About the Project
A single market could yield immense benefits for communities across Africa. For this reason, GIZ has offered support, on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana, as well as the AU Commission in Ethiopia, on AfCFTA negotiations and implementation.
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The programme works on three levels: continental, regional and national.
It supports the institutional strengthening of the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AUC by seconding experts to assist with strategic management, coordination, and the preparation for negotiations. Additionally, it supports selected member states and RECs in the set-up of national implemenation committees and regional coordination mechanisms, to ensure the strategic steering and effective implementation of the AfCFTA. Issues under negotiation, such as the trade in goods and services, are supported by a range of measures. These include providing tailor-made technical consultancy expertise and organising training sessions and workshops.
The programme also makes regional trade policy advisers available to guide the AUC on strategic policy and advocacy issues.
The programme is active in the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to promote synergies among their member states. This collaboration encourages joint initiatives, such as submitting offers collectively, to enhance regional integration and economic cooperation.
On a national level, it also works in 10 partner countries to support the implementation process: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Tunisia and Zambia.
GIZ collaborates with various institutional partners on multiple AfCFTA-related issues. For instance, joint efforts with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the Trade Law Centre focus on raising awareness and disseminating relevant information, as well as joint activities on topics such as trade in services, greening the AfCFTA, and other related areas. The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment has supported the negotiation process for the investment protocol at both the national and continental levels. Additionally, GIZ coordinates the joint implementation of a Team Europe initiative with Expertise France and Spain’s FIIAPP foundation.
The programme’s activities target five AfCFTA output areas:
Where we work
Our global reach: Driving national implementation in ten partner countries.
Working with RECs
The project also works on regional level with the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Click the button below for an overview of the RECs.