Towards a New West African Cereal Network

USAID has worked for two years to pave the way for the creation of a West African cereal network that can be a strong voice for the growing market in maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and other cereals.

Agricultural trade in West Africa is frequently hampered by seasonal restrictions, imposed by national governments for political or economic reasons. Such export bans are opposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which promotes free movement of goods, so at the individual country level the bans are usually not documented. Traders may not even become aware of them until they reach the border.

Through its Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (ATP) and Expanded Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (E-ATP) programs, USAID has helped the Burkina Faso inter-professional cereal organization (CIC-B) take the regional lead to establish the Network of West African Cereal Stakeholders.

The network is developing national organizations composed of cereal producers, processors and traders, with a strong emphasis on establishing and strengthening linkages and partnerships for intra-regional trade, advocacy, and gender mainstreaming. With USAID funding and through CIC-B, these organizations are receiving the direction and skills they need to advocate for and promote more efficient and competitive value chains and trading practices. Additional network roles are to monitor trade and analyze trade data; facilitate market linkages and build business relationships; inform about best practices in such areas as contracts, grades and standards, and warehouse certification; develop regional and local quality-seed markets; and provide training in business practices and finance instruments.

Women in the network have specific opportunities to serve in leadership capacities, develop business relationships, access credit and equipment, and receive training in quality standards, contracting, and storage management.