United Nations Economic Commission for Africa - West Africa

ECA, Togolese government train customs officials to get the most out of AfCFTA

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:43:12 +0000

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African Trade Policy Centre

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ECA, Togolese government train customs officials to get the most out of AfCFTA

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West Africa

ECA, Togolese government train customs officials to get the most out of AfCFTA

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:17:10 +0000

Addis Ababa, 27 November 2020, ECA – The West Africa office of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Togolese government last week organized a workshop to enhance the capacity of customs officials in the country in readiness for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The workshop was to allow actors and stakeholders to acquire knowledge on the mechanism which grants preferential treatment to a commodity within the framework of the AfCFTA, receive general information on the manual of rules of origin, and master the use of the certificate of origin in the context of the AfCFTA.

Participants were also able to detect fraud related to the issuance of false certificates of origin of the AfCFTA, apply the provisions of Annex 2 on the rules of origin of the AfCFTA, and apply the appropriate rates of the agreement.

About 150 participants in the country are targeted in the training which began on 24 November to 27 November in Lomé and in a second part which will take place from 3 December to 4 December in Dapaong.

As part of the implementation of this agreement, the Togolese government requested and obtained from the ECA technical and financial assistance for the development and validation of the national strategy.

The strategy contains a three-year action matrix covering the period from 2020 to 2022. The implementation of these actions will allow Togolese economic operators to get the most out of the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019 after the treaty was ratified by 22 countries – the minimum number required by the treaty. Trading was earlier scheduled to start on 1 July this year but was postponed for six months owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AfCFTA aims to create the world's largest free trade area with the potential that brings together more than 1.2 billion people with a GDP of over $2.5 trillion and usher in a new era of development. It has the potential to generate a range of benefits through economy of scale, trade creation, structural transformation, productive employment, and poverty reduction.

Through its African Trade Policy Centre, together with the sub regional offices of the ECA, has been working with the AUC and member states to deepen Africa's trade integration and effectively implement the agreement through policy advocacy and national strategy development.

The ECA also works closely with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and a selection of independent trade experts with the financial support of the European Union (EU) to support the implementation of the AfCFTA across the continent.

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Communication Section

Economic Commission for Africa

PO Box 3001

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Tel. +251 11551 5826

E-mail: eca-info@un.org

Inclusive and sustainable growth critical for West Africa’s successful transformation

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:09:38 +0000

Niamey, Niger, 30 November 2020 (ECA) – There can be no meaningful and successful transformational development in West Africa in the absence of inclusive growth and development, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, said during the region’s just-ended 23^rd session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICE) for West Africa.

In his opening statement to the meeting, the Minister said inclusive and sustainable growth were critical to the region’s development, adding West Africa needs to work hard together to identify drivers that will move the sub-region forward in terms of development.

Mr. Agba said it was crucial that countries in the region worked hard to ensure the development process was more inclusive.

He said the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts meeting was a great opportunity for member States in the region to ‘discuss and decide on the way forward for sustainable economic growth and development in our highly cherished sub-region’.

“It is now up to you to identify drivers that will move the sub region forward. It is therefore necessary to develop and deploy human capital and improve our infrastructure stock to increase productivity and competitiveness,” Mr. Agba told senior officials, representatives of the private sector, the United Nations, academia and others attending the meeting.

For her part, the Director of ECA's Sub-regional Office for West Africa, Ngone Diop, said; “We are aware of the serious development gaps in West Africa and across the African continent, including other factors such as the low level of human development, the volatile security situation, the increase in migration and the challenges of demographic dynamics resulting from them.”

She continued: “Despite these trends, we must believe that the future belongs to us, and that a better future, a prosperous Africa and West Africa is possible. I am fully convinced that with a united front, we can seize the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to move forward in a more resilient and sustainable manner.”

Ms. Diop said the ECA will continue to work with member States in their quest to achieve inclusive growth and development.

The meeting, held against the background of the global novel coronavirus pandemic, was hosted by ECA’s Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SRO-WA) and the Government of Nigeria.

Its main objective was to discuss recent developments that could impact the economic and social development of West African countries, with a view to identifying the main challenges to be addressed, and to propose policy recommendations for accelerating sustainable development through the transformation of the economies of the sub region.

In this regard, participants reviewed statutory reports produced by the Secretariat. Member States examined in turn the report on the implementation of the SRO-WA work programme that ran from the 22^nd ICE in May 2019 up to September 2020. Reports on the socio-economic profile of West Africa and progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in West Africa were also reviewed.

The 23^rd ICE for West Africa was held virtually from 26 to 27 under the theme «Maximizing Investments to Optimize Demographic Dynamics in a COVID 19 era: The Imperative of Building Back Better ».

