Making the most of intra-African trade: Insights from the 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor

BY JULIE KURTZ

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting livelihoods, and the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) now beginning to influence food flows, agricultural trade in Africa is in a state of flux, with both challenges and opportunities. While AfCFTA implementation has begun, some crucial negotiations remain to be completed, and the full scope of its impact is not yet clear.

The 2021 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM), launched Sept. 10 at the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya (with virtual participation), examines how the AfCFTA can maximize its potential, and details COVID-19 recovery policies to support more resilient livelihoods for agricultural producers and formal and informal traders—as well as the knowledge and data systems to guide us there.

The AATM is an essential tool for government, industry, and international stakeholders guiding policies and investments to achieve Africa’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and Malabo Declaration goals, including tripling the value of intra-African agricultural trade by 2025.

Photo credit: Jim Holmes/Panos