The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to be a game changer for development ambitions in Africa. It arrives at a crucial time, marked by the increased poverty levels and socioeconomic setbacks African countries have experienced due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, and its related financial, climatic and food-related shocks.
The launch of the AfCFTA is therefore a unique opportunity to promote inclusive growth and accelerate the achievement of the post-pandemic recovery, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
This report report provides an assessment of how the region can inclusively benefit from its unexploited trade potential under the AfCFTA. It offers additional insights on the vulnerabilities of women and youth, particularly in informal employment and informal cross-border trade. It also highlights the importance of partnerships in operationalizing the AfCFTA to effectively foster inclusive growth and post-pandemic resilience in the region.