The session was attended by delegates from the 15 West African States, as well as senior representatives and experts from ECOWAS, WAEMU, the Mano River Union (MRU), and other Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) of the sub-region. In addition to the ECA, other agencies of the United Nations system in Niger, notably the Resident Country Coordinator’s Offices, as well as other development partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) contributed to the meeting’s success.

This meeting was preceded by a virtual meeting of think tanks and experts from West Africa that ran from 24 to 25 November 2020 on the theme «Generational economy and structural transformation in COVID-19 era in West Africa ».

For more information, you can contact Mr. Tahirou Gouro, Communication Officer, ECA- SRO/WA

Email : gouro2@un.org

#ICE23WA

West African think tanks and experts meet virtually to discuss generational economy and structural transformation in the COVID-19 era

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 16:45:06 +0000

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West African think tanks and experts meet virtually to discuss generational economy and structural transformation in the COVID-19 era

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West Africa

West African think tanks and experts meet virtually to discuss generational economy and structural transformation in the COVID-19 era

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 16:37:09 +0000

Niamey (Niger), 25 November 2020 - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, in partnership with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, today virtually launched the proceedings of a meeting of West African Think Tanks and experts on the theme: "Generational Economy and Structural Transformation in COVID-19 era in West Africa".

The choice of this theme is a way for the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa to highlight the particularly acute demographic challenges in West Africa and to underscore the close link between population dynamics and the sustainable development objectives that countries are pursuing, with the risk that the Covid-19 pandemic may divert efforts from population policies.

In view of the many challenges associated with demographic dynamics in West Africa, aggravated by the adverse effects of the Covid-19 crisis, the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 Agenda for Africa's future aspirations will require a better understanding of the region's demographic transformations and the policies that are critical to achieving the demographic dividend, such as access to affordable and quality health services and social protection, quality education and employment opportunities for young people.

The objective of this virtual meeting is therefore to explore the link between population dynamics and sustainable development and to identify ways to align demographic change in West Africa with sustainable development objectives. The focus will be on the Covid-19 pandemic and its likely negative impact on population dynamics and the drivers of the demographic dividend.

According to the Acting Director and Chief of the Demographic Dynamics for Development (DDD) Section of ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, Bakary Dosso, «The choice of the theme ‘’Generational economy and structural transformation in COVID 19 era in West Africa’’ is a way for ECA/SRO-WA to underline the particularly acute demographic challenges in West Africa and to highlight the close connection between population dynamics and the sustainable development objectives that countries are pursuing; with the risk that the covid-19 pandemic could divert efforts away from population policies ».

“The population growth in West Africa is estimated at 2.6% in 2020, more than double the world average of 1.04%. While there has been a consistent decline in the population growth in West Africa partly explained by reduced fertility rates, progress is still slow compared to other regions and sub-regions of the world”, he said.

“Given the many challenges associated with population dynamics in West Africa compound by the adverse effects of the Covid-19 crisis, achieving the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 agenda for Africa’s aspirations for the future will require a better understanding of the demographic transformations of the region and policies that are essential to the attainment of demographic dividend such as access to quality and affordable health and social protection, quality education and job opportunities for the youth », said Bakary Dosso.

For his part, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. Chris Nikoi, stressed the need to share experiences and good practices in responses to the social and economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and the lessons learned from the various policy responses adopted by countries.

"In the face of a COVID-19 crisis that is as much global as it is regional, it is not only important to have a coalition of partners to measure the long-term macroeconomic impacts but also the social protection provisions needed in the short term, including responding to the resulting humanitarian crisis to provide basic social services in the areas of health, water and sanitation, and education," said Mr. Chris Nikoi.

In his opening speech, the Director of Macroeconomic Studies at the Ministry of Budget and Planning of Nigeria, Mr. ADEOSUN David, thanked ECA "for its efforts to coordinate a joint and urgent response of our countries to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the various consultations of the Ministers of Finance for a common position on access to concessional loans from the World Bank Group as well as other private financial institutions".

Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities and Intergovernmental Organizations of West Africa, representatives of the private sector and representatives of the United Nations System as well as academics participate in this meeting.

For more information, please contact Mr. Tahirou Gouro Communication Officer at ECA- SRO/WA,

Meeting between the Director of ECA in West Africa and the 3rd Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger: The promotion of the use of ICTs in the ECOWAS space at the centre of discussions

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:12:33 +0000

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Meeting between the Director of ECA in West Africa and the 3rd Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger: The promotion of the use of ICTs in the ECOWAS space at the centre of discussions

Sub Regional Office:

West Africa

Meeting between the Director of ECA in West Africa and the 3rd Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger: The promotion of the use of ICTs in the ECOWAS space at the centre of discussions

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 10:50:26 +0000

Niamey (Niger), November 4, 2020 – The 3rd Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger, the Honourable Ayouba Hassane Farmo, on behalf of the President of the institution, His Excellency Mr. Ousseini Tinni, had a working session on Tuesday with the Director of the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (SRO/WA-ECA), Mrs. Ngone Diop.

