ECOWAS Online
Empowerment Program
Training for
National Trade
Facilitation Committees

Self-paced courses
and interactive webinars

In collaboration with other United Nations and international organisations

Offered in different languages

Available in English, French,
and Portuguese

For members of National Trade Facilitation Committees

Speak to your NTFC Secretariat to join this course

About the TFWA Program

The Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) Program is an initiative driven by multiple development partners that aims to improve existing trade facilitation measures in West Africa. The program strives to reduce the time and cost of trade borne by the private sector, especially by improving the movement of goods along selected corridors, and supporting small-scale traders – including women and other key stakeholders – with trade facilitation reforms and programs.

The TFWA Program brings together key development partners, including European Union, USAID, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to support countries in the region and regional bodies (the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions) in the implementation of a combination of targeted interventions and measures. The TFWA Program is managed by the World Bank Group and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) – the program’s implementing partners – with strategic oversight and guidance provided by a Steering Committee, chaired by the ECOWAS Commission and supported by the UEMOA Commission as deputy chair.

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Trade Facilitation Modules

Understanding Trade Facilitation

Identify key concepts of trade facilitation and why trade facilitation is increasingly important

Trade Facilitation
and Development

Discover the benefits of implementing trade facilitation reforms and how these reforms can contribute to a country’s development

Trade Facilitation
Indexes and Reports

Explore the most used trade facilitation Indexes and Reports and understand the importance of using trade facilitation indexes and reports

National Trade Facilitation Committees

Understand the concept of national trade facilitation committees and identify the key factors that contribute to the success and sustainability of the committee

Introduction to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

Find out about the history, structure, nature of obligations and importance of the preferential and differential treatment provisions under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

Understanding the Provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
(Part I and II)

Explore the different provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and learn what each provision requires, what is not included in each provision and what countries should check to make sure they are in compliance with the provision

Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures in the context of Trade Facilitation

Learn about the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and their relationship with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

Standards and recommendations by UN/CEFACT

Explore various international standards, recommendations and tools designed and published by organizations like the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT)


Gender 
perspective on Trade Facilitation Reforms

Understand how trade facilitation and gender issues are interlinked and why discussing trade facilitation through a gender lens is essential

Our platform with your own words

#practical | #interactive | #easy to understand | #informative | #easy to use

I enjoyed how the Trade
Facilitation issues were unpacked and how the different organizations
work together to ensure smooth trade across borders.

Boipelo Gotlhe Baakanyang
Manager, Botswana Trade Portal at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre
You did a great job bringing in a good mix of experts to provide many great knowledge and practical insights. Overall, the course was very insightful. Thank you for running us through a variety of important topics

SOK Kha
Cambodia Trade Facilitation Advisor
of ARISE Plus
One of the interesting components that I enjoy the most is the final assignment. Please keep this module as it is for next participants from Timor-Leste

Decio Ribeiro Sarmento
Director  Investment and Export Promotion Agency TradeInvest Timor-Leste
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This course was one of the best online courses i have ever experienced. The material was well aligned and easy to follow

Bweupe Lombanya 
Metrology Engineer
Zambia Metrology Agency
The videos are interactive and easy to follow. It is a self-pace program, so it makes it easier for me to do the modules in my free time. 

Dávida Crescência de Fátima Mesquita
Marketing and Branding Specialist
Coordinator at the office of the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste
Every topic was unique in its own right and I appreciated how the topics interconnected. I would recommend the program to LNDC staff since they work with issues of trade daily.

Mamoiloa Raphuthing
Planning and Research Manager at the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)

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