It was a pleasure for ESAMI-trapca to host the third webinar in our AfCFTA Readiness Series, under the CADAST Project, implemented by trapca with support from the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF).
This pivotal session focused on “Assessing Readiness for AfCFTA Implementation” with a spotlight on:
- Empowering Civil Society Organisations (CSOS)
- Enhancing women and youth participation
- Strengthening advocacy for inclusive AfCFTA benefits
We heard country updates from Togo and Benin and powerful grassroots voices from CSOs, youth, and women leaders on how to bridge the readiness gap.
Key Takeaways:
- Limited awareness of AfCFTA remains a major barrier among CSOs and grassroots communities.
- Targeted capacity building is urgently needed to strengthen knowledge, advocacy, and engagement in AfCFTA processes.
- Women and youth need tailored support to seize emerging opportunities in trade, especially in areas like digital trade, services, and cross-border entrepreneurship.
- Stronger partnerships between governments, development partners, and CSOs are essential for inclusive implementation.
- Knowledge-sharing platforms like this webinar are critical to building momentum, sharing country experiences, and aligning strategies for citizen participation.
Special thanks to our speakers, Moderator And our brilliant panellists!
Let’s keep the conversation going. Together, we can make the AfCFTA a people-centred and transformative agenda for Africa.
