This study explores the interests of East African Community Member States in the new “Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture” of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Following the ground-breaking decision at COP23 last year to advance work in the area of agriculture in climate talks, Parties are now required to work on "bold actions" needed in agriculture. The study reviews some of the relevant issues of interest in the region, in particular in the area of food security, and suggests ways forward in UNFCCC discussions.
Published in
Research Studies
Building primarily from the previous work published by CUTS International, Geneva, “Understanding E-Commerce Issues in Trade Agreements: A Development Perspective Towards MC11 and Beyond”, this note aims to re-introduce e-commerce, whilst stating its benefits/challenges and giving an overview of its decisions/evolution at certain World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conferences.
Published in
Papers
The briefing paper aims to inform the finalization of the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya strategy by proposing provisions to ensure regional integration agenda is not lost in strategies aimed at promoting development of local industries. Regional integration is one of the tools that Kenya can leverage to ensure development of the country. However, national strategies such as Buy Kenya, Build Kenya offering prospects for developing local industries may come as a perceived risk to EAC regional integration. Promoting consumption of goods and services from EAC, developing local content for EAC goods and services and enhancing market for EAC products will…
Published in
Papers
This briefing paper examines the role of trade policy tools in agro-processing development within the East African Community (EAC). Trade measures can help realise the potential of agro-processing for economic development, enhancing food security and employment creation in the region. Choosing and applying the right mix of trade policy tools requires a thorough analysis of their viability in a particular context, ensuring coherence with other policies, as well as appropriate institutional coordination.
Published in
Papers
This briefing paper aims to support implementation of climate change, trade, and industrial policies in the East African Community (EAC) to facilitate effective participation in regional and global agro-value chains. While agro-processing provides great opportunities in this regard, challenges still exist given that the region mainly exports raw and semi-processed agro-products that feed into manufacturing processes in other countries. Upgrading EAC’s agro-processing through leveraging the synergies among climate, trade, and industrial policy could improve the region’s participation in global value chains.
Published in
Papers
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face a multitude of challenges that have hindered their effective integration in the multilateral trading system. These have been acknowledged by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership and as a result a number of Ministerial Conferences have made decisions favourable to resolving the challenges faced by LDCs. Nevertheless, despite some progress, a number of issues in their interest remain unresolved. Some of the outstanding LDC-specific issues are related to agriculture, cotton, special and differential treatment provisions, and fisheries subsidies.
Published in
Papers
Under Agenda 2063, African countries have committed themselves to accelerating industrialization, diversification and structural transformation with a view to achieve economic and sustainable development. Achieving this objective will require Africa to leverage Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs), so as to put in place policy measures that promote its trade and investment flows. This note analyses the policy space available to undertake such measures, as well as special and differential treatment proposals on the table at the WTO.
Published in
Papers
This note focuses on the adaptation communication of EAC member states. It analyses the already existing documents and presents gaps, overlaps and good examples. In respect to Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, this paper then concludes with some recommendations to EAC climate negotiators, in order to find an appropriate future outline of EAC adaptation communication.
Published in
Papers
This paper aims to inform the finalization of Uganda’s National Industrial Policy, by proposing provisions that can support climate-aware agro-processing in the country. Uganda has embraced agro-processing as one of the key avenues to achieving its long term industrialization agenda, and has already been taking policy measures in this regard. However, in a world of accelerating climate change and global value chains, synergies are required across the policy landscape to ensure that agro-processing development is climate-aware, trade-driven and food security-enhancing.
Published in
Papers
Although Rwanda has in place a National Industrial Policy, agro-processing has so far failed its main purpose of boosting agriculture production for food and livelihood security. The sector also continues to face climate and trade-related challenges. More effective implementation of the industrial policy in the area of agro-processing development should bring on board agro-processors as part of its public-private dialogue mechanisms, so as to base its interventions on ground realities. Towards this end, this paper advocates for creating a National Agro-processors’ Forum, integrated into the Industrial Development and Export Council (IDEC), and proposes its main features.
Published in
Papers
