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The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), has introduced simplified step-by-step trading guides to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other private sector operators seeking to participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative responds to longstanding concerns from African businesses — particularly SMEs — over limited access to clear, accurate and practical information on how to engage in cross-border trade under the AfCFTA framework and benefit from its preferential arrangements.
Bridging the Information Gap
Speaking at the opening of a continental workshop in Nairobi in February 2026, Acting Director of ECA’s Regional Integration and Trade Division, Melaku Desta, said the new guides move AfCFTA implementation from policy design to practical execution.
According to him, the guides break down the administrative and procedural steps required to trade across borders — from securing trade licences and certificates of origin to meeting product health, safety and conformity standards in both exporting and importing countries.
The workshop, held at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi with financial support from the Government of Japan, focused on addressing information barriers in intra-African trade and evaluating the effectiveness of the first batch of national guides.
From Legal Texts to Practical Tools
The AfCFTA agreement is a complex, legally detailed framework negotiated over several years. While member states have developed national implementation strategies to align policies and institutions with the agreement, many SMEs have struggled to translate these reforms into actionable steps for day-to-day trading.
With support from partners including the European Union, Canada and Denmark, ECA has assisted 44 countries and five Regional Economic Communities in developing national AfCFTA implementation strategies, bringing the total number across the continent to 51.
However, those strategies largely focus on government-level reforms. The new step-by-step guides are designed specifically for businesses.
Developed jointly by relevant trade ministries and national private sector associations — with ECA’s technical backing — the guides present concise, non-technical and practical instructions that businesses can readily use.
Digital Integration and Pilot Phase
A key feature of the initiative is its integration with digital Trade Information Portals, ensuring that guidance remains current and accessible. The guides are structured to serve as a foundation for comprehensive national trade portals that provide real-time updates on procedures and requirements.
The pilot phase currently covers seven countries: Ethiopia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Mauritania. In several cases, the guides are complemented by digital platforms to enhance accessibility and information flow.
Feedback from participating countries has been described as encouraging, with stakeholders highlighting the value of simplified documentation in reducing compliance bottlenecks.
Broad Stakeholder Engagement
The Nairobi workshop brought together government officials, private sector representatives, chambers of commerce, women and youth business associations, and development partners. Participants reviewed pilot experiences, identified capacity-building needs and discussed scaling the initiative continent-wide.
Several national step-by-step guides and accompanying trade portals were formally launched during the session.
Advancing Inclusive Trade
Access to clear and practical trade information is widely seen as critical to enabling SMEs to navigate customs processes, regulatory requirements and market entry conditions across Africa.
By simplifying procedures and improving transparency, the ECA initiative aims to lower entry barriers, reduce transaction costs and promote more inclusive participation in intra-African trade.
The project forms part of ECA’s broader mandate to strengthen trade facilitation, empower SMEs and accelerate Africa’s economic integration under the AfCFTA framework.
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