DENMARK has committed to support green trade and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the East Africa Community (EAC) region. The funding will be channeled through TradeMark Africa (TMA), a leading Aid for Trade Organisation renowned for partnering with Eastern African governments to reduce barriers to trade, through automation and adoption of sustainable physical infrastructures such as One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and ports, among others. In the two agreements, 14.5 million US dollars will support Kenya's efforts to transition to green trade and create sustainable jobs under the Denmark and Kenya Strategic Framework for 2021 to 2025. The second agreement of 3 million US dollars will support continued response to Covid-19 under TradeMark Africa's Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme. Denmark Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Ole Thonke was quoted as saying that with the green trade funding (14.5 million US dollars), TMA will partner with government institutions and private sector in adopting sustainable and efficient transport, infrastructure for reduced barriers to trade, improving trading standards, sanitary and phytosanitary issues and improving business competitiveness. The new funding will build up on results that have been achieved in previous programs funded by Denmark, including support to non-motorised transport in the ongoing construction of Mbaraki Road in Mombasa, to include construction of storm water drainage facilities for climate change adaptation, installation of street lighting, construction of footpaths, walkways, and access ramps to enhance movement and safety of people living with disabilities. In automation, Denmark's funding will ensure that government agencies in partnership...

February 2020 – In the latest episode of Connecting Africa, CNN International’s Eleni Giokos explores how data and technology are transforming transport infrastructure across the continent. First up, Giokos visits the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (S-G-R) to see how it is benefitting the import and export industry. Since it was launched in 2017, the S-G-R has moved more than four million tons of cargo along a vital transportation corridor connecting Naivasha and Nairobi with the Port of Mombasa. “Our whole transport system has been realigned. For the longest time, very little cargo was moving by rail, up to 95% of the cargo was moving by road. Suddenly, there has been a massive shift where for containerised cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi 60% of the imports are moving by rail. So, it’s a whole different way in which things are being done.” In a region with many landlocked countries, logistics costs can add up to 60% on the consumer price of imported basic commodities. Sharma speaks about the positive impact the S-G-R has had on reducing these costs, “Any intervention which reduces the cost of logistics in our region, makes a big difference to what the people in our region can achieve in terms of their health outcomes and educational outcomes, as well as, you know, to be able to save a bit more.” CNN’s Connecting Africa explores transport infrastructure across the continent Brandspurng In the future, the S-G-R project is planned to connect Mombasa to Malaba on the border with...

Horticulture farmers have long complained of lack of expertise in the production, handling and transportation of produce from the farm. Horticulture has traditionally been grown for subsistence use but recently has been turned into cash crops. Farmers believe the coming up of a joint project, dubbed  ‘Value Web Horticulture and Income Growth’ or Viungo Project which is a collaboration between government and civil society organizations, will end the problems. “This project has come to liberate organic vegetable and fruit growers, we believe now we will prosper,” said Haji Ramadhani Issa chairman of the Zanzibar Vegetable and Fruit Growers Association (UWAMWIMA). The association was established with the aim to help fruit and vegetable growers, who have long complained on the access to market and expertise in agriculture. Currently, the association has more than 90 members operating from the agriculture industry which employ more than 90 percent of the Zanzibar population. He said there are many other problems to be addressed including isolation from the international markets which makes famers rely on domestic markets only which are however uncertain. The association members including women produce a number of fruits and vegetables like avocados, passion fruits, bell pepper, chili pepper, tomatoes and vanilla. "The problem is affecting many fruit and vegetable growers," said Haji adding that lack of a reliable market for their farm produce was also a big challenge. The Research and Monitoring Manager, Ali Mbarouk, the project is jointly implemented by the People Development Forum (PDF), Community Pemba Forest (CPF) and...

