In the West African region, the main economic challenges include the difficulties of many enterprises to compete in international markets, the lack of competitiveness and national and regional value chain integration. In a response to improve the overall business environment in the region, the European Union (EU) has contributed 116 million euro under its 11^th European Development Fund to a programmatic initiative called the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) through 16 national components and a regional one in a partnership with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS with the support of the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union Commission (UEMOA). UNIDO has been entrusted as implementing partnerWACOMP for eight project components, of which one at the regional level, the West Africa Competitiveness and Quality Infrastructure Project (WACQIP) in co-operation with the International Trade Centre, and seven national covering Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Cabo Verde and Senegal. With a portfolio of 31 million euro, UNIDO is one of the main implementing agencies of the WACOMP and is working to make sure that West African economies are becoming more competitive, dynamic, inclusive and sustainable.

WACOMP aims to improve the performance and growth of selected value chains and to enhance the climate for business at national and regional level. As a result, this technical support will foster the countries’ integration into the regional and international trading systems, including the newly established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This common vision between UNIDO, the EU, ECOWAS and other implementing agencies and partners translates into a tangible cooperation in the 16 West African countries through the WACOMP.

UNIDO is proud to announce the release of a video on this key WACOMP initiative.  

Watch the video here. 

For further information contact Bernard BAU (B.Bau@unido.org)