Implementing the AfCFTA through national

Transcript:Implementing the AfCFTA through national:
Implementing the AfCFTA through national strategies 22 December 2020 Virtual _ Outline Contexte and objectives of AfCFTA national strategies Key components of AfCFTA national strategies Communication and visibility plan Approaches required to develop AfCFTA national strategies Status of AfCFTA national strategies CONTEXT The AfCFTA begins with putting the Agreement into a national/ regional perspective. Countries need to identify capacity gaps to be addressed, as well as their comparative and competitive advantages for diversification and ability to develop or integrate value chains under the Agreement. Optimal institutional arrangements for AfCFTA in support of national level implementation and monitoring efforts while ensuring alignment with regional and continental frameworks. The need to develop AfCFTA-specific national strategies was endorsed by the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at its fifty-first session, held in Addis Ababa in May 2018, and was reiterated at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Nouakchott in July 2018. Objectives Facilitating the identification of key value addition and trade opportunities and constraints, measures including policy interventions and capacities required for it to take full advantage of national, regional and global markets within the context of AfCFTA. Map out actions including those related to institutional arrangements and mechanisms to ensure full coordination of AfCFTA implementation and monitoring at national levels while taking into account regional perspectives. Need to be anchored into regional and global policy frameworks, especially those related to trade and inclusive industrial development issues. Key components of AfCFTA national strategies Macroeconomic framework, production and trade AfCFTA situational analysis AfCFTA-related risks and mitigation actions Strategic objectives, action plan, and monitoring and evaluation framework Constraints to overcome and strategic actions required Identification and prioritization of production and trade opportunities Financing AfCFTA implementation Communication and visibility plan Cross-cutting issues Communication and visibility plan Raising awareness and understanding of AfCFTA and leveraging the benefits of the Agreement for stakeholders. Development of communications instruments (e.g., video and audio materials) and the organization of awareness-raising events relating to AfCFTA. Designation of ambassadors to deliver key messages. For example, in the NS of Côte d’Ivoire, it is suggested to develop a website dedicated to the AfCFTA, easily accessible in different local languages. Most websites of government institutions directly related to trade should dedicate an explicit page to AfCFTA. In the NS of Zimbabwe , it is suggested to create a