Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa-ACTESA

31/07/2026

The Africa We Envision: Creating Pathways for Resilient and Sustainable Food and Feed Security.

The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of COMESA, convened an impactful induction meeting for the 11 nominated COMESA Panel of biotechnology experts, drawn from across the COMESA region.

The induction was conducted in partnership with ISAAA AfriCenter on 29th – 30th July 2026 at the Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, and aimed to strengthen the capacity of the COMESA Panel of Experts to effectively undertake regional Biosafety Risk Assessment and provide science-based technical options for decision-making. This is crucial in enhancing understanding of modern biotechnology, emerging breeding technologies, and their adoption within the COMESA region.

ISAAA Inc. ISAAA AfriCenter Director Margaret Karembu and the ACTESA CEO John Mukuka remarked on the relevance of biotechnology in fostering regional food and feed security.

The highly engaging induction training included insightful presentations and impromptu remarks from diverse regional and global experts in biotechnology and biosafety, underscoring the importance of strengthening knowledge and skills in biosafety regulation, risk assessment, and biotechnology for effective, informed decision-making.

Meeting Highlights:

✅Robust science-based Modern Biotechnology and Biosafety
evidence enhances decision-making processes.

✅ Inclusive regulatory systems and harmonised policies foster intra-region
collaboration on Biotechnology and Biosafety.

✅ Relevance of capacity building of the Panel of Experts on
biosafety risk assessment.

✅ Promoting understanding of COMESA’s Modern Biotechnology
and Biosafety policy among Member States.

As the region transitions from decades of knowledge and research into lasting prosperity, propelling innovation and evidence-based decision-making is crucial.

Looking ahead? The instituted COMESA Panel of Experts is eager to advance the Biotechnology and Biosafety agenda through the transformation of evidence into action, innovation into enterprise, and policy into shared prosperity.

Special thanks to our partners whose support made the induction training a resounding success.

Together, we are moving decisively towards zero hunger.

30/06/2026

regional integration.

29/06/2026

ACTESA has joined other COMESA institutions at the 3rd COMESA Awareness Week and Trade Fair, in TUNIS, Tunisia convening from 29th of June to – 3rd July 2026, bringing together COMESA Institutions, Member States, development partners, the private sector, and regional stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and advance regional integration.

In his remarks, Tunisian Minister of Commerce and Trade H.E Mr. Samir Abid, underscored the need for COMESA to leverage regional integration to enhance resilience, drive growth and mitigate global shocks.

Reflecting on Tunisia’s growing role in regional integration and intra-African trade, COMESA Secretary General, H.E. Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, commended the Tunisian Government's vision for economic modernization and integration into African markets, in alignment with the COMESA agenda.

In his intervention, ACTESA CEO, Dr John Mukuka, highlighted, low agricultural productivity, uncoordinated markets, lack of harmonized policies, access to finance, and poor infrastructure as critical challenges for smallholder farmers requiring strategic public private partnerships.

What next !!!!!!Strategic dialogue, high-level presentations, and multi-stakeholder discussions will define the days ahead as we drive transformative partnerships for a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable future for COMESA region.

Stay tuned as we unlock more exciting conversations.

29/06/2026

27/06/2026

🎊🥑Behind every entrepreneurial skill, innovation, and job creation are the hands of MSMEs that brave the odds!!

‘’We are proud to share a key milestone of commencing export of avocados to the Netherlands, with 5 avocado containers exported in the first part of the season.” This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the COMESA team through the COMESA–EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) Matching Grant Program. Through this program, we have strengthened our capacity and built successful, impact-driven collaborations with our outgrower partners. We look forward to scaling even further in the seasons ahead,” SOUK Farms Executive Director, Oluwaseun Rasheed.

As we celebrate MSME Day, we are proud to reflect and spotlight SOUK Farms, a beneficiary of the CEHA Matching Grant Program, dedicated to growing and exporting high-quality horticultural products from Rwanda’s rich and fertile soils.

