Description
The overall objective or expected result of PACTII is to achieve diversified and expanded exports within and outside Africa contributing to sustainable economic and social development in Africa. Within this broader context, the objective of the MAR managed project is to build capacity of the ECCAS Secretariat as well as TSIs within the ECCAS region to use market analysis tools and methods to prioritize export sectors and markets with due consideration to poverty reduction, women and environment impact. In order to do this it is critical that countries collect and report reliable trade data. The 2011 workplan will focus on improving the data of the ECCAS region in order for reliable analysis of export potential for the regionl to be conducted as one of the difficulties encountered in the 2009 / 10 programme was the lack of reliable reported data from the region, meaning that it was difficult to analyse intra-regional trade opportunities. The 2010 programme focussed on training ECCAS secretariat staff and staff from national ministries of trade to analyse export potential. An initial workshop introduced the export potential assessment methodology and participants were assigned "homework". The participants then developed their own export potential analyses, either at the country or regional level over the following 2-3 months. Finally, the participants come back together with ITC analysts for a second workshop to present their drafts. A summary report was written that resulted in a few sectors being selected as priority sectors for the rest of the PACTII programme. This deliverable was an input into a sector development plan developed by the ES business line.