The Strategic Role of National Trade Facilitation Committees in Advancing the AfCFTA: A Call for Action

The Strategic Role of National Trade Facilitation Committees in Advancing the AfCFTA: A Call for Action

• Blog
• August 25, 2025

By Ambassador Kim Walusimbi

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in January 2021, represents a historic opportunity to transform Africa’s economic landscape. By creating a single market for goods and services across 54 countries, the AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade, foster industrialization, and drive sustainable economic growth. However, the success of this ambitious agreement hinges on its effective implementation, and National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) are pivotal in turning this vision into reality. As the backbone of trade facilitation reforms, NTFCs must adopt strategic, actionable measures to ensure the AfCFTA delivers on its transformative potential.

What is a National Trade Facilitation Committee?

The World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on 22 February 2017. Article 23.2 requires WTO members to establish a National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) or to designate an existing mechanism that can facilitate the domestic coordination and implementation of the TFA’s provisions.

According to UNCTAD (2025), a National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) serves as a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together public and private sector representatives to coordinate and implement policies and procedures aimed at facilitating cross-border trade. Over the years, NTFCs have gained wider recognition as key drivers of trade facilitation reforms. Their importance was strengthened with the adoption of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), where Article 23.2 mandates the establishment or maintenance of NTFCs in all WTO member states. This requirement has, in turn, reinforced the relevance to UN-CEFAT Recommendation No.4, originally issued in the 1970s.

The Strategic Role of NTFCs in AfCFTA Implementation

NTFCs, established under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and adapted to support AfCFTA objectives, serve as multi-stakeholder platforms that coordinate and implement trade facilitation reforms at the national level. Their role in the AfCFTA is strategic for several reasons.

First, NTFCs are critical in aligning national policies with AfCFTA protocols. The agreement requires member states to harmonize customs procedures, reduce non-tariff barriers, and simplify trade processes. NTFCs act as the institutional bridge between governments, private sectors, and regional bodies, ensuring that national trade policies are consistent with AfCFTA commitments. For instance, they oversee the implementation of simplified customs documentation and digital trade platforms, which are essential for reducing trade costs and delays.

Second, NTFCs foster stakeholder collaboration. The AfCFTA’s success depends on the buy-in of diverse actors—customs authorities, private sector players, logistics providers, and civil society. NTFCs provide a forum for dialogue, enabling these groups to address bottlenecks such as inefficient border procedures or regulatory inconsistencies. By fostering public-private partnerships, NTFCs ensure that reforms are practical and responsive to the needs of traders.

Third, NTFCs play a vital role in capacity building and resource mobilization. Many African countries face challenges such as limited technical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, and funding constraints. NTFCs can identify these gaps and coordinate with development partners to secure technical assistance and financing. For example, they can advocate for investments in digital customs systems or training programs for border officials, which are critical for AfCFTA compliance.

Finally, NTFCs are essential for monitoring and reporting progress. Tracking of trade facilitation reforms should be led by each country’s National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and be a collaborative process with both the public and private sectors. Developing a clear set of tools and strategies to collect, analyze, and report on reform progress is important for the NTFC. The data should be collected regularly and used as a tool to design and inform the reform process. Currently, the AfCFTA Secretariat relies on member states to provide updates on implementation milestones. NTFCs, with their cross-sectoral representation, are well-positioned to track progress, identify challenges, and propose corrective measures, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Challenges Facing NTFCs

Despite their strategic importance, NTFCs across Africa face significant hurdles. Many lack adequate funding, human resources, and political support, limiting their ability to drive reforms. In some countries, NTFCs exist only on paper, with minimal activity or stakeholder engagement. Coordination between national and regional levels is often weak, leading to fragmented implementation efforts. Additionally, the private sector’s involvement in NTFCs is uneven, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of African economies often underrepresented. These challenges threaten to undermine the AfCFTA’s goals unless addressed through deliberate, strategic interventions.

Strategic, Actionable Recommendations for NTFCs

To maximize their impact in implementing the AfCFTA, NTFCs must adopt the following strategies:

Strengthen Institutional Capacity and Funding: NTFCs must prioritize building robust institutional frameworks. Governments should allocate dedicated budgets to NTFCs, ensuring they have the resources to hire skilled staff, conduct stakeholder consultations, and implement reforms. Partnering with international organizations like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) or the African Development Bank can provide technical assistance and funding. For example, NTFCs could establish funding mechanisms modeled on successful public-private partnerships, such as Kenya’s TradeNet system, which integrates private sector contributions into trade facilitation initiatives.

Enhance Private Sector and SME Engagement: NTFCs must actively involve the private sector, particularly SMEs, which account for over 80% of businesses in Africa. This can be achieved by creating dedicated SME sub-committees within NTFCs to address their specific needs, such as access to trade finance or simplified export procedures. Regular public-private dialogues, as seen in Rwanda’s trade facilitation model, can ensure that reforms reflect the realities of small traders. NTFCs should also leverage digital platforms to disseminate information and gather feedback from SMEs, ensuring inclusivity.

Leverage Technology for Trade Facilitation: Digitalization is a cornerstone of the AfCFTA’s trade facilitation agenda. NTFCs should champion the adoption of digital tools, such as single-window systems, blockchain-based trade documentation, and e-payment platforms, to streamline cross-border trade. For instance, Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) has reduced clearance times significantly. NTFCs can collaborate with regional bodies like the African Union to scale such technologies continent-wide, ensuring interoperability across borders.

Promote Regional Coordination and Knowledge Sharing: NTFCs must work closely with the AfCFTA Secretariat and regional economic communities (RECs) to align national efforts with regional goals. Regular regional NTFC forums, facilitated by bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the East African Community (EAC), can foster knowledge sharing and best practice exchange. For example, learning from Morocco’s efficient port management systems could help landlocked countries like Uganda optimize transit corridors.

Prioritize Capacity Building and Public Awareness: NTFCs should invest in training programs for customs officials, logistics providers, and traders to build expertise in AfCFTA protocols. Public awareness campaigns, using local languages and accessible media, can educate traders about AfCFTA benefits and procedures. Nigeria’s NTFC, for instance, has used radio campaigns to reach informal traders, boosting participation in cross-border trade.

Establish Robust Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms: To ensure accountability, NTFCs should develop clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress on the implementation of the AfCFTA. These could include metrics like reduced customs clearance times, increased intra-African trade volumes, or the number of SMEs accessing AfCFTA markets. Regular reporting to the AfCFTA Secretariat and national governments will enhance transparency and drive continuous improvement.

A Call to Action

The AfCFTA holds immense promise for Africa’s economic integration, but its success depends on the effectiveness of NTFCs as catalysts for change. By strengthening institutional capacity, engaging the private sector, leveraging technology, fostering regional coordination, prioritizing capacity building, and establishing robust monitoring systems, NTFCs can overcome existing challenges and drive meaningful progress. African governments, private sector stakeholders, and development partners must rally behind NTFCs, providing the resources and political will needed to unlock the AfCFTA’s full potential.

As Africa stands at the cusp of an economic renaissance, NTFCs are not just facilitators but architects of a new era of prosperity. The time to act is now—through strategic, coordinated, and inclusive efforts, NTFCs can ensure that the AfCFTA transforms the continent into a global economic powerhouse.

The writer is a UNESCAP-trained Next Generation Trade Facilitation Expert, an Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Practitioner, an AfCFTA Trade Advisor, and an advocate for sustainable economic and regional integration of the African continent.