February 10, 2021 This blog post was originally published on the Agrilinks website. In development, inclusion and economic growth can sometimes be at odds: A program that prioritizes inclusion may struggle to stimulate the market, while a program focusing purely on economic growth could overlook marginalized populations. A Pay-for-Results prize competition is well-positioned to address both obstacles simultaneously. Prize competitions, such as those designed and implemented by AgResults, are innovative development finance projects that encourage the private sector to ‘solve’ a market failure and work toward a defined goal to receive a monetary award. AgResults’ prize competition model encourages businesses to overcome agricultural market failures by scaling up agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers. What could enable a prize competition to improve economic growth and inclusion? It has to do with how the competition engages the private sector and the kind of market system it encourages. By demonstrating the economic potential of expanding into untapped offerings and/or investing in underserved markets, AgResults’ prize competitions appeal to businesses — using prizes to ‘nudge’ these actors to take risks. By prioritizing delivery to populations who historically have been excluded from transactions, AgResults’ prize competitions emphasize participation all along the value chain. The Role of ICT in AgResults Prize Competitions AgResults prize competitions often use ICT to verify that competing actors are eligible for monetary prizes based on their sales and/or outputs. Beyond helping to accurately distribute prizes, a well-designed and tailored ICT solution can help actors in a value chain capture and share...

Africa has been betting on data and technology to transform transport infrastructure which continues to boost trade and enhance integration. Since Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, SGR, was launched in 2017, it has moved more than four million tons of cargo along a vital transportation corridor connecting Naivasha and Nairobi with the Port of Mombasa. Abhishek Sharma, Senior Director of Transport at TradeMark Africa, in an interview with CNN International’s Connecting Africa programme explained how the railway has impacted trade at the port, “Our whole transport system has been realigned. For the longest time, very little cargo was moving by rail, up to 95% of the cargo was moving by road. Suddenly, there has been a massive shift where for containerised cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi 60% of the imports are moving by rail. So, it's a whole different way in which things are being done.” In a region with many landlocked countries, logistics costs can add up to 60% on the consumer price of imported basic commodities. Sharma speaks about the positive impact the SGR has had on reducing these costs, “Any intervention which reduces the cost of logistics in our region, makes a big difference to what the people in our region can achieve in terms of their health outcomes and educational outcomes, as well as, you know, to be able to save a bit more.” In the future, the SGR project is planned to connect Mombasa to Malaba on the border with Uganda and continue onward to Kampala....

We’re delighted to hear that it’s now possible to buy incredible African products while supporting sustainable job creation in countries like Madagascar, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. Proudly Made in Africa (PMIA) is an Irish charity promoting Africa’s world-class products globally. They strive to promote “trade not aid” messaging in everything they do and emphasise that creating sustainable African jobs is the best solution to African poverty. Feena Kirrkamm, Head of Operations at Proudly Made in Africa, says, “We’re changing up charity. We empower African producers to trade their world-class products globally. The result? Sustainable trade, not aid. By supporting African producers, connecting them with buyers, promoting their products and educating consumers, Proudly Made in Africa is empowering people.” These innovative African businesses not only produce organic, fairly traded, environmentally-friendly, award-winning products but also support female empowerment in Nairobi, Kenya and Tanzania, add value to improve livelihoods working towards living income, and are leading habitat conservation efforts of the mountain gorilla. PMIA supports, connects and promotes these African businesses and now sells their products through the online store. Shop everything from organic teas, spices and cocoa beans to handmade soft toys, natural soaps, vegan certified Great Taste Award-winning chocolate, and the world’s first Fair Chain coffee. You can also make a donation here to ensure PMIA can continue their important work. Feena adds, “We are so excited to see our online store live. Our vision for PMIA is a world where African communities thrive, trading on equal terms with the rest of the world, and our shop...

At the end of December 2020, after intensive negotiations, the approval of a trade deal between the UK and the EU was rushed through the British Parliament. There is, however, still little clarity on what Brexit will mean in practice in the long run. What are the threats and opportunities for international development resulting from the UK-EU agreement? Let’s see what international experts say about that. What are the threats and opportunities for international development resulting from the UK-EU agreement? Adrian Green, Independent expert “The transition is over and Britain is fully out of the European Union. The Brexit agreement references sustainable development, climate change, public goods, but solely as principles underpinning UK-EU relationships on trade and commerce. On aid, the agreement is silent. Are there major risks or opportunities? Whether the UK contribution to EuropAid will revert into UKAid is a moot point just now with the aid budget reducing, but one direct threat is already evident – many UK development-focused NGOs and private sector bodies face an EU-aid freeze out. Looking wider, there may be an opportunity to reshape how the UK ‘does’ aid – leading to greater impact in selected focal areas, as a ‘force for good’. The upcoming UK leadership of the G7 and Glasgow COP could be useful divining rods. Among these, topical in the Brexit environment, are: beefing up British business ethics, stronger illicit finance/tax avoidance rules, offering vastly better trade and invest B2B partnership terms than the EU does for developing nations. Backed...

