EU market access for East African Agro-based SMEs

Stakeholder discussions at a workshop in Kigali, Rwanda, delivered under SEI’s previous ECF grant, indicated that research and analysis on African exports and EU market access would complement existing efforts focused on sustainable production in the agricultural SME sector.

The main aim of this project is to inform EAC and EU officials about the climate and other sustainability implications of practices by export-oriented agricultural SMEs in East Africa and identify areas for cooperation to ensure environmental standards and sustainability commitments are met. Specific objectives include:

1. Assessment of climate-smart management practices for coffee and avocado production
2. Value chain analyses of coffee and avocado-based agro-ecological food systems
3. Market research on EU market access requirements and niche development
4. Develop recommendations to inform sustainable trade cooperation between EU and EAC partner countries.

Expected Results

1. Fact sheet for SMEs on climate-smart avocado and coffee best practices
2. Evidence of the challenges and opportunities to upgrade the avocado and coffee value chains
3. Fact sheet for SMEs on EU market access requirements and niche areas
4. Recommendations on EU-EAC sustainable trade cooperation

Partners and Funders

1. East African Science And Technology Commission (EASTECO)

The project is funded by the European Climate Foundation.