Propose merge with: Partnerships including Private Sector, Agribusiness trade Financing Market Access Cross-Cutting issues: Address GENDER separate from YOUTH SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ➔ ensure that investment in mechanisms that benefit groups of smallholder farmers as a priority, and commercial scale farmers as well ENVIRONMENT ➔ ensure that Science + Technology links to innovation at country level looks at economics for entire crop/livestock; share S+T intra-and inter-regionally; harmonize intellectual property rights mechanisms at regional levels THEME: REGIONAL TRADE + REGIONAL INTEGRATION Should this be a theme or a sub-theme to another theme (if a sub- theme, to which theme does it belong)

Reminder that REGION is about continent of Africa functioning in the context of strong Regional Economic Communities (RECs) TRADE at: National INTRA-regional INTER-regional Off-continent (exports + imports) BENEFITS – Factors of opportunities from Regional Trade + Regional Integration There is evidence/studies that Africa can feed Africa with combination of FORMAL + INFORMAL trade Overlooked innovation opportunities Overlooked opportunities for agribusiness trade, i.e. all along the value chain Portfolio of countries ➔ Diverse assets of resources, capabilities, demand THEME: REGIONAL TRADE + REGIONAL INTEGRATION How is this area relevant / important to the needs of your country? ➔ What are the critical areas that should be included in this thematic area ?

NEED TO ADDRESS Predictability of rule about import/export + wide communication of rules Promotion of income growth + stability via market expansion + deepening ➔ strengthening of commodity exchanges + ancillary tool (testing + enforcement of commodity grades + standards; implement warehouse receipting systems; regional franchising) Structuring regional trade via harmonizing policies and standards (phytosanitary, seeds, packaging) Eliminate trade barriers (tariff + non-tariff) ➔ increase infrastructure investment via talking to AU-led Regional Infrastructure Initiative about prioritizing rural feeder roads, rural mobile towers, increasing access to energy in rural areas (solar/wind/geothermal), increase access to water; border delays Increase engagement of farmer organizations ➔ marketing cooperatives; savings + credit cooperatives what you really hope to see done to help meet country commitments? ➔ How would you know you were making progress on this thematic area (possible indicators) THEME: REGIONAL TRADE + REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Need to convince at the country level that regional trade is part of the solution to food + nutrition security and income generation for farmers, i.e. regional markets are a resource Increase public affairs communication promoting regional markets as a positive Engaging local/regional companies who are trying to do business in the region about constraints they face and additional opportunities they would like to develop Increase investment in reducing post harvest losses, including developing a fund for building out the regional cold-chain network and on-farm/rural storage Align and overlap national and regional investment plans, so that donor investment at either level supports the intended impact areas Deep and effective donor coordination in national and regional entities, including regional farmer association what is needed from donor community and your country to support these efforts? ➔ How would you know you were making progress on this thematic area (possible indicators) THEME: REGIONAL TRADE + REGIONAL INTEGRATION