Education and Outreach

Education and Outreach

Delve into the objectives and benefits of the AfCFTA for African businesses through our Educational and Outreach programs. These initiatives are meticulously crafted to furnish you with the essential knowledge and expertise required to navigate trade across State Parties and excel within the AfCFTA framework. Moreover, engage with like-minded entrepreneurs through our Business Connections sessions, fostering collaborative opportunities and facilitating meaningful business relationships.

Objectives:

The primary objective of the AfCFTA Education and Outreach Initiative is to expedite trade among State Parties. This will be achieved through the organization of educational and outreach workshops tailored for businesses within State Parties. The key objectives that the AfCFTA Education and Outreach Initiative aims to accomplish include:

  1. Demystifying the AfCFTA for business communities to promote trade among State Parties.
  2. Ensuring that African businesses comprehend the benefits of engaging in trade under the AfCFTA.
  3. Equipping African businesses with an operational toolkit to enable seamless trading among themselves under the AfCFTA. This toolkit will encompass all five operational instruments of the AfCFTA, including the Monitoring and Evaluation of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB), Rules of Origin, Online Negotiation Forum, the African Trade Observatory, and the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
  4. Illustrating the advantages of trade to African businesses within the AfCFTA framework. This involves highlighting businesses that have already commenced trading under the AfCFTA and sharing their experiences.
  5. Providing a step-by-step guide to African businesses on how to initiate and conduct trade under the AfCFTA, beginning with the eight GTI participating State Parties.
  6. Collaborating with National Implementation Committees (NICs) to enhance awareness and foster trade among State Parties.

Supplementing other initiatives aimed at accelerating intra-Africa trade, such as the GTI, Intra Africa Trade Fair, and various regional trade exhibitions and fairs.

Approach:

Workshops are slated to be conducted in major cities across different State Parties, commencing with the GTI participating State Parties as outlined in the implementation plan detailed in Annexure 1. These workshops will encompass:

  • Introduction to AfCFTA Education and Outreach Initiative: Providing an overview of the initiative’s goals, objectives, and significance.
  • Presentation of African Trades’ Platform (africantrades.org): Introducing participants to the African Trades’ platform, an essential resource for businesses interested in engaging in AfCFTA-driven trade.
  • Basic Training on Trading under AfCFTA: Equipping attendees with fundamental knowledge on engaging in trade under the AfCFTA, including insights into operational tools.
  • Tips on Identifying Trade Opportunities: Offering guidance on recognizing and capitalizing on trade opportunities within other State Parties.
  • Call to Action: Encouraging active participation and engagement in AfCFTA-related trade activities.

These workshops will be conducted in collaboration with the National Implementation Committees (NICs) of the respective State Parties and will take place in two of the largest urban cities. Initial workshops in GTI-participating State Parties will be financially supported through grants, while subsequent events will rely on a combination of grants, sponsorships, and advertising revenue to ensure ongoing sustainability.

Outcomes:

The AfCFTA Education and Outreach Initiative specifically targets African businesses of all sizes seeking to explore new customers and markets across the continent. The anticipated key outcomes of the AfCFTA Education and Outreach Initiative include:

  • Increased Awareness: Enhance awareness among African businesses about the AfCFTA, ensuring a broad understanding of its principles, benefits, and operational mechanisms.
  • Informed Decision-Making: Empower African businesses with the knowledge necessary for informed decision-making regarding participation in trade under the AfCFTA.
  • Facilitated Trade Transactions: Provide practical tools and resources to enable African businesses to engage in seamless trade with each other under the AfCFTA, utilizing the operational toolkit encompassing key instruments such as NTB monitoring, Rules of Origin, Online Negotiation Forum, African Trade Observatory, and PAPSS.
  • Showcasing Success Stories: Demonstrate the positive impact of AfCFTA on businesses by showcasing success stories of those who have successfully initiated trade under its framework, thereby inspiring and motivating others.
  • Guided Implementation: Offer a step-by-step guide to assist African businesses in navigating the process of initiating and conducting trade under the AfCFTA, focusing on the eight GTI participating State Parties.
  • Enhanced Collaboration with NICs: Strengthen collaboration with National Implementation Committees (NICs) to raise awareness and promote trade, fostering a conducive environment for businesses to engage in cross-border transactions.
  • Contribution to Intra-Africa Trade: Contribute to the overall acceleration of intra-Africa trade by complementing existing efforts, such as the GTI, Intra Africa Trade Fair, and regional trade exhibitions and fairs.
  • Economic Growth and Job Creation: Ultimately, stimulate economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation across the continent by fostering increased trade activities among African businesses.