Thursday, 9th May, 2025, Nairobi, Kenya: – Speaking at the Opening Session of the East Africa Cross-Border Trader Associations Forum on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), organized by East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with AGRA.
Mr. Nega Wubeneh, Head of Markets and Trade at AGRA, highlighted that AGRA research reveals young agri-food traders frequently face NTBs such as SPS/food safety standards, certificates of origin, import levies, and road user charges.
He emphasized the crucial role of Youth and Cross-Border Trader Associations (CBTAs) in reporting and advocating for NTB elimination. He reaffirmed AGRA’s commitment to catalyzing food systems transformation to improve food and nutrition security through investments in mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), the regional food balance sheet, trade scorecard, and market information systems.
Speaking on behalf of the Mr. Adrian Njau, Ag. Executive Director of EABC, Mr. Frank Dafa, Manager for Trade in Goods, elaborated that Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)—largely driven by women and youth—form the backbone of the EAC economy, contributing an estimated 70% to the region’s GDP and providing livelihoods to 88% of its population. He noted that the EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR) has eased access to the simplified certificate of origin for consignments below USD 2,000. However, many traders—especially women and youth—continue to face challenges in meeting technical and sanitary requirements, notably due to costly and duplicative certification processes.
In her remarks, Ms. Sakina Usengimana, a youth cross-border trader from Rwanda, stated that youth are central partners in East Africa’s trade future. However, non-tariff barriers—such as duplicated certification requirements, unclear trade documentation, and inconsistent standards across EAC countries—discourage many youth-led businesses from scaling regionally. She called for the simplification of trade information and improved access to finance tailored for youth in business.
Mr. Dafa further called on EAC Partner State Governments to simplify and reduce the cost of SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) certifications for small-scale traders, with special focus on women and youth. He also lauded the recent decision by the Government of the Republic of Kenya to eliminate the 25% excise tax on eggs, onions, and potatoes in the 2025 Finance Bill, stating that this measure is expected to boost intra-regional trade, particularly benefiting youth and women cross-border traders, farmers, and enhancing food security.
Representing the Principal Secretary of the State Department for EAC Affairs, Ms. Violet Chebet Mastamet acknowledged that EAC policy organs are actively working to address challenges facing women and youth traders. These efforts include the review of the EAC NTBs Elimination Act, 2017; the simplification of customs procedures under the EAC Single Customs Territory; the implementation of gender-responsive trade policies tailored to the needs of women and youth; and infrastructure improvements and targeted capacity building for MSMEs at One Stop Border Posts.
The panel session on “Cross-Border Trade and the Role of Trade Facilitation Agencies” highlighted key challenges faced by women and youth traders and outlined proposals to seize the opportunities of the EAC Common Market, which comprises over 200 million consumers. The proposals included the need for whistleblower protection mechanisms in cases of sexual harassment, corruption, and reporting of non-tariff barriers; improved access to simplified customs procedures through user-friendly digital tools/technologies such as video animations; the elimination of unjustified trade bans; and the adoption of national identity cards by all EAC Partner States as official travel documents. Additional recommendations focused on enhancing access to contracts and due diligence tools, promoting B2B engagements. The session also emphasized the need for targeted support to youth-led agri-food export initiatives such as profiling women and youth traders to offer tailored training, finance and investments options.
The panelists included: Ms. Joyce Ndosi – Women Cross-Border Trader, Tanzania; Ms. Sanyu Alice – Youth Cross-Border Trader, Uganda; Ms. Liliane Rugigana – Youth Cross-Border Trader, Burundi; Ms. Berthe Uwanyirigira – Youth Cross-Border Trader, Rwanda; Ms. Judith Ngerechi – Youth Cross-Border Trader, Kenya; Ms. Phylis Githaiga – Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS); Ms. Violet Chebet – State Department for East African Community, Kenya; and Mr. Charles Korir – Kenya Revenue Authority. The session was moderated by Mr. Isaac B. Gokah, Specialist for Regional Food Trade and Resilience at AGRA.
The two-day forum is expected to co-develop an advocacy roadmap for the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and establish a dedicated Cross-Border Traders NTB Working Group to enhance coordination and amplify the voices of youth and women traders across the region.
About East African Business Council: The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 8 East African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community. EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the EAC. www.eabc-online.com
About AGRA
AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy. AGRA advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace. Together with its partners—including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society—AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.
