Addis Ababa, 15 March 2025 (ECA) – On the margins of the 57th Session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), policymakers, business leaders, and development partners gathered to discuss how African businesses can successfully trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while fostering inclusive growth and decent work.
Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA Subregional office for Southern Africa, the Africa Trade Policy Center and the Subregional office for northern Africa) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the event underscored both the transformative potential of AfCFTA and the pressing need for action to ensure businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), can reap its benefits.
Opening the session, Eunice G. Kamwendo, Director of ECA’s Subregional Office for Southern Africa, emphasized that the AfCFTA is not just about transactions but about people. She stressed that MSMEs, which account for 90 percent of businesses and 80 percent of employment, must have the tools to succeed, as they are key drivers of economic transformation in Africa.
On his part, Melaku Desta, Coordinator of ATPC at ECA, introduced the Step-by-Step Guide for Trade in Goods under AfCFTA, a practical tool to help businesses navigate trade procedures and access market opportunities. He emphasized that while National AfCFTA Implementation Strategies have been developed, they remain largely public-sector focused, leaving MSMEs with limited direct support.
Teddy Soobramanien, CEO of the COMESA Business Council, emphasized the urgency of moving beyond policy discussions, urging the private sector to "turn AfCFTA from paper into action." He called on businesses to actively leverage the agreement for regional trade expansion, ensuring that AfCFTA’s potential is fully realized.
Addressing the issue of labour rights, Hod Anyigba, Executive Director of the Africa Labour Research and Education Institute (ALREI) and Chief Economist at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)-Africa, stressed that “trade must serve people, not just profits.” He called for stronger labour protections, corporate accountability, and due diligence in AfCFTA implementation, warning that without these safeguards, trade liberalization could lead to informal employment and deteriorating working conditions.
Marva Corley-Coulibaly, Chief of Globalization, Competitiveness and Labour Standards at the ILO, emphasized that good jobs do not happen automatically. “Just as we meticulously plan trade, industrial, and investment policies, we must also plan for decent work, not as an afterthought,” she stated. While AfCFTA includes some labour provisions, she pointed out that critical gaps remain, particularly in addressing issues like modern slavery, human trafficking, and workplace safety. She proposed the introduction of a Trade and Sustainable Development Protocol to ensure that trade translates into decent work and economic justice.
Bringing the discussion to the role of women and youth entrepreneurs, Cynthia E. Gnassingbe, Senior Advisor to the AfCFTA Secretariat, underscored the importance of expanded market access, reduced trade barriers, and institutional support. She highlighted that the Women and Youth in Trade Protocol and the Digital Trade Protocol offer a framework for inclusive participation but need stronger financing mechanisms to ensure MSMEs can access affordable capital. She also called for capacity-building programs that provide business training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to empower entrepreneurs.
Experts highlighted key actions to maximize AfCFTA’s impact:
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Promote fair trade and decent work by strengthening labour protections, ensuring enforcement, and advancing social inclusion.
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Align national policies for full AfCFTA implementation.
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Support MSMEs, women, and youth with financing and training.
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Improve trade facilitation with clear regulations and tools.
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Engage the private sector to turn policies into action.
The ILO’s Decent Work Toolkit, which facilitates the examination of labour provisions in trade agreements and the impact of trade policy on labour markets, along with ECA’s Step-by-Step Guide for Trade in Goods under AfCFTA, serve as valuable tools to support private sector trade while promoting decent work. The session underscored the need for collaboration to ensure AfCFTA drives economic transformation for businesses and workers across Africa.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org