AGMARK and AGRA Unite to Empower Women and Youth in Cross-Border Grain Trade

As we settle into the new year, we reflect on our most recent project that kickstarted towards the end of 2024. Africa must unite to enhance food systems and trade to achieve food security and drive wealth creation. To this end, AGMARK, in partnership with AGRA, is implementing a project dubbed “Empowering Women and Youth to Participate in Structured Cross-Border Grain Trade through CBTAs in ESA Regions”.

Cross-Border Trade Associations (CBTAs) in East & Southern Africa (ESA) are central to regional economic integration but face many challenges in effectively advocating for their members. The project, which officially officially launched in February 2025, aims to streamline processes and make cross-border trade smoother for everyone involved, enhance market performance and create work opportunities to empower women and youth by collaborating with Cross Border Trade Associations in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The two-year project is implemented in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania along the border points of Busia–Busia, Namanga–Namanga, Kasumulu–Songwe, and Tunduma–Nakonde.

Six Focus Areas

1. Institutional capacity building for CBTAs – Equipping CBTAs with enhanced governance, leadership, and financial management skills. This institutional strengthening creates a stable foundation that allows CBTAs to offer better services, foster entrepreneurship, and advocate for women and youth in cross-border trade.
2. Strategic alliances and risk management – Forming partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to expand CBTAs’ reach and impact, enhance resource access and expertise sharing, and maintain operational continuity for women and youth traders.
3. Technical and entrepreneurial skills training for youth and women – Providing technical training in supply chain management, e-commerce, and structured grain trading, building an empowered workforce ready to handle the demands of structured grain trading.
4. Advocacy for supportive customs facilities and skill development – Advocating for customs facilities that address the unique needs of women and youth traders, and promoting skill development initiatives that build resilience and economic participation.
5. Market linkage and access to B2B platforms – Facilitating market access through platforms like Sauti Africa to connect traders, buyers, and off-takers, while simplifying customs processes to encourage formalized trade.
6. Leveraging AGRA’s experience and networks – Engaging AGRA’s expertise and regional networks strengthens AGMARK’s implementation capabilities, connecting CBTAs with additional resources and insights for a more coordinated, effective initiative.

Our first field engagement kicked off at the Tunduma-Nakonde border between Tanzania and Zambia, to carry out institutional capacity assessments and CBTA visits for future capacity building planning and efforts. The project will contribute to AGMARK’s overall mission to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and mobilizing partners to build a strong enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.