About the TFWA Program
About the TFWA Program
The Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) Program is an initiative driven by multiple development partners that aims to improve existing trade facilitation measures in West Africa. The program strives to reduce the time and cost of trade borne by the private sector, especially by improving the movement of goods along selected corridors, and supporting small-scale traders – including women and other key stakeholders – with trade facilitation reforms and programs.
The TFWA Program brings together key development partners, including European Union, USAID, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to support countries in the region and regional bodies (the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions) in the implementation of a combination of targeted interventions and measures. The TFWA Program is managed by the World Bank Group and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) – the program’s implementing partners – with strategic oversight and guidance provided by a Steering Committee, chaired by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the UEMOA Commission as deputy chair.
Objective
The TFWA Program aims to improve the free and efficient movement of goods in the region and internationally by reducing the time and cost of trade borne by the private sector in West Africa, and by strengthening regional trading networks’ ability to take advantage of these improvements.
Specifically, the program aims to achieve this objective by:
Improving trade facilitation measures in West Africa and implementing them more efficiently
Improving the movement of goods along selected corridors
Reducing barriers for small-scale traders and other key stakeholders, especially women, with trade facilitation reforms and programs
Program Scope
The TFWA Program is a five-year initiative (September 2018 – June 2023) and benefits from a total of $75 million in funding.
Governance
The TFWA Program is managed by the World Bank Group and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) – the program's implementing partners – with strategic oversight and guidance provided by a Steering Committee, chaired by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the UEMOA Commission as vice chair.
Funded by
Implemented by
Program Components
Component 1: Trade facilitation measures improved and more efficiently implemented
The TFWA Program’s first component focuses on improving trade facilitation measures across the region. To this end, Component 1 includes capacity building to strengthen the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions’ ability to effectively carry out regional policy dialogue, design regional trade facilitation policies, and monitor these policies at both the national and regional levels.
Expected Outcome:
Regional trade facilitation policies and instruments developed
Trade facilitation monitoring and implementation capacities improved
ECOWAS Common External Tari. implemented
ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) improved and ECOWAS Customs Code implemented World
Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement implemented
Component 2: More efficient movement of goods along selected corridors
The TFWA Program’s second component focuses on the efficient movement of goods, improving regional transit along target corridors. This component aims to create an enabling environment for trade in the legal, regulatory, and procedural areas. To this end, Component 2 will address how laws, policies, procedures, capacity building, technology, and consultations can make these trade corridors more efficient.
Expected Outcome:
Customs and border regulations and procedures simplified along priority corridors
Customs connectivity established and regional transit improved along priority corridors
Component 3: Barriers for small-scale traders reduced with an emphasis on improving conditions for women traders
The TFWA Program’s third component supports small-scale traders, with a focus on women traders. At the same time, Component 3 aims to institute a regional and national advocacy and sensitization system, increase logistics and transport operator professionalization, and promote private sector associations and civil society organizations to be more effective stakeholders and partners in trade facilitation policy making.
Expected Outcome:
Border crossing for small-scale traders, including women, made more efficient, reducing costs and delays
Private sector and civil society’s role in regional and national trade facilitation dialogues strengthened