regional trade

Realizing that enhanced intraregional trade and investment may contribute to inclusive economic development in West Africa, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has raised knowledge questions on how to increase its effort to support West African integration and cooperation. »

This brief paper explores the opportunities for African banks in financing intra-African food trade, in particular using value chain financing mechanisms (also called structured financing techniques). Value chain financing is used widely in the continent’s agricultural trade, but mostly for exports to and imports from other parts of the world, not for intra-African trade. And most such value chain financing transactions are managed by international banks, with African banks having at best a supporting role. »

On January 27, 2016, a consortium of knowledge institutes composed of the African Studies Centre Leiden, LEI Wageningen University and Research Centre, and the European Center for Development Policy Management organized a scoping conference on the theme of regional trade and investment in West Africa. »

This World Bank Group (WBG) working paper (PDF), explores the development of integrated regional markets and agricultural input supply chains for farmers in West Africa. The paper is a result of consultations with seed, fertilizer, and regional trade experts in the region. The working paper offers recommendations to build on the progress of West African governments that have worked on the development of trade rules and quality control methods. »

Six research proposals have been awarded funding within the second Call of the Food & Business Global Challenges Programme (GCP). The theme of the Call, which NWO-WOTRO developed together with the F&BKP, is ‘inclusive business models for food security and regional trade for food security’. There is an urgent and growing need for new knowledge that »

The list presented here provides an overview of relevant actors that are involved in the development of regional markets for food and nutrition security in one way or another. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Readers of this site are kindly invited to share suggestions for additional actors and networks that they »