Documentary Videos
In Focus
In case you missed it:
- Relive the actions during the High-level Policy Dialogue at the Africa Dialogue Series 2023, focusing on each sub-theme: Boosting Trade Facilitation and Rethinking the Foundations of Africa’s Export Diversification; Growing Middle Class and Continental Import Substitution: Connecting the Dots to Unlock Made in Africa; and Digital Services Trade: Great Potential but Regulatory Frameworks Are Urgent.
- Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General at the High-level Policy Dialogue.
Week 1 | Day One — 1 May
During the first week, the Africa Dialogue Series 2023 focuses on the sub-theme "Boosting Trade Facilitation and Rethinking the Foundations of Africa’s Export Diversification," with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) collaborating to bring key activities and materials to underpin the exchanges throughout the week, including the following documentary videos.
UNCTAD Presents
An opportunity to accelerate Africa's industrialization
The UNCTAD Economic Development in Africa Report 2019: Made in Africa - Rules of origin for enhanced intra-African trade (EDAR) analyzes the critical role that rules of origin play in leveraging preferential trade opportunities and boost intra-African trade, making the case for the adoption of simple, transparent, business-friendly and predictable rules of origin. For example, simpler rules of origin could stimulate cocoa processing and trade within Africa while boosting the apparel sector.
The Report also highlights that the AfCFTA could impact the automotive sector in Africa, given its reliance on economies of scale and its potential for creating strong regional supply networks, and is a potential game changer for the continent's development prospects. The AfCFTA could also increase opportunities to promote economic diversification and foster structural transformation through the development of a more competitive manufacturing sector.
There is an opportunity for Africa to move away from excessive commodity dependence, and usher in a new economic and political era focused on cooperation, deeper integration and higher levels of intra-African trade.
Rules of origin for enhanced intra-African trade
Once fully implemented, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be the world's largest common market with about 1.3 billion people.
The UNCTAD Economic Development in Africa Report 2019: Made in Africa - Rules of origin for enhanced intra-African trade (EDAR) analyzes the critical role that rules of origin play for making better use of preferential trade opportunities and for enhancing intra-African trade.
The EDAR 2019 argues for the adoption of simple, transparent, business-friendly and predictable rules of origin. If rules of origin are well designed, there is much to be gained in the AfCFTA.
Leveraging services in enhancing products from Africa
Africa is among the least diversified regions in the world with regard to exports. Commodities account for more than 60 percent of total merchandise exports in 45 of the 54 countries in Africa, leaving them highly vulnerable to global commodity price shocks and undermining the continent’s inclusive growth and development prospects.
Economic Development in Africa Report 2022 shows that neglecting the potentially transformative role of high knowledge-intensive services, such as information and communications technology services and financial services, is among the key reasons why export diversification remains a challenge in Africa.
The report shows that effectively addressing barriers to services trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area will be key to unleashing the transformative role of services in enhancing the diversity and complexity of products from Africa.
UNCTAD recommends that for export diversification strategies to be impactful in Africa, policies need to be in place that enhance inclusive access to innovative financing technologies, including for small and medium-sized enterprises. Leveraging high knowledge-intensive services to increase productivity and improve competitiveness in the private sector will be key to achieving higher value-added diversification and growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The CFC Presents
Making commodities work for everyone
While commodities from around the world form the fabric of our daily lives – and despite well-organized commodity markets – smallholder farmers at the base of the economic pyramid, who produce these commodities, get only a fraction of the value they create while facing enormous risks. Striving for equity within complete value chains for commodities, the CFC provides support by establishing an equitable and trusted partnership that focuses on promoting sustainable growth.
With 25 years of experience and over 500 successful projects, the CFC is the only intergovernmental organization focusing on commodities and development issues within the entire value chain, from production to consumption. Through simple but focused innovations, the CFC strengthens and stabilizes markets, providing opportunities for people to earn their livelihoods equitably, ensuring the small banana producers who become part of our daily life equally benefit from the fruits of their labour.
This is how the CFC is making commodities work for everyone.
Producing, processing and trading commodities — CFC anniversary video
Billions of people depend on producing, processing, and trading agricultural commodities. They are exposed to a range of risks, from adverse weather events to commodity market volatility. The CFC supports them by addressing those challenges, investing in agricultural small- and medium-sized enterprises to build resilience and stimulate socio-economic development in commodity-dependent developing countries.
Have a look at how the CFC drives local impact, supporting projects in several African countries, including Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Sudan, across a wide range of initiatives, from grain processing and storage facilities to produce fortified foods to sustainable cocoa farming and marketing, providing financing, training, and guaranteed markets to tens of thousands of farmers.