East Africa urged to 'domesticate' AfCFTA pact to unlock $1.8 billion in gains
Experts warn that ratification alone is insufficient, calling for national laws to ensure trade benefits reach SMEs and women.
UN officials and trade experts are urging East African Community (EAC) member states to move beyond the formal ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They argue that the agreement's success depends on 'domestication'—the process of translating continental protocols into enforceable national laws, regulations, and institutional practices.
The push for localization is backed by significant economic projections. According to a report from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and TradeMark East Africa, full implementation of the AfCFTA in Eastern Africa could generate welfare gains of USD 1.8 billion. The report further projects that the move would boost intra-African exports by more than USD 1.1 billion and create over 2 million new jobs across the region.
The path to implementation
The AfCFTA is designed as more than a simple free trade area. Its scope includes the liberalization of service sectors, the simplification of intellectual property and investment regimes, and the establishment of a common competition policy and protocols for free movement. However, a gap remains between the signed treaty and actual economic activity. To bridge this, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is being encouraged to enact specific implementation statutes that adopt AfCFTA as local policy, effectively removing the tariffs and non-tariff barriers that currently hinder trade.
Why localization matters
Without national legislative alignment, experts warn that high-level agreements remain theoretical. Domestication is viewed as the only practical mechanism to ensure that the benefits of integration reach the grassroots level rather than solely benefiting large corporations. This includes enabling smallholder farmers, SMEs, and women engaged in cross-border trade to access new markets.
Dr. Richard Amenyah, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim and UNAIDS Country Representative for Kenya, stated that domestication is critical to ensuring the agreement delivers meaningful benefits for those seeking new market opportunities. Similarly, Francine Rutazana, Chairperson of the EALA Standing Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment, noted that such efforts ensure integration reaches the informal cross-border traders and young people who form the backbone of regional economies.
Long-term outlook
The stakes for the agricultural sector are particularly high. The ECA estimates that by 2040, the AfCFTA could increase the value of agricultural and food exports across the entire continent by US$16.8 billion.
What remains to be seen is the pace at which EAC member states will move to align their national statutes with the continental framework. The transition from ratification to regulation will be the primary metric for whether the projected billions in welfare gains actually materialize for the region's smallest economic actors.