en
Co-funded by the European Union
Co-funded by the European Union
Location
Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo, Western Sahara, Cape Verde, Saint Helena
Topic
Business Regulation and Policy, Public Private Dialogue, Women's Economic Empowerment
Status
Completed
Year
2021-2022
FEWACCI acts as the umbrella association for all Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The association was founded in 1976. FEWACCI advocates on behalf of the private sector of the ECOWAS region for greater involvement of the private sector in policy making decisions, for improvement of the business climate, public-private partnerships, institutionalised public-private dialogue, and good corporate governance.
With the support of the ICR Facility, the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) intends to analyse the business environment for women-led SMEs cross-border agri-food value chains in West Africa and identify successful business models. Lessons and recommendations for scaling up and supporting such business models and for improving the business environment for these businesses are derived. In addition, a short film will capture testimonials from three successful women. The recommendations of the study and the film will be shared during a private-public dialogue workshop with key stakeholders, such as national and regional policy makers, private sector representatives and civil society stakeholders.
The technical assistance provided by the ICR Facility included an assessment of the main factors influencing the business environment for women-led enterprises in the agri-food value chains in the ECOWAS region. The assessment entailed a study which focused on the agro-processing part of the agricultural value chain as well as cross border trade with a specific attention to innovative aspects whereby women mix local and international knowledge and taste or consumption, in order to answer new market needs. Examples of successful women-led business in the cross-border agri-food value chain were also identified. Additionally, this intervention entailed the development of recommendations for reforming the business environment for women-led enterprises in the cross-border agri-food value chains in the ECOWAS region and for supporting and scaling women-led enterprises. The results of the study were presented in a specific workshop, which was organised with the support of the ICR Facility. This hybrid private-public dialogue workshop brought together key stakeholders, such as private sector representatives, civil society stakeholders and development partners.
