Report on the development and promotion of regional strategic food and agricultural commodities value chains in Africa

This paper presents an update on an initiative by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), on the development and promotion of regional strategic food and agricultural commodities value chains in Africa. The cornerstone of the approach to the implementation of this initiative is a pilot scheme in two Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Common Market for Eastern

and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that focuses on three of the strategic food and agricultural commodities identified at the 2006 Abuja Summit1 (livestock, maize and rice). ECA will take the leadership role but the

process will be undertaken in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Also, the involvement of other development partners and national and international research centres will facilitate the process.