|
USAID West Africa's Trade and Investment Program operates primarily under the African Global Competitiveness Initiative (AGCI) with the goals of:
- Improving the market knowledge and skills of private sector enterprises to trade
- Improving the business and regulatory environment for private sector-led growth
- Increasing access to financial services
- Facilitating investment in infrastructure and associated governance in the region.
 |
The Trade and Investment Team's objective is to facilitate greater participation in global markets and increase the level of investment in the region in order to achieve income and employment-generating economic growth. These objectives are closely coordinated with regional institutions such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Improving market skills in the private sector involves direct technical assistance through USAID's West Africa Trade Hubs in Accra, Ghana and Dakar, Senegal. The Hubs focus on non-traditional export sectors with value-added potential such as shea butter (rather than raw shea nuts). The Hubs train regional entrepreneurs to be internationally competitive and create opportunities to meet overseas buyers, particularly in the United States in support of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
West African firms face particular constraints in the areas of accessing finance, market knowledge and business management skills.
Firm-level support complements other regional programs that address the broader business environment. By working directly with firms, policy interventions can be driven by their experience. These programs target constraints in the areas of
customs regulations and administration, trade policies, and other sources of
inefficiencies (such as delays and bribe-taking along regional road corridors).
Technical assistance is also provided to regional regulatory agencies and policymaking organizations with the goal of facilitating new investments in natural gas, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. Regional businesses suffer from inconsistent and expensive power and inadequate telecommunications infrastructure. By training and assisting regional regulators and policymakers, USAID encourages responsible private sector investments in new infrastructure such as gas pipelines, electricity plants and power lines.
These objectives are implemented through the following regional projects:
|
