Overview of work packages (WPs)


WP1 - Macro-level analysis

Research questions: What is the effect of trade agreements that govern regional/international trade in the three African countries?

We focus on the effects of

  • non-tariff measures and country-of-origin requirements in the different trade agreements on market access in EU-Africa trade;
  • interregional and international (i.e. EU-Africa) trade on market prices, in particular price transmission to local markets and price volatility;
  • national and regional trade cost determinants for comparative and competitive advantages of the selected supply chains, while accounting for quality considerations.

WP2 - Micro-level analysis

Research questions: How do non-tariff measures, private standards, the harmonization of requirements, and market institutions affect

  • downstream trade performance of export firms in regional/ international markets, and market access for exporters?
  • upstream sourcing strategies of export firms, supply chain structures and market access for domestic farms?
  • upstream sourcing strategies of import and distribution of firms that source products domestically/regionally/internationally, supply chain structures
  • and market access for domestic farms?

In the micro-level analysis on supply chain structures, a particular focus is on female farmers, and female and young workers.


WP3: Macro-micro linkage and impact

We start by developing a conceptual framework for the macro and micro linkage in the NTM analysis based on the existing literature, and implement gravity estimation methods that add to the state-of-the-art, while considering the specificities from the micro and macro analyses conducted in this project. With a focus on NTMs, we evaluate regional and international agri-food trade and the role of trade agreements by using a gravity estimation approach that combines both macro and micro variables based on WP1 and WP2, building on Kalaba et al (2016) and Gebrehiwet et al (2007). We will systematically investigate NTMs in a cross-country and -product comparison, and look into cross-cutting issues, including the role of institutions, infrastructure, and nonregistered trade. Finally, the results of the macro and micro analyses in WP1 and WP2 are made available to the different stakeholders/actors in order to improve African connectivity and connectedness in local, regional and international markets.



WP4: Dissemination

Our dissemination strategy emphasizes the knowledge generation and sharing with specific stakeholder groups: business, policy-makers and researchers. We will gear the project output towards them by involving them right from the beginning of the project. Furthermore, we will make the research results accessible/available for uptake beyond the project. The different means of conveying our results are part of our communication strategy that will be developed in detail at the kick-off meeting and validated at stakeholders meetings. For each group, we use specific dissemination strategies:

  • Researchers: high-quality scientific contributions, user-friendly databases that can be readily applied (online tools), training/webinar;
  • Policy-makers: country-specific conclusions and present them in policy briefs but also via the project website (blog), dialogue meetings to present/discuss our research results;
  • Business: insights on requirements and standards, thereby extending beyond the international effort of transparency about NTMs since we will generate and transfer knowledge about such measures in Africa and Europe, via dialogue and exchange at meetings but also briefs and messages via the project website;