Photo by GIZ

The event aimed at fostering the discussion about the role of agricultural trade to develop the local food economy in sub-Sahara Africa.

In West Africa, the local food economy — including all activities related to the production, processing, transport and distribution of food — amounted to USD 178 billion in 2010.

The local food economy is an important driver of job creation in Africa. However, the continent has become a net importer of food – mainly due to weak food system governance, population growth, low agricultural productivity, poor infrastructure, and changing consumption patterns partly related to urbanisation.

The intention behind this dialogue event was to advance the understanding of how the governance of agricultural trade may affect the capacities of African food economies to reach higher levels of food security, income and employment. This was illustrated by two different case studies.

Case studies presented

CASE 1:  The situation of the milk market in Burkina Faso

(Download policy brief)

CASE 2: The poultry market in Cameroon

(Download policy brief)

The dialogue event ended with a panel discussion on the necessary and available policy space in trade agreements for national governments in sub-Sahara Africa, the opportunities, to support local and national food markets and ways, how the European Union may support this development.

When and where

The event took place at the Humboldt-Universität Berlin on 4 May 2018.