Abuja:The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has organized a meeting with West African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to enhance the rice value chain. The two-day Rice Value Chain Activation Programme was conducted virtually on September 28 and 29.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was facilitated by the ECA Subregional Office for West Africa (ECA/SRO-WA) as part of the West Africa Business Linkages Platform (WABLP) and aligned with the ECOWAS Regional Rice Programme.
Ms. Ngone Diop, Director of ECA/SRO-WA, explained that the initiative intends to transform research and analysis into commercial partnerships, strengthen regional value chains, and increase intra-regional trade in rice. Represented by Mr. Amadou Diouf, Chief of the Sub-Regional Initiatives Section, ECA West Africa, Diop highlighted assessments of rice and cocoa value chains between C´te d’Ivoire and Ghana, and the impact of the war in Iran on West Africa.
The ECA has engaged with over 150 SMEs in the rice sector to identify their constraints, market opportunities, and support needs. The consultations revealed barriers such as limited access to finance, market linkages, processing capacity, and cross-border trade opportunities.
The sessions were aimed at generating tangible business outcomes, including new commercial linkages among BSOs, SMEs, buyers, processors, and finance providers. They also aimed to establish Letters of Intent, Memoranda of Understanding, and other commercial agreements, as well as enhance BSO capacity to facilitate SME market access. Additionally, the programme helped participants understand AfCFTA market opportunities, regional policy frameworks, and rice value chain opportunities.
A 90-day follow-up mechanism will be established to help translate discussions into concrete actions and partnerships. The WABLP, an ECA/SRO-WA initiative, unites more than 500 BSOs and SMEs across ECOWAS member states.
The rice programme serves as the first step in a broader value-chain activation approach designed to strengthen enterprise linkages and regional integration. In the medium and long term, the initiative aims to reduce West Africa’s reliance on external rice, boost intra-regional trade, and fortify food systems’ resilience, demonstrating ECA’s commitment to supporting regional priorities, including AfCFTA and ECOWAS frameworks.