Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets

Increasing private sector participation in regional and global value chains

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) is implemented by the COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the following COMESA institutions: the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), the COMESA Business Council (CBC)., the Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) and the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA).

The 10 Euro million project runs until 2023 and is funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). RECAMP focuses on improving competitiveness and market access of SMEs and other firms in targeted value chains in the COMESA Member States and on generally improving the business environment for SMEs (including the women and youth) in this region.

The targeted value chains sectors prioritized for support under the programme are agro-processing (maize, livestock, fish, dairy, poultry, meat) and agro-inputs in particular quality seeds, horticulture and leather and leather products. RECAMP promotes business linkages, builds capacity related to sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) and other standards, and supports regional public-private dialogues and value chain policies.