Trade Engineering and Facilitation Negotiation in Africa

Preloader Close

Driving African Economic Integration
Through Empowered Negotiations

INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATION FACILITATION

Some contributions facilitating intra-African trade negotiations

Decision adopted 47 states

✔ Consensus on the treatment of goods manufactured in special economic zones reach after 4 years of stalemate

AfCFTA
Special economic zones

500+ rules of origin adopted

Adoption of outstanding critical definitions to allow the correct implementation
Extra rules in the agro-processing, sugar and textiles sectors increase by nearly 5.8% of the HS coverage, representing a yearly amount of about $ 5.1 billion

AfCFTA
Rules of origin

Trade dispute resolved within 5 months

Bilateral negotiation between Kenya and Seychelles for the resolution of a trade dispute under the COMESA FTA

Dispute resolved within 5 months after 4 years of stalemate

COMESA FTA
Non-tariff barrier

Success stories

Some contributions facilitating intra-African trade negotiations

Ministerial decision ZLECAF agreement expert firm Astove Conseil

AfCFTA

400+ rules of origin adopted

✔ Harmonized System (HS) coverage increase from 81% to 85%, representing a yearly amount of $1.2 billion
✔ Extra rules in the agroprocessing, sugar and textiles sectors increase by nearly 5% of the HS coverage, representing about $4 billion

Rules of origin

AfCFTA

Decision adopted 47 States

✔ Consensus on the treatment of goods manufactured in special economic zones reach after 4 years of stalemate

Special economic zones

Astove Conseil solve Seychelles Kenya trade dispute in 4 months

Bilateral negotiations

Seychelles-Kenya trade dispute resolved

✔ Bilateral negotiation for the resolutation of a trade dispute under the COMESA FTA
✔ Implementation monitoring of a COMESA-Seychelles-Kenya roadmap
✔ Dispute resolved within 4 months after 5 years of stalemate

Non-tariff barrier

Promoting Africa's emergence as
a global economic power

We align ourselves with the vision of the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity, to create a united and prosperous Africa that works on an equal footing with its international partners.

The chosen path by the African Union to achieve this goal is regional integration through the establishment of regional economic agreements.

Our mission is to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among the member states of the AfCFTA, by providing technical assistance and capacity building, and promoting cooperation, to build trust in the AfCFTA and thereby enhance the success of its missions.

Facilitating dialogue and collaboration

Clear, informed and structured negotiations

Consulting services

Supporting you to enhance the relevance of your commitments regarding intergovernmental negotiations

Dialogue facilitation between negotiation administrators and/or negotiating states
Enhanced trust in negotiations by fostering cooperation

Assisting you in advancing negotiations in a participatory, informed, and structured manner

Consensus-building through negotiation facilitation and engineering
Efficient and lasting results in the intergovernmental negotiations

Informing you about the background and last updates of the issues addressed in your negotiations thanks to our knowledge base

Information supply to assist negotiating states in comprehending the contexts and issues at hand
National negotiation strategy & policy formulation aid through an updated and contextualized knowledge base

Database subscription

Subscribe now for unmatched analytical power and invaluable strategic insights! The subscription includes:

Repository of African trade agreements

This is a database that is searchable, dynamic, and regularly updated. It includes all African countries and their respective governing bodies' legal instruments associated with:
✓ Trade agreements of the AU
✓ Trade-related instruments of the REC
✓ Instruments of the WTO
✓ Trade agreements with other countries

Curated intelligence bulletins

Every two weeks, members receive a collection of up-to-date news that is pertinent. The news is sorted by topic, agreed terms, and country. The regularity of the Bulletin and the curated article selection guarantee timely and pertinent information for you.

Briefing and information notes

For each agreement in the Trade Agreements Directory, there is a summary note that outlines the most recent updates, offering a comprehensive overview of each document at a glance.

1 hour-hotline call

A 1-hour discussion with Guillaume Gérout, Astove Conseil's Lead Consultant, to help you analyse the latest developments in African trade negotiations in the light of your issues and challenges.

THEY TRUSTED US

Astove Conseil

Astove Conseil is an expert firm specializing in engineering and facilitation of trade agreement negotiations, with a focus on the AfCFTA.

