ECOWAS: West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP)
Overview
Summary
The overall objective of the regional programme is to ‘’Strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa through an enhanced level of production, transformation and export capacities of the private sectors in line with the regional and national industrial and SME strategies’’. The specific objective is ‘’to improve the performance and growth of selected priority sectors and value chains and related services by stimulating their contribution to industry, regional trade and exports’’. The intervention of ITC in the form of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) will entail the implementation of the activities related to the promotion of better regional linkages among selected value chain, support to key regional intermediary organizations, the reinforcement of industrial competitiveness in the region, and the establishment of the West African Competitiveness Observatory and related business tools.
Sustainable Development Goals
Projects
Guinea: Relance de la filière ananas (REFILA)
The Pineapple Sector Revival Project (REFILA) is the national component for the Republic
Expanding West African trade
The West African Competitiveness Programme, or WACOMP, harnesses the expertise of the International Trade Centre (ITC) to increase regional integration through trade. We promote conducive business environments and greater participation of the private sector in a public-private dialogue on trade policy.
Our regional programme concentrates on improving micro, small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to secure investments and improving their regional reach. We also work to advance production and processing in the agro-food industry.
To improve business performance and value chain connectivity, we are reinforcing national trade and investment support institutions as well as supporting the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisations Network to share best practices and insights.
WACOMP also operates national programmes in Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone, which advance particular national priorities.
Business tools
We are extending the use of ITC technological tools to gather comprehensive information in the region. The Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) identifies existing trade obstacles, with the goal of addressing them so that regional trade flows improve.
ITC has also embedded the ECOWAS trade map tool (ECOTIS) on the ECOWAS Commission’s website to assist with tracking trade performance and to capitalize on potential trade opportunities in the region.
Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism
Trade regulations and procedures represent a major source of obstacles to international trade and a particular challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises. The International Trade Centre’s Trade Obstacles Alert Mechanism (TOAM) is a tool to support businesses to overcome such trade barriers.
Africa Marketplace Explorer
ITC’s online dashboard allows analysis of more than 630 retail marketplaces across 50 African countries.
WACOMP Guinea
In retrospect, the Pineapple Sector Revival Project (REFILA) emerges as a pivotal WACOMP initiative, championed by ITC.
The project sought to revitalize Guinea's pineapple industry by optimizing the entire value chain, fostering sustainable economic growth, and creating a conducive business environment. During the project, 327 tonnes of pineapple were exported in Africa and internationally
As a result of the project, 14 businesses were launched thanks to ITC' support, including three owned by women owned. Networking activities led to 339 business contacts reported by beneficiaries.
As an implementing partner, the ITC strategically facilitated Guinean pineapple access to international markets through market identification, robust marketing plans, client support in new export ventures, and crucial linkages with target markets.
The project spotlighted Guinea's diverse pineapple varieties, emphasizing the potential for niche markets and international exports.
Crucially, the initiative was made possible through the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique.
With a focus on the Baronne de Rothschild and smooth Cayenne varieties, the project sought to position Guinea prominently in the global pineapple market.
