Workshop on ‘Standardized methodology for collection and dissemination of informal trade data: Good practices and the existing gaps'

Standardized methodology for collection and dissemination of informal trade data: Good practices and the existing gaps workshop participants. Photo courtesy of ReSAKSS-ECA.

Cross-border trade plays a key role in food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. There is also a continued growth in informal cross border trade in ESA region. However, this form of trade needs to be captured if at all the region has to achieve better planning, informed decision making and understanding trade flows in the region. There are noted differences in methodology of informal trade data capture by the various agencies involved in informal trade monitoring thus the information received is often not coherent. To avert this situation, there is need for key stakeholders in the sector, to come together to find ways in which synergy can be created towards harmonization and standardization of informal cross border monitoring in ESA Region.

For the last one year, the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for East and Central Africa (ReSAKSS-ECA) in collaboration with the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has convened three workshops on tracking intra-regional trade in staple foods in ESA region. Specifically, the discussion in the second workshop highlighted the challenges associated with reported formal and informal trade data in ESA. During the same workshop, there was consensus among participants on the methodology to derive an indicator to track intra-regional trade flows in staple foods in ESA. The workshop participants also identified action points to improve the quality of formal and informal trade data. There was agreement that the various organizations involved in collecting informal trade data need to harmonize the methodologies they use in collecting informal trade data and also avoid duplicate efforts.

In response to this recommendation, a joint initiative by Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) and ReSAKSS-ECA developed a field manual that aims at standardizing and harmonizing data capture, transmission and analysis of informal cross-border trade in the region. The workshop aimed at bringing together the various stakeholders to review the draft manual and other informal trade data collection methodology tools. Participants made recommendations to harmonize and standardize informal cross border trade monitoring processes based on presentations and deliberations.

The specific workshop outputs were:

1. Reviewed informal cross border trade monitoring manual developed by EAGC, FEWS NET and the Market Analysis Sub-Group (MAS)
2. Recommendations on harmonized and standardized informal cross border trade monitoring processes.
3. A committee was formed to see way forward, in terms of harmonizing all informal trade monitoring manuals in ESA