The Borderless Trade Network, an initiative by Olori-Boye Ajayi, a global trading expert and author of Borderless Trade: A Step by Step Guide to Exporting Your Product has restated commitment to empowering women with Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria. The Borderless Trade Salon series was set up to carter for the business and emotional needs of women in transition and women in business by empowering them with various means and skills that will enable them to disrupt the international market with their potential and any business career they choose. The Borderless Trade journey kicked off on February 8th and 9th with the virtual Women in Business Salon Series where high-profiled speakers – Olori Boye-Ajayi, Kola Awe, Shade Bembatoum- Young, Dorothy Ogbutor and Babajide Sodipo – sensitized women from all across the world in attendance on the trading industry, the AfCFTA establishment protocols, application of the business models to their businesses and all important factors to become a modern-day businesswoman and upscale their businesses to global levels. Speaking with a team of press members at the BTSS press briefing, the host and President of the Borderless Trade Network, Olori Boye-Ajayi shared the importance of bringing more women into the trade industry. “Research has shown us that there is only 1 in 4 women in the export industry and that is the gap we are trying to bridge”, we want women to be at equal competitive levels and we have to help ourselves, she said. Boye-Ajayi stressed that with a teeming...

As the private sector struggles to adjust business models to the growing challenges presented by Covid-19, it has become clear that digital transformation is integral to the survival of industries. Affordable digital transactions are needed more than ever and there is a need to harmonize facilitative policies in all COMESA Member States. Today’s financial inclusion agendas should consider the enablement of SMEs to leverage on retail digital solutions to access affordable, value-added digital financial services that also ensure appropriate safeguards for cross border transactions. Challenges such as access to finance, access to digital e-commerce platforms and strengthening digital supply chains have never been more profound as they are today. It is now a well-established fact that giving low-income households (and particularly women) access to formal financial services can make a critical contribution to reducing poverty and addressing inequality. A wealth of research now proves that access to services such as secure savings, lower-cost remittances, affordable insurance and appropriate forms of credit, contributes to more inclusive growth. This helps foster domestic resource mobilization, increases productive capacity, and reduces household vulnerability. It is against this background that the COMESA Business Council (CBC) in partnership with Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (TDB) hosted a Public Private Dialogue, themed, “Towards the COMESA Digital Integrated Common Payment Policy for Micro Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs)” on the 20th of January, in Kigali, Rwanda. The one-day meeting validated a draft digital Common Payment Policy for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Going...

Clearly, it is not sufficient to merely articulate the lack of collective agency facing the African continent and its diaspora with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. We must proffer solutions that address both ‘what’ should be done and ‘how’ it could be accomplished. The Work to be Done on the African Continent Several strategic initiatives can be executed to assert Africa’s agency in the fight against the COVID-19. These efforts require prioritisation, sequencing and a detailed implementation matrix anchored by a monitoring and evaluation framework. An inexhaustive list of what Africans and their brothers and sisters in the African Diaspora should immediately do on the continent include the following: 1) Clinical trials on local remedies such as Zumbani/Umsuzwane (Lippia javanica) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) to demonstrate drug safety, efficacy and side effects (if any) leading to professional packaging of medicines with specific professional dosages. Clinical trials to formally establish the impact and limitations of other natural solutions such as steaming, culminating in the development of technical guidelines for the interventions. 2) Clinical trials of human formulation of the ‘wonder drug’ Ivermectin for use in prevention and treatment of COVID-19 to establish drug safety, efficacy and side effects among African populations. 3) Development of laboratory capacity to test the safety, efficacy and side effects of all the COVID-19 vaccines – without exception – being brought into the continent. Africans must independently do this evaluation before using any of the externally developed vaccines. As the first batch of vaccines arrives in SA...