APMD Regional policy dialogue on the assessment of livestock trade policy inconsistencies including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and the support in development of a plan to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA.

The Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) through AMPD is organizing a regional meeting to review and document progress on AfCFTA and prioritize the key gaps for the APMD project, other partners and beneficiary countries invest on-need basis and in a coordinated manner. The good practices and lessons to be shared also will be beneficial as the project countries (Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) are at different stages of implementation– Ethiopia and Kenya already ratified the AfCFTA agreement whereas Somalia's cabinet secured approval and awaits the agreement's ratification by their parliament. 

The objectives of the workshop will be to:

• Review and document the progress and achievements of AfCFTA and trade barriers (key challenges to be addressed)
• Identify and map current tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting livestock trade in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
• Share opportunities, good practices and lesson learned on the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• Project member states', AfCFTA secretariat and RECs stocktake on the implementation of AfCFTA strategies including efforts on trade barrier reduction.
• Collaboratively plan and agree on key areas of support and areas of complimentaries.
• Propose harmonized recommendations aligned with the AfCFTA protocols.
• Develop a roadmap for coordinated implementation and monitoring of policy reforms.

The workshop is therefore expected to:

• Give status update of the AfCFTA implementation and trade barriers and key bottlenecks documented for follow-up.
• Share opportunities, best practices and lessons learned on the implementation of the AfCFTA by the project countries, RECs and AfCFTA secretariat.
• Increase awareness amongst stakeholders about AfCFTA's benefits and implementation pathways.
• Develop a clear implementation plan with time-bound actions to reduce trade barriers and improve compliance with AfCFTA protocols.

The workshop will bring together 24 stakeholders including National AfCFTA focal persons, RECs, AfCFTA secretariat, cross-boarder traders, meats producers and exporter associations, pastoral association representatives, representatives of national NTB monitoring committee from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.