African Trade Policy Centre hailed for its evidence-based advisory services

Abstract

The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) held the first Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of its fourth programme cycle in Dakar, Senegal. The hybrid event was hosted by ECA’s African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) and preceded by a Partners Meeting that was held on 25 May 2021. At the opening of the event, Khadija Jarik, Vice-Chairperson of the Steering Committee and representative of Global Affairs Canada in Addis Ababa, expressed Canada’s unwavering commitment to ATPC, which it supported from its establishment in 2003. Its observed that, through its support to ATPC, Canada hopes the current phase of the project will help African countries put in place domestic reforms necessary to effectively implement their AfCFTA commitments. She also expressed satisfaction that the new programme cycle has introduced an environment work stream under which the ATPC carries out a strategic environment assessment in supporting implementation of the AfCFTA.