Launch of Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) -- SADC Programme

Strategic Insights -

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) -- SADC Programme, a 25 million EU-funded regional initiative aimed at enhancing trade competitiveness, strengthening regional Quality Infrastructure, and boosting intra-African and Africa-EU trade. The programme, jointly implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to improve market access, align products with international standards, and enhance the region's Quality Infrastructure. The programme will place a strong emphasis on supporting women-led and youth-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), boosting economic inclusion, and promoting access to finance and sustainable business practices within the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ATCMA -- SADC Programme is a 25 million EU-funded regional initiative designed to enhance trade competitiveness, strengthen regional Quality Infrastructure, and boost intra-African and Africa-EU trade.
  • The programme will improve market access, align products with international standards, and enhance the region's Quality Infrastructure, with a focus on supporting women-led and youth-led SMEs.
  • The programme will contribute to the broader goals of advancing sustainable industrial development, fostering economic diversification and value addition, and increasing employment opportunities in the SADC region.
  • The programme will support the development of fair, resilient, and sustainable regional and international supply chains, contributing to Africa's deeper integration into global trade.
  • The programme will place a strong emphasis on economic inclusion, promoting access to finance and sustainable business practices within the region.
  • The programme will support the operationalization of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (SISR 2015-2063) and contribute to the achievement of the SADC Vision 2050 and the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • The programme is part of the wider 200 million EU-funded Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) umbrella programme, which includes one Continental component and five regional components covering COMESA, ECOWAS, EAC, ECCAS, and SADC.

Statistics:

  • 25 million: the value of the EU funding for the ATCMA -- SADC Programme
  • 200 million: the total value of the EU funding for the wider Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) umbrella programme
  • 150 billion: the amount mobilized by the EU for the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package
  • 2063: the end year of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap
  • 2050: the year by which the SADC aims to achieve its Vision
  • 25 million: the number of people in the SADC region expected to benefit from the programme

Sources:

  • International Trade Centre (ITC)
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC)
  • European Union (EU)
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)