West Africa: strategic support for the regional association AOCTAH

West Africa: strategic support for the regional association AOCTAH

The Association Ouest Africaine du Commerce Transfrontalier des Produits Alimentaires, Agro-sylvo-pastoraux et Halieutiques (AOCTAH), based in Togo, is an umbrella association of private socio-professional organisations in the agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sectors whose members are involved in the marketing of food or agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries products in or between ECOWAS countries and CILSS.

AOCTAH has a multifaceted mission: (i) to promote solidarity in food and nutrition security and trade in the CILSS and ECOWAS area; (ii) to initiate, lead and manage actions related to cross-border trade in food, agro-sylvo-pastoral and fishery products; and (iii) to carry out trade facilitation activities in West Africa by collecting data on cross-border flows and establishing trade information and border assistance offices.

AOCTAH has around one hundred members, 50% of which are active in the fruit and vegetable sector. Each member represents thousands of producers. As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD has recently supported AOCTAH in developing a strategic development plan for the coming years (2025/2029). A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the organisation was carried out, focusing on internal factors and the global environment in which it operates. This analysis enabled us to identify and prioritise the areas to strengthen in order to fully implement the mission of the association.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.