The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed by 54 of the 55 African countries, seeks to achieve the objective of a continental single market. As of February 2023, 46 member-States have ratified the Agreement. Significant progress has been registered on the negotiations across Phase I (Trade in Goods and Services and dispute settlement) and the recent finalisation of Phase II (Competition Policy, Investment and Intellectual Property Rights protocols). The negotiations on the Protocols on Women and Youth in Trade, and the Digital Trade, are envisaged to come on-stream early in 2023, with plans to conclude them during the course of the year.  

This landmark agreement offers significant promise for the continent’s transformation, and   will open up new economies of scale and create stronger foundations for economic diversification. The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade, to promote structural transformation and to generate significant employment opportunities in Africa, especially for women and young people. Despite the high political momentum and the strong economic rationale, realising the AfCFTA will require strengthening institutional capacities to complete negotiations and to implement the Agreement, with the active involvement of the private sector and effective cooperation between stakeholders at continental, regional and national levels.  

Description of the facility: 

In this context, the "Technical Assistance Facility to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Continental Economic Integration" aims to enhance the continent's capacity to deliver on Agenda 2030 and 2063. It will provide targeted and on-demand support to strengthen and complement the capacities of beneficiaries to respond to their evolving priority needs related to the AfCFTA negotiation and implementation process. This strategic project responds to the needs of the African Union (AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union Commissions, and Specialized agencies), Regional Economic Communities, African Union Member States, continental and regional private sector organizations, and other potential partners working on AfCFTA and continental economic integration. The overall objective of the technical assistance facility is to contribute to the African economic integration process through the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. More specifically, the project aims to: 

- Enhance the capacity to prepare and conduct the negotiations of AfCFTA. 

- Strengthen the institutional capacity of targeted African institutions and countries to successfully implement the priority AfCFTA agenda and improve regulatory practices for continental trade. 

This technical assistance facility will mobilize expertise for the operationalization of the AfCFTA in the following components: 

- Output 1: The capacity of the AfCFTA Secretariat is enhanced, for preparing and conducting the remaining AfCFTA negotiations (all phases), as well as for steering the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. 

- Output 2: The capacity of AUC to advance Continental Economic and Industrial policies complementary to the AfCFTA is strengthened. 

- Output 3: The capacities of targeted RECs and AU-specialized agencies to implement AfCFTA-related priority reforms and to facilitate cross-REC exchanges are strengthened. 

- Output 4: The capacities of countries to implement AfCFTA commitments are strengthened, and trade regulatory practices are improved. 

- Output 5: Continental and regional private sector organisations engagement in AfCFTA is enhanced.  

The Facility is funded by the European Union, Germany, France, and Sweden and is implemented by GIZ (lead implementing partner), Expertise France, and FIIAPP.