less than 1% of global trade while home to 13% of the world’s population

An Internet of Rules for all: Can "Trade Policy 3.0" foster inclusive trade?
The distinctive character of trade policy 3.0 is that, in addition to “writing down the rules” of trade in natural language (trade policy 1.0) and use of “single window systems” that replicate paper-based delivery in the digital realm (trade policy 2.0), countries are able to publish computational rules to the Internet in a standard way

TradeMark East Africa's Richard Kamajugo on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility
An interview with Richard Kamajugo, Senior Director for Trade Environment at TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), during the EIF Global Forum 2018

Introduction to #EIFGlobalForum2018

Cashing in on cashews in The Gambia
A journey from farmers’ fields to export markets

Study provides roadmap for Mauritania’s diversification
A study published two years ago — the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) update — has helped to push forward the Islamic Republic of Mauritania’s reform agenda, by providing a roadmap for how the small African and Arab country can strategically diversify its exports to grow its wealth and reduce poverty

Women & Trade Magazine
In this issue: "Samoa's coconuts go global," "Taking female-led businesses from local to global," and "Women at the helm of Senegal's mango industry"

Betty Chinyamunyamu: Finding potential in Malawi’s farmers – and forging new markets
In a country with a majority of the population cultivating small plots of land, empowering smallholder farmers is the key to economic success

Bridging the gap for farmers in Malawi
Additional land to sow, targeted trainings, and market security mean higher incomes for smallholders

Wanjira Mathai on women's renewable energy entrepreneurship in LDCs
EIF Coordinators Hang Tran and Simon Hess interview Wanjira Mathai of wPOWER partnership on women's entrepreneurship in renewables

New cargo facility heralds trade progress in The Gambia
Launch of long-awaited space at country's main airport means more – and more diverse – exports

Training the next generation of trade negotiators in Zambia
You may not expect a graduate of an arts degree to say that a trade policy course was their favourite subject, but if you ask Zondwayo Duma from Zambia, that’s exactly what he’ll tell you