Annually Updated VC Advocay Plan as part of the VCDP Including Top Advocacy Priorities Livestock/Meat (FY10)

The project is implemented in collaboration with the Confederation of National Federations of the Livestock and Meat Chain in the UEMOA region (COFENABVI). The COFENABVI is a regional organization that brings together national federations from eight countries in the region. The COFENABVI has identified several barriers to the free circulation of livestock in the CEDEAO region, including customs duties, taxes, and non-tariff barriers such as lengthy procedures at the border and illegal roadblocks. These barriers result in significant financial losses and non-monetary costs, hindering the competitiveness of exporters in the region and increasing the cost of final products for consumers. To address these challenges, the COFENABVI has developed a plan to improve the knowledge of regulatory texts among stakeholders and decision-makers, ensure the effective application of existing regulations, and strengthen the capacity of national federations and the COFENABVI in the areas of advocacy and lobbying. The plan aims to achieve four general objectives by the end of 2012. The first objective is to establish a Regional Monitoring Committee to improve the application of regional texts and orientations concerning the trade of livestock and meat products by the end of February 2010. The second objective is to support the dissemination of knowledge on advocacy and lobbying techniques among participants in the August 2009 training program by the end of September 2010. The third objective is to ensure that regional texts governing the activities of the livestock and meat chain are widely known by stakeholders, decision-makers, and state services involved in the follow-up of commercialization activities in the CEDEAO region by the end of August 2011. The fourth objective is to execute advocacy and lobbying activities at the regional level and support all national federations in their actions at the national level from September 2010 to August 2012. The plan involves several actors, including the COFENABVI, national federations, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. The COFENABVI has identified several risks, including the attitude of incomprehension from authorities and state services, as well as insufficient financial and human resources. To minimize these risks, the COFENABVI plans to organize a strong base to exert pressure and adopt an approach aimed at winning the adherence of political authorities to a free regional trade. The plan includes several activities, including the establishment of a Regional Monitoring Committee, the dissemination of knowledge on advocacy and lobbying techniques, and the execution of advocacy and lobbying activities at the regional level. The COFENABVI aims to achieve these objectives through a collaborative effort with national federations, decision-makers, and other stakeholders.