We foster dialogue and collaboration among African Union member states by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and promoting cooperation.Our goal is to establish trust in the negotiations and enhance the success of the regional integration project led by the African Union.

To achieve this, Astove Conseil provides support to donors and negotiation administrators, ensuring constant tripartite dialogue for fruitful international cooperation.

We respect the development aspirations of all parties involved and focus on long-term results.

19

COUNTRIES

INTERVENTIONS IN AFRICA

Astove Conseil is an expert firm specializing in engineering and facilitation of trade agreement negotiations, with a focus on the AfCFTA.

All the case studies

Seychelles

Mauritius

Kenya

Ethiopia

Gabon

Niger

Senegal

Cameroun

Cabo verde

Chad

Comoros

Democratic Republic of Congo

Congo

Sao Tome & Principe

Madagascar

La Réunion

Ghana

Tunisia

South Africa

Our Trade Experts

Anais Cren-Larvor

Documentary research analyst

Guillaume Gérout

CEO & Lead Consultant

Expert in negotiation strategy for African economic integration agreements

Laureen Marion-Trenchant

Qualitative analyst

Marilou Fiorentino

Quantitative analyst & project manager

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Mr Gérout a activement participé a des activités de l'OIF et de la CEA. Il a démontré une implication rigoureuse et professionnelle, sa maitrise des sujets relatifs à ses missions auprès de la CEA, mais a également prouvé sa connaissance approfondie des sujets d'intérêts pour les objectifs stratégiques nos 7 et 8 de la Stratégique Economique de la Francophonie. En ce sens son expérience auprès du secteur privé et du tissu institutionnel aux Seychelles et dans l'Océan Indien constitue un avantage avéré. pour la mise en oeuvre de programme d' autonomisation économique en Afrique centrale et australe, plus généralement en Afrique Sub-saharienne.

I have known Mr Guillaume Gérout as an Economist in the Division of Development and Regional Integation of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Gérout has worked mainly on trade negotiations with the European Union (EU), particularly on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries, including the Interim EPA between EU and Seychelles. His technical knowledge and mastery of the subject has enabled him to provide accurate information and robust advice to the Government.

Mr Gérout a été mis a disposition par Astove Conseil pour le projet "Assistance technique au département du Commerce et de l'Industrie (DIT) en soutien aux négociations des Règles d'origine de la ZLECAf. Mr Gérout a contribué significtivement à l'avancée des négociations de la libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf), notamment grâce à la coordination et facilitation de réunions de consultation et de groupes de discussion informel, ainsi que son appui technique prodigué aux hauts fonctionnaires du Secrétariat de la ZLECAf.

Expertise France est entièrement satisfait de la prestation de Mr Gérout et le remercie pour son excellent travail.

The assignment was completed successfully by Mr. Gérout who coordinated inputs from his team, technical ITC staff and partner organizations in a professional manner.

The outputs delivered met the expectations of the terms of reference and I would recommend Mr. Gérout as a capable, diligent, and qualified African trade specialist.

Astove Conseil a contribué significativement à la prise de conscience du contexte et des enjeux de la zone libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) par les parties prenantes malgaches, notamment grâce à l'enquête de perception menée parmi elles, ainsi que grâce à son rapport analytique sur les intérêts de Madagascar, lui permettant d'avoir les outils pour prendre une décision éclairée concernant son adhésion à la ZLECAf et les démarches à mettre en place pour une mise en oeuvre fructueuse.

Le Projet PlC2 est entièrement satisfait de la prestation des services d'Astove Conseil ainsi que du partenariat opéré avec Partnership Labs, et remercie leurs membres pour leur excellent travail.

M. Gérout a contribué significativement à la facilitation du dialogue technique et politique entre les experts de la Commission européenne et ceux des différentes institutions africaines invitées à participer à une série de webinaires sur les relations économiques entre l’UE et l’Afrique, parmi lesquelles la Commission de l’Union africaine, la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique, la Centre pour le droit commercial (TRALAC), etc.

Sa connaissance du tissu institutionnel économique africain et des institutions en charge des négociations de la zone libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) et des accords de partenariat économique (APE) a été un atout particulier pour le succès de la mission .

Get in touch