The new market, created under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is estimated to be as large as 1.3 billion people across Africa, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.4 trillion. This has the potential of lifting up to 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. However, the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the continent has experienced an economic slowdown with a recovery out of sight. In this episode, we will explore the visibility of implementing the AfCFTA agreement during the pandemic and the chances of success that the continent is facing.
Some of the basic questions that our speakers will respond to include:-
1. The impact of COVID-19 on AfCFTA so far, if any.
2. How to regain the lost momentum for implementing the AfCFTA after the impact of the pandemic
3. Free trade in Africa was expected to boost intra-African trade from 18% to about 50% before 2030. Is this timetable still feasible? If not, what needs to change to attain significant growth before the deadline.
4. Amidst the pandemic, are there countries that have, are expected to, adopt protectionist policies? What impact will this have on the implementation of the AfCFTA?
5. The world seems to be moving towards digital trade amid the pandemic, how does this fit into the implementation of the AfCFTA given that most trading in Africa is informal and carried out by women?
6. How does the implementation framework capture the imagination and innovation of young people and bring them onboard.
7. Awareness of the trade agreement in Africa and especially among the young people.
8. How does success under the framework and amid the pandemic look like?
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 10 weeks
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 0
- Certificate No
- Assessments Yes
