AGRA
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NEWS- The East African Business Council (EABC) has partnered with the AGRA in a new project titled “Promoting Intra-EAC Agri-Food Cross-Border Trade by Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to Trade.”

This partnership aims to increase the participation of women and youth-led agri-food traders and boost the volume of agri-food trade specifically maize, maize flour, rice, beans, soybeans, and horticulture across select East African trade corridors.

The three-year project will empower approximately 2,440 youth and women-led cross-border traders in the region by resolving Non Tarrif Barriers to reduce the cost and time of trading agri-food products and this project will capacitate youth-led agri-food traders with knowledge on using trade facilitation instruments such as the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) and trade portals, as well as establish digital trade information booths at borders.

The partnership is backed by a grant of US 399,900 dollars from AGRA with funding from Mastercard Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the project will be implemented in collaboration with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), with EABC serving as the lead implementer.

The project will facilitate public-private dialogues at border points to identify and resolve emerging trade barriers and Non Tarrif Baeriers affecting agri-food trade an annual assessment will be conducted to establish an EAC NTB Index (NTBI) to monitor progress.

This partnership between AGRA and East African Business Council will boost food security, scale up employment for youth and women and improve the income of farmers across select East African trade corridors and the earmarked corridors are Taveta/Holili, Malaba, Busia/ Elegu, Serari, Kibirizi/ Kigoma, Mutukula/Kagera and Tunduma/Mbeya.

The project is set to enhance the knowledge of cross-border traders’ associations and women and youth-led agri-food traders on reporting and advocating for elimination of Non Tarrif Baeriers and accessing market information through capacity building and media campaigns.

Respective Governments will play a crucial role in the project by engaging in public-private dialogues and adopting reforms based on the findings of case studies and the EAC Agri-Food Trade NTBs Index and these efforts are vital in improving the business environment for young women and men in cross-border trade.

*About East African Business Council:*

 The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 8 East African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community and their vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment while the primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the East Africa Community and can be accessed on www.eabc-online.com

*About AGRA*

AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy and advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace. 

Together with its partners, including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector and civil society, AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.