How can Africa’s informal economy benefit from the AfCFTA?

The World Bank estimates that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFA) could lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, boost the incomes of nearly 70 million people, and generate $450 billion by 2035. Could the informal sector, which employ millions across the continent, stand to be the AfCFTA’s biggest beneficiary? Or, does the sector stand to lose the most from such unprecedented trade integration?

Innocent Anguyo is the market leader of Istanbul Africa Trade Company in Uganda and is responsible for client relationships and sales procedures. He is a consultant at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a recipient of the 2023 Sustainable Investing Fellowship. Mr Anguyo has several years of experience in business and financial journalism, research and international development. He is passionate about developing African markets.

Dr. Socrates Majune teaches history of economic thought and institutional economy at the department of economics and development studies, University of Nairobi. He worked with the Economic Research and Statistics Division Department of the World Trade Organisation and was a short term consultant with the World Bank Group on Exporter Dynamics Database on Keyna. His research interests include: international trade, industrial economics, institutional economics, econometrics, amongst others.