Since 2006, the USAID Trade Hub has implemented a methodology to collect data on road governance practices along primary trade corridors in West Africa. The West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) oversees the road governance initiative, which today involves eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Global Shea Alliance participates at in-cosmetics, trains women in Ghana

The Global Shea Alliance, co-founded by the USAID Trade Hub in 2011, participated at the In-Cosmetics international trade show and the Union for Ethical Bio Trade conference in Paris, distributing more than 100 annual reports and membership directories to shea butter distributers, brands, and development agencies from around the world.

More than 500 representatives of all points in the shea value chain participated in the Global Shea Alliance’s “Global Perspectives” conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria, in March, and set the course for the future of an industry whose global significance grows with every year. Alliance members set up working groups on sustainability on the critical issues of quality and sustainability, and elected a new president.

 

The Port of Dakar has identified an office to host a Port Information Center in Senegal modeled on the USAID Trade Hub-supported Border Information Centers now operating at the Ghana-Togo, Burkina Faso-Ghana and Benin-Nigeria borders.

Bankers learn about USAID Trade Hub access to finance initiatives

80 finance experts discussed constraints that limit small and medium enterprises’ access to finance and learned about the USAID Trade Hub’s innovative work to improve access during a meeting organized by Ecobank Togo in Lome. The USAID Trade Hub’s work with the African Cashew Alliance, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development and the West African Development Bank were the focus of a presentation by the USAID Trade Hub.

The region’s third Border Information Center has opened at the Benin-Nigeria border, taking on what many traders believe may be the most difficult border crossing in the region. The USAID Business Environments for Agile Markets (BEAM) is supporting the initiative, which involves the close collaboration of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Benin National Shippers’ Council and the USAID West Africa Trade Hub.

Business
A new cashew processor in Togo has hired 400 local employees and expects to double its processing capacity three-fold within the next year with support from the African Cashew Alliance. The ACA’s business advisor worked with the company’s managers, assessing its operations and providing guidance to increase productivity. www.africancashewalliance.com