ECOWAS Commission concludes regional training of trainers (tot) bootcamp on Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT)

The Bootcamp equipped participants with practical tools and knowledge on ECOWAS informal Cross Border Trade (ECO-ICBT) and the Continental methodologies to train enumerators, supervisors and coordinators in collecting and processing ICBT data. These efforts are vital in   producing timely and reliable ICBT data, promote a harmonized approach to ICBT data collection and processing as well as support the operationalization of ICBT desks across the region. These efforts will help provide a more comprehensive data on intra-regional trade flows, promote inclusive trade and inform trade policy including under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking on behalf of Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and the Director of Trade Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, Dr. Seydou SACKO, Acting Principal Program Officer for Trade Policy, Negotiation and Promotion, (Informal Trade and Competition) at ECOWAS, stated, “This Bootcamp is a key step toward formalizing informal trade, is the heartbeat of many local economies. Reliable ICBT data is foundational for inclusive policy-making and regional economic integration.”

Mr. Evince YEGBEMEY, Senior Advisor of GIZ’s ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme (EAT-GIZ), added, “This initiative lays the groundwork for structured data collection and policy dialogue. No trader should be left behind in the continental trade agenda.”

The Chair of the bootcamp, Mr. Zacks YOHANNA, Head of ECOWAS Unit, Trade and Investment of Nigeria, urged participants to champion national ownership stating “Let us institutionalize ICBT data collection and advocate for sustained funding to ensure its success.”

Opening the bootcamp on behalf of Honorable Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, of the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Ghana, Deputy Director of Trade, Mrs. Mary Gbedemah Asare, reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to advancing regional cooperation ‘through data-driven trade development’.

The Bootcamp covered data collection techniques, ethical considerations, use of digital tools, and practical fieldwork. ECOWAS reaffirmed its support for Member States as they prepare for national pilot exercises in 2025 and move toward full implementation of ICBT structures. The bootcamp combined plenary sessions and field visits.

The workshop brought together over 30 Master Trainers drawn from National, Statistical Offices and Ministries of Trade from ECOWAS Member States as well as representatives from the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions and Partners including the West African Association of Cross-Border Traders in Food, Agro-Sylvo-pastoral and Fisheries Products (WACTAF), the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), and Research Centre for Advocacy and Policy Advisory in Africa (ReCAP).  Their participation is a testament to the collaborative efforts towards addressing the challenges of the informal trade sector, a major livelihood source for women and youth in the ECOWAS Region.