The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has brought together Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from across West Africa for a two-day Rice Value Chain Activation Programme. The virtual meeting was held under the West Africa Business Linkages Platform (WABLP) and aligned with the ECOWAS Regional Rice Programme. The goal is to translate evidence and analysis into concrete commercial partnerships and strengthen regional value chains.
The programme builds on recent ECA analytical work, including an assessment of rice and cocoa value chains between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The ECA has engaged over 150 SMEs operating in the rice sector to understand their constraints, market opportunities, and support needs. The consultations highlighted persistent barriers to developing competitive regional rice value chains, including limited access to finance, market linkages, and processing capacity.
The activation programme aims to reduce dependence on food imports, build stronger and more sustainable regional value chains, enhance intra-African trade, and promote greater economic diversification. The Market Access Activation initiative seeks to leverage the WABLP network to create structured opportunities within the rice value chain and strengthen intra-regional trade and market access for BSOs and SMEs.
Madam Ngone Diop, Director of ECA/SRO-WA, stated that the sessions were designed to generate tangible business outcomes, including new commercial linkages among BSOs, SMEs, and buyers. The programme will also strengthen participants’ understanding of AfCFTA market opportunities, regional policy frameworks, and rice value chain opportunities.
The WABLP, an initiative of the ECA/SRO-WA, brings together a network of over 500 BSOs and SMEs across ECOWAS member states. The rice programme is the first in a broader value-chain activation approach designed to strengthen enterprise linkages and regional value-chain integration. The initiative seeks to reduce West Africa’s dependence on external sources of rice and enhance the resilience of regional food systems.
The programme demonstrates ECA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of regional priorities, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS frameworks. By bringing regional economic analysis closer to businesses, the ECA translates evidence into practical opportunities for private-sector engagement.
The two-day virtual meeting is part of the ECA’s efforts to support West African businesses and promote regional trade. The programme includes a 90-day follow-up mechanism to help translate discussions into concrete actions and partnerships. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the regional rice sector and contribute to the growth of West Africa’s economy.
Key points
- The ECA’s Rice Value Chain Activation Programme aims to strengthen regional value chains and increase intra-regional trade in rice.
- The programme seeks to reduce West Africa’s dependence on external sources of rice and enhance the resilience of regional food systems.
- The initiative demonstrates ECA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of regional priorities, including the AfCFTA and ECOWAS frameworks.
