POLICY INFLUENCING
The primary objective of the Food Trade Coalition for Africa (FTCA) is to utilize the influence of Coalition Champions and Members to drive policy changes or reforms that tackle obstacles hindering the growth of intra-Africa food trade. By actively engaging with national governments, regional organizations, and continental bodies, the Coalition initially focuses on specific areas to address these challenges.The main areas of focus are the following:
Agricultural Data Systems
Agriculture market information systems serve as valuable tools for policy-making, enabling governments to make well-coordinated and informed decisions regarding food trade regulation and interventions. By providing accurate and up-to-date market information, these systems contribute to a better understanding of the state of food and nutrition security at the national, regional, and global levels.
Food Safety
Despite Africa's improving comparative advantage in agricultural products, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and non-tariff measures (NTMs) pose significant challenges to trade performance in the region. Food safety is crucial for both food security and economic development. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures continue to hinder trade between African countries, with limited technical support available for harmonization and standard convergence efforts. Addressing these challenges is essential for promoting intra-Africa trade and fostering economic growth.
The African Continent free trade area agreement
Africa's food trade is at a crossroads. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates the world's largest single market in terms of the number of countries and people. This is a critical opportunity for the continent to boost growth, reduce poverty, and reduce its dependence on global markets. The AfCFTA can also help to increase food trade in Africa, transform Africa's food systems, and increase food security on the continent.