EXPECT Initiative
The EXPECT Initiative was launched in 2010 with the objective of building a sustainable structure to support export competitiveness by promoting high export potential value chains and increasing exports through engaging the region’s private sector, donors, partners and other valuable stakeholders. It more specifically aims to support SMEs in these value chain sectors through capacity and skills building and empowering them through different ways. 6 lead potential value chains were carefully selected using ITC’s (International Trade Center) Market Analysis Tools.
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The West African Common Industrial Policy (WACIP)
The vision of the WACIP is to “maintain a solid industrial structure, which is globally competitive, environment-friendly and capable of significantly improving the living standards of the people by 2030.”1 In its bid to achieving this, it has the following specific objectives
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ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET)
The Common External Tariff is one of the instruments of harmonising ECOWAS Member States and strengthening its Common Market. Article 3 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty defines the aims of the community as promoting “co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa ….”
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ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS)
In line with its objective of promoting cooperation and integration and as one step towards the creation of a common market which, according to the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, should be established, among others, through “the liberalisation of trade by the abolition, among Member States, of customs duties levied on imports and exports, and the abolition among Member States, of non-tariff barriers in order to establish a free trade area at the Community Level“
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ECOWAP Regional Agricultural Investment Programme
In 2005 the ECOWAS Heads of States adopted the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), as an instrument for the coordination of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the agricultural component of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), within the region. The implementation of ECOWAS/CAADP is based on the Regional Agricultural Investment Programme (RAIP), which consists of six components.
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Transport Facilitation Project
To accelerate effective facilitation of road transport, ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions elaborated the Regional Road Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme for West Africa by harmonizing their transit facilitation programmes. The components of this programme involve, inter alia, the following activities: Simplification and harmonization of road transport regulations, procedures and documents; Establishment of joint control posts at borders along inter-State corridors; Updating of the road transit information system.
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What is Aid for Trade?

In 2006, the WTO defined Aid for Trade as “activities identified as trade-related development priorities in the recipient country’s national development strategies”. Read more

Latest News

07.04.2011

African Researchers to Undertake second phase of Global Trade Analysis Training

The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the World Bank is sponsoring the 2011 African short course in Global Trade Analysis for African researchers. Read more

15.03.2011

Rural Moroccans Set to Gain from UN-Backed Anti-Poverty Project

Rural Moroccans are expected to benefit from a new scheme worth nearly U.S. $40 million that aims to boost the production of olives, almonds, honey and red meat. Read more

11.03.2011

UN Secretary-General Stresses the Importance of Trade, Diversification and Agriculture at General Assembly Debate on Investment in Least Developed Countries.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon makes remarks to the General Assembly Informal Thematic Debate on “Investment in and financing of productive capacities of least developed countries”. Read more

10.03.2011

Special high-level meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council -ECOSOC with the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Among other informal thematic areas, the meeting had as a main objective, providing: “Financial support for development efforts of Least Developed Countries: development finance, including innovative mechanisms, aid for trade and debt relief”. Read more

07.01.2011

Aid for Trade Meeting held in the Caribbean to discuss facilitating development through trade in the Caribbean

Member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) gathered on 25-27 January 2011 in Barbados to assess how Aid for Trade (AFT) can facilitate the development of the small vulnerable economies of CARICOM. Read more

Upcoming Events

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Previous Events

18.07.2011 Geneva

3rd Global review meeting

This meeting is aimed at evaluating the trade related development assistance to boost poor countries’ ability and capability to participate in international trade.

28.03.-29.03.2011 OECD Auditorium, France

OECD “Experts Workshop on Aid for Trade Implementation”

The workshop will focus on sequencing policy reform and making policies complementary to trade reform in order to help developing countries to turn opportunities into trade flows.

19.01.-21.01.2011 Abuja, Nigeria

ECOWAS Aid-for-Trade working group meeting

Working group meeting of ECOWAS Commission and member states to prepare their contribution towards the 3rd Global review meeting by July 2011.

ECOWAS Aid for Trade review meeting, Abuja 27–28 Jan 2010

The meeting brought together ECOWAS Trade Ministers and Development Partners to review experience in the implementation of a number of Aid for Trade related programmes/ projects, examine the outlook for donor funding for bankable projects in anticipation of future donor round tables, and strengthen partnerships for effective implementation.