As we settle into the new year, we reflect on our most recent project that kickstarted towards the end of 2024. Africa must unite to enhance food systems and trade to achieve food security and drive wealth creation. To this end, AGMARK,
in partnership with
AGRA, is implementing a project dubbed “Empowering Women and Youth to Participate in Structured Cross-Border Grain Trade through CBTAs in ESA Regions”.
Cross-Border Trade Associations (CBTAs) in East & Southern Africa (ESA) play a critical role in regional economic integration but face many challenges in effectively advocating for their members. The project aims to streamline processes and make cross-border trade smoother for everyone involved, enhance market performance and create work opportunities to empower women and youth by collaborating with Cross Border Trade Associations in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The two-year project is implemented in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania along the border points of Busia-Busia, Namanga-Namanga, Kasumulu-Songwe, and Tunduma-Nakonde, and focusses on:
- Institutional capacity building for CBTAs – This strategy will support the project’s goal by equipping CBTAs with enhanced governance, leadership, and financial management skills. This institutional strengthening is essential for creating a stable foundation that allows CBTAs to offer better services, foster entrepreneurship, and advocate for women and youth in cross-border trade. Through business advisory services, CBTAs can develop sustainable operations, thus ensuring they can support job and enterprise growth in structured cross-border grain trade over the long term.
- Strategic Alliances and Risk Management – Forming partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders align with the project goal by expanding CBTAs’ reach and impact. These alliances enhance resource access, expertise sharing, and advocacy power, which are crucial for tackling systemic trade barriers. Risk management strategies further support CBTAs in maintaining operational continuity, allowing women and youth traders to rely on a resilient system that can support and sustain cross-border trading.
- Technical and Entrepreneurial Skills Training for Youth and Women – This strategy directly fosters job and entrepreneurial opportunities by providing technical training in areas like supply chain management, e-commerce, and structured grain trading. It aligns with the goal of equipping women and youth with the skills needed to participate and innovate in the cross-border trade sector. As a result, this training cultivates an empowered workforce that is better prepared to handle the demands of structured grain trading.
- Advocacy for Supportive Customs Facilities and Skill Development – Advocating for customs facilities that address the unique needs of women and youth traders directly contributes to a safer, more accessible trading environment, aligning with the project’s goal to boost grain trade and empower traders. Promoting skill development initiatives enhances women’s and youth’s capacity to succeed in cross-border trade, building resilience and encouraging greater economic participation.
- Market Linkage and Access to B2B Platforms – Facilitating market access through platforms like Sauti Africa provides essential connections between traders, buyers, and off-takers, supporting CBTAs in achieving the project goal. Simplifying customs processes also makes it easier for women and youth traders to participate in cross-border grain trade, encouraging formalized trade and reducing costs and barriers associated with informal markets.
- Leveraging AGRA’s Experience and Networks – Engaging AGRA’s expertise and regional networks strengthens AGMARK’s implementation capabilities, aligning with the project’s goal by building a solid, multi-stakeholder approach. This collaboration with AGRA ensures that the project is strategically integrated within regional trade networks and allows AGMARK to connect CBTAs with additional resources and insights, contributing to a more coordinated and effective initiative for women and youth empowerment in cross-border trade.
The project will contribute to AGRA’s overall mission to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.