PACT II aims to diversify and expand exports within and outside Africa contributing to sustainable economic and social development in the continent.
The programme provides a holistic capacity building strategy to regional trade development revolving around the following four outcome areas:
PACT II Logical Framework
ACCESS! for African Businesswomen in International Trade
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PACT II seeks to build South-South cooperation linkages between the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs) – COMESA, ECCAS, ECOWAS. The programme revolves around a strategic partnership between these integration bodies and regional private sector and trade support institution (TSI) networks, developing priorities and frameworks for joint action that lead to increased exports. By fostering a better understanding of export markets, the programme aims to open the way for African businesses to seize vital opportunities.
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The Programme aims at enabling the REC Secretariats to develop and deepen in-house capabilities to initiate and coordinate TDP initiatives on a sustainable basis. To ensure that TDP are anchored in an organisational structure that is conducive to such initiatives, a trade focused institutional assessment has been undertaken of each of the RECs, reviewing the current structure and staffing, assessing training needs, as basis for an appropriate organizational structure in charge of TDP programmes.
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PACT II seeks to strengthen relevant regional trade support networks to provide an effective interface between the RECs and the private sector in the regions, and thereby an outreach mechanism for regional trade promotion activities. Regional trade information systems are established to serve as platforms for trade information exchange between the regional and national levels.
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The overall thrust of this programme includes the development of key support services within relevant TSIs in disciplines such as quality management, standards, exporter training and supply-chain management. TSIs subsequently support selected SMEs operating in the sectors to upgrade their business processes and export management skills, and thus improve their competitive position on regional and overseas markets.