SOUK Farms provides premium fruits and vegetables to customers across Europe, the Middle East, and the local Rwandan market. It actively engages with over 1,200 smallholder farmers, providing them with essential inputs, training, and business linkages to help improve productivity and market access. On average, SOUK Farms recruits, on average, 100–150 casual workers per site each day, most of which account for women and youth.

SOUK Farms is cultivating a brighter future for Rwanda, while contributing to Africa’s transformative story. By creating meaningful employment and hands-on learning opportunities, Souk Farms doesn’t just grow produce; they are growing skills, livelihoods, and thriving communities, undoubtedly playing a transformative role in attaining sustainable development goals.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates about our matching grant beneficiaries and explore collaboration opportunities!!!!

Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa-ACTESA World Vegetable Center Rwanda Business Community Exporters Association of Rwanda

24/06/2026

RESHAPING PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINED RESILIENT AGRICULTURE FOOD SYSTEMS
Yesterday, we were honored to host a team from who are on a technical mission to Lusaka, Zambia, to establish a constructive working environment and shared understanding with project partners, towards trust building, ownership, and effective collaboration.
This mission is anchored on the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), implemented by UNIDO and ITC with financial support from the European Union. ATCMA aims to strengthen regional trade integration, improve market access, and enhance the competitiveness of key value chains across the COMESA region.

For ACTESA, this mission was crucial as it unlocked opportunities for the identification of co-shared priority areas, implementation challenges, and strategic opportunities for intervention.
We remain keen to drive actionable solutions that enhance market access and strengthen regional competitiveness for agricultural commodities in the COMESA region through addressing technical trade barriers and sanitary and phytosanitary systems.

Progressive meeting, exciting prospects; we look forward to unlocking this partnership as we continue to advance regional integration!

25/05/2026

Happy Africa Day!!!Celebrating cultural diversity and reflecting on our shared history. Together, we are building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, prosperity, and unity.

15/05/2026

✈️ 🗞️Transitioning from the Vision Board to Practical Action!! Yesterday, CABISouthern Africa, led by its Regional Director Dr. Natasha Mwila paid a courtesy call on the ACTESA Chief Executive Officer, DrJohn Mukuka, at the ACTESA Secretariate in Lusaka, Zambia.

Discussions underscored the exigency of advancing progress of our Joint Action Plan, which among other issues focuses on, trade facilitation and market access, research and innovation, women and youth inclusion in Agriculture, value chain upgrading and capacity building, climate resilience and strengthening SPS compliance to enhance market competitiveness.

The meeting reinforced the need for coordinated and actionable initiatives as a springboard for accelerating progress in our partnerships.

The engagement also provided a valuable platform for exploring other potential areas of collaboration, such as, complimenting efforts in ensuring regional alignment and adoption of bioprotectant standards.

🎉 Together, we are driving agriculture resilience and enhanced intra-regional and global trade through improved market access, competitiveness and regulatory alignment.

13/05/2026

How are Agricultural trade restrictions continuing to shape food systems, prices, and livelihoods across Sub-Saharan Africa?

This afternoon, our Agribusiness and Policy Advisor,John Tumpale Chambamakasa, joins a panel discussion dubbed” Country and Regional perspectives on Agricultural Trade Disruptions” in a webinar convened by AGRA and ANAPRI.

The webinar will present a regional synthesis on Agricultural trade restrictions following the convening of six in-country policy dialogues by a consortium of policy think tanks across affected countries, in Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, organized by the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI). The dialogues examined cross-border trade barriers and their implications for regional trade agreements, generating timely insights from policymakers, private sector actors, and researchers.

Join the conversation, together we can contribute to driving sustainable, more resilient food systems across the continent.
Register via: https://lnkd.in/e77K2iag
📅 13 May 2026
⏰ 2:00–3:30 PM CAT