ECOWAS Advocacy Mission - March 2011

A major goal of USAID ATP and E-ATP is to raise value chain stakeholders’ awareness of regional regulations and policies and to support their advocacy effort to minimize adverse effects on businesses, the regional economy and food security. To assist regional value chain associations in implementing their regional advocacy plans and address policy issues identified as constraints to expanded intra-regional trade, the projects organized an advocacy event at ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja on March 7-9, 2011.

The event consisted of (i) an official opening ceremony presided by the vice-president of the ECOWAS Commission; (ii) meetings with commissioners, directors and technical officials of the trade, customs, industry and free movement departments; and (iii) a visit to the ECOWAS parliament, followed by a working session with the parliament’s general secretary. The event culminated in the presentation and formal submission of advocacy letters to the ECOWAS Commission presidency. Each of the advocacy letters was prepared by its corresponding regional value chain organization, with assistance from USAID ATP and E-ATP. Each letter describes current trade barriers impeding intra-regional trade in the corresponding value chain, and recommends detailed solutions.

The ECOWAS advocacy meeting was a great success for several reasons:

First, as noted by the vice-president of the ECOWAS Commission, it was the first time that such a high number of private sector representatives from  agricultural value chain associations met with the Commission.

Second, the advocacy event enabled several representatives from the the projects' six value chain associations to have extended face-to-face meetings with ECOWAS officials. During those meetings, they not only described in detail major constraints to the development of their respective value chains and articulate specific concerns, but also discussed how the ECOWAS Commission could assist with the enforcement of regional rules governing intra-regional trade in their respective areas.  Specific proposals included:
    • Information and sensitization campaigns (for customs, police and security services)
    • Ending the widespread practice of seasonal cereal export restrictions
    • ECOWAS support to member countries seeking Avian-influenza-free status
    • Harmonization of regional cereal norms and standards
    • Harmonization of documents to ease border crossing
    • Inclusion of professional associations in ECOWAS regional and national committees of 
    • Support of institutional capacity-building programs of the professional associations

Third, the meetings provided ECOWAS with an opportunity to receive direct feedback from regional private sector organizations on the most important agricultural trade constraints and how they can be alleviated.