Unlocking the Potential of East Africa's Grain Trade

Authors: IDH Intelligence

Year: 2024

Theme: East Africa Grain Trade

Region: Africa

IDH policy brief, "Unlocking the Potential of East Africa’s Grain Trade," provides an in-depth analysis of the region's grain trade system, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities for enhancing food security and economic growth. As East Africa continues to rely heavily on external grain imports, the region faces vulnerability to global market fluctuations and price volatility. This brief explores the potential of a robust intraregional grain trade system to stabilize food supply, reduce dependency on imports, and drive economic growth. It also discusses the barriers preventing private sector engagement, such as trade policy barriers, informal trade, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to trade finance, while offering strategic policy recommendations to address these challenges and unlock the region's full potential.