Knowledge Portal ECA-NA

Expert Group Meeting "Harnessing the Potential of the AfCFTA: The Catalytic Role of Economic Diversification and Innovative Digital Technology"
2024-11-19 14:00 - 2024-11-20 12:30 (Europe/Paris)
Objective:
The aim of the meeting is to contribute to the promotion of African continental integration and to improve the positioning of the economies of North and West Africa within the process of building a single market. The meeting will leverage ongoing digital advancements to promote economic diversification.

Expected Outcome:
The meeting will provide countries from both sub-regions an opportunity to review their regional and continental integration policies and align their trade strategies with the objectives of greater economic diversification, benefiting from ongoing digital transformation.

The workshop will enhance the knowledge of member countries regarding the continental integration project by offering a space for informed dialogue and exchange on the aspects of digital transformation and economic diversification.

Date & Time: November 19, 2024 at 2:00 pm (GMT+1)
Format: Hybrid
Interpretation: Arabic, French and English
This event was live streamed on
Day 1

Day 2

Concept Note

ArabicSize: 218 Kb

FrenchSize: 261 Kb

EnglishSize: 251 Kb

Programe of Work

ArabicSize: 310 Kb

EnglishSize: 248 Kb

Presentations

01 – Zakaria Laghzaoui (AfCFTA)

02 – Amadou Diouf – SRO-WA

03 – Aziz Jaid – SRO-NA

04 – Mahlet Girma – ATPC

05 – Mactar – ECA

06 – Adel Ben Youssef

07 – Zakaria Fahim

08 – Abdoulaye Seck

09 – Isiyaka Sabo

10 – Taqui Ismail – Islamic Trade Development

11 – EGM Recommendations

Speakers

Ngone Diop, is the Director of UNECA’s Subregional Office for West Africa. With over 20 years of experience, she is an expert in economics, policy development, gender equality, and poverty reduction. She leads initiatives on demographic dynamics, economic transformation through AfCFTA, regional integration, and the empowerment of women and youth. Previously, she held senior roles at UNDP – NY and ECA – Addis, served as an advisor to the Government of Rwanda for DFID – UK, and was a Regional Technical Advisor for the World Bank. She was also lecture in economics in Senegal.

Adam B. Elhiraika (PhD), is the Director of UNECA’s Subregional Office for North Africa. He previously served as Director of Macroeconomics and Governance Division and Macroeconomic Policy Division of ECA, and Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sudan (2020-2022) on leave from the UN. Before joining ECA in 2004, he was a Research Economist at the Islamic Development Bank and Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at several universities. He published extensively in internationally refereed journals, books and reports.

Mahlet Girma Bekele, is a trade expert at the African Trade Policy Centre within UNECA in Addis Ababa. She previously served as Project Manager for the EU-TAF at the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra and has worked as a trade analyst with UNECA, a supply chain specialist with WFP, and a program manager at GIZ in Ethiopia. Her expertise spans regional integration, trade, transport, and program management. Mahlet holds master’s degrees in Economics (Maritime Affairs) and Social Development.

Selasi Koffi Ackom, holds degrees in Banking, Finance, and Economics, along with diplomas in Freight Forwarding and Business Law. Since 2016, he has been the CEO of the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC) while running Rescue Shipping and Investment Agency. He spearheaded initiatives on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including founding the GITFiC-AfCFTA Tertiary Students Club. In 2021, he co-authored Actualizing the African Economic Vision. Selasi Koffi Ackom is also a political activist and leads the Global Debt Initiative.

Abdoulaye Seck (PhD), is Professor of Economics at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. His academic publications focus largely on international trade, particularly issues related to regional integration, trade facilitation, and the performance of the African private sector in export markets. As a regional consultant, he has developed implementation strategies for the AfCFTA at national level (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Cabo Verde) and regional level (ECOWAS and WAEMU), and recently the strategy for promoting value chains in West Africa within the AfCFTA’s framework.

Isiyaka Sabo, is a Regional Team Leader Inclusive Growth in UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa – Addis. He was Senior Economist in five UNDP COs. He served as Economist with IMF in Niger, Macroeconomist at the West AfDB and Director of Economic Reforms and Financial Studies at the Ministry of Economy and Finances in Niger. He has written and coordinated several papers and is a Statistical Engineer and holds a master’s degree in Economic Policy Management. He is certified in Economic Development Policies from the IERPA – Japan.

Mactar Seck (PhD), is Chief of Emerging Frontiers Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section, ECA and coordinator of ECA’s Digital Centre of Excellence on Digital ID, Trade and Economy. Mactar Seck is a leader in telecommunications, ICT4D, digital inclusion, and gender mainstreaming with over two decades of experience. Renowned for his expertise in digital policy, financial inclusion, and Internet governance, he plays a key role in Africa’s digital transformation, contributing to global initiatives like WSIS, GDC, and AU Agenda 2063..

Adel Ben Youssef (PhD), is a Professor of Economics at Côte d’Azur University and member of the CNRS research lab (GREDEG – UMR 7321). He is an associate researcher at the Economic Research Forum and Global Labor Organization. Specializing in ecological and digital transitions, he has advised international bodies and was Tunisia’s climate finance negotiator at COP 23-28 (2017-2023). He has led over 100 workshops, coordinated 25+ international events, and published 100+ articles. Editor-in-Chief of Platforms Journal and ranked among the top 2% economists globally, he contributes to several editorial boards.

Nabil Boubrahimi (PhD), is is currently Professor of Higher Education in Economics at Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. He is an associate expert with the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES) and the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Intelligence (IMS). Nabil Boubrahimi serves as a consultant for several international organizations (ILO, UNDP, AfDB, ITC, UNECA, CUTS International). He is a FIATA-certified trainer in international trade procedures (Customs and Transit) and an internationally certified SME development advisor by the ITC.

Zakaria Laghzaoui (PhD), is a Senior Adviser to the Secretary General of ZLECAF. He held various positions of responsibility within the Moroccan Ministry of the Economy, including head of the Commercial Affairs and Arbitration Litigation Division of the Kingdom’s Judicial Agency. A member of several committees dealing with trade and investment issues, Zakaria Laghzaoui has actively contributed to improving the business climate in Morocco through numerous publications and works in his field of expertise.
