On January 1st, 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) implementation began. Governments, producers, consumers, investors and NGOs watch the launch, eager to see if regional trade integration will deliver the promises of improved livelihoods and food security. This seminar will explore how leading trade experts, diplomats, agripreneurs and farmer cooperatives expect the AfCFTA to impact markets and trade flows across the continent.

The speakers considered  the AfCFTA’s effects on Africa’s widespread informal cross-border trade, and how this essential livelihood for women might be integrated into formal systems. As countries recover from Covid-19 disruptions, to what extent can the AfCFTA’s trade integration help reinvigorate regional economies, alleviate poverty and support broader public well-being?

This was a joint event between the he International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and  the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Previous webinars can be consulted here. 

Visit IISD's project page entitled Toward More Equitable and Sustainable Trade in Food and Agriculture for more information on our workstream on Food & Agriculture.