This meeting is part of the preparations for the second edition of the Interparliamentary Forum on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the ECOWAS region, which will be held in Niamey on November 5-7 with the theme: ''Role of parliamentarians in the struggle against cybercrime in the area of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)''.

The Honourable Ayouba Hassane Farmo took the opportunity of this audience to thank the Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, for the important support of the ECA to the National Assembly of Niger.

According to the President of the ICT Network of the Nigerien Parliament and Principal Commissioner for the Forum, the National Deputy Salifou Mayaki, who was present at this meeting, "Everything is ready for holding this Forum, which will see approximately 80 guests from abroad, including 40 parliamentarians, around ten human resources from the ECOWAS parliament, around twenty experts and media personnel”.

As for the Director of the SRO/WA-ECA, Ngone Diop, when she left the audience, she recalled that her institution and the National Assembly of Niger had established a partnership framework for the organisation of a Forum on ICTs in the ECOWAS region, which was held on May 3-5, 2017, in Niamey, Niger.

While welcoming the quality of this strategic partnership, Ngone Diop declared that it falls within the framework of the ECA's fundamental mission of supporting regional integration and the promotion of international cooperation for the development of Africa.

After welcoming the active participation of Niger in the negotiations which led to the conclusion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) of which His Excellency Mr. Mahamadou ISSOUFOU, President of the Republic of Niger, is the Champion, the Director of the SRO/WA-ECA reiterated the availability of the ECA to continue its partnership with the Government of Niger.

For more information, please contact: Tahirou Gouro, Communications Officer, ECA-SRO/WA,

Email: gouro2@un.org

Sub-Regional Office for West Africa

428 Avenue du Fleuve Niger

B.P. 744

Niamey, Niger

A high-level panel to promote the implementation of the AfCFTA in Niger

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:50:58 +0000

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Regional Integration and Trade

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African Trade Policy Centre

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A high-level panel to promote the implementation of the AfCFTA in Niger

Sub Regional Office:

West Africa

Twenty-Third (23rd) Conference of The Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (23rd Ice) For West Africa

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:37:04 +0000

Maximizing Investments to Optimize Demographic Dynamics in a COVID 19 era: The Imperative of Building Back Better

26 November 2020 to 27 November 2020

Virtual

The Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICE) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is a body that was created by the UN General Assembly. In West Africa, it meets annually to discuss the economic and social performances of countries of the region, based on reports prepared by the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA/SRO-WA). The Office is based in Niamey, Niger, and covers the fifteen ECOWAS Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Senior officials and experts from these Member States make up the West African ICE.

The ICE is hosted each year, at its request, by a Member State from the sub-region. Consequently, the 23rd Conference of the West Africa ICE, to be held in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will take place virtually from November 26 to 27, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with the hosting country. The main theme of the ICE is: “Maximizing Investments to Optimize Demographic Dynamics in a COVID 19 era: The Imperative of Building Back Better”. This ICE Conference will be preceded by an ad hoc and virtual meeting of think tanks enlarged to include national experts, which will take place from November 24-25, 2020 under the theme: “Generational Economics and Structural Transformation amid COVID-19 in West Africa”.

Virtual Think Tanks and Experts Group Meeting

eskinder.tsegaye — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:17:45 +0000

Generational Economy and Structural Transformation in COVID-19 Era in West Africa

24 November 2020 to 25 November 2020

Online

The Economic Commission for Africa Sub-regional Office for West Africa (ECA/SRO-WA) was mandated to host the Specialized Centre on Demographic Dynamics for Development (DDD) to contribute to the generation of data, knowledge and policies to address the severe population challenges faced by many African countries. The Covid-19 pandemic brought further disruption to African countries which were already facing structural vulnerabilities. The 2020 Virtual Think Tanks andExperts Group Meeting will thus be an important opportunity for ECA/SRO-WA to affirm its role and capacity to conduct in-depth analysis on the population dynamics and development linkages, investigate the implications of the Covid-19 crisis for demographic dynamics, and propose analytical tools to mainstream demographic dividend in development policies and plans at national and regional levels in the West Africa region.

The theme of the 2020 Think Tanks andExperts Group Meeting, to be held on 24-25 November 2020 is ``Generational economy and structural transformation in COVID 19 era in West Africa’’.

DAY 1 - Virtual EGM (24/11/2020)

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DAY 2 - Virtual EGM (25/11/2020)

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