Trade that Works
Faster, Frictionless, Fairer, and Further Trade
Progress So Far
TMA has accelerated cross-border trade by building digital systems and upgrading major trade corridors- reducing time, costs and making trade faster, cheaper, and more predictable for African businesses and traders.
TMA funded design and rollout of over 100 digital trade systems – automating manual processes, integrating customs and standards data, and building digital tools at ports, borders and regulatory agencies
81% reduction in customs clearance time
At Uganda’s Ntoroko Lake Port, customs clearance time fell from 9 hours in 2019 to just 1 hour by 2023 following TMA’s integrated border management interventions. 38% reduction in truck queueing time, from 16 hours in 2019 to 10 hours in 2023.
68% Time Reduction
Time to apply for a permit, process a certificate, or clear a shipment fell from 97 hours to 31 after the introduction of TMA-supported digital systems: that’s a two-thirds reduction for the businesses surveyed, or roughly two-and-a-half working weeks of time given back to each business per task.
Aggregate annual time saved
TMA-supported digital trade systems are saving between 6 and 9 million hours annually across 1,900 East African businesses-equivalent to 250,000 to 380,000 working days returned to traders each year.
49% Cost Reduction
Associated business cost per application dropped from $27 to $14 following the introduction of TMA digital systems, reducing the financial burden on traders.
14 days to 1 hour in permit issuance time
Full digitisation of the Mifugo system reduced permit processing time by 99.7%, from 14 days to around one hour, while more than doubling government revenue to $12million (over TZS 31.5 billion)and registering 23,000 users, including expanding access to foreign traders.
290% Commodity Exchange Growth
Full digitisation of the Mifugo system reduced permit processing time by 99.7%, from 14 days to around one hour, while more than doubling government revenue to $12million (over TZS 31.5 billion)and registering 23,000 users, including expanding access to foreign traders.
80% reduction in approval times for pharmaceutical import permits
dropping from 5 days in 2019 to under 24 hours in 2023, with TMA streamlining processes across government agencies through Burundi Electronic Single Window.
TMA improves safety, quality and value of traded goods – by harmonising standards, strengthening SPS systems, and aligning regulations so African goods can access regional and global markets with confidence.
Over 2,000 Harmonised EAC Standards
2,000 harmonised EAC standards are now aligned to international practice. TMA supported 600 of these, with 100 delivered last year covering cereals, horticulture, fisheries, dairy, petroleum, cosmetics and packaging. These sectors generate $8-12 billion in annual regional trade.
44% Drop in assessment Time
TMA supported EAC governments and regional institutions to strengthen standards and quality. Surveyed firms reported a 44% reduction in assessment time, from 7 months in 2017 to 4 in 2023. months- accelerating exporters’ access to regional and global markets.
45% reduction in product interceptions
6.6million Data Exchanges
Real-time customs and port data exchanges on the EAC Single Customs Territory Centralised Platform, with over 800,000 transactions processed since rollout.
40% reduction in certification costs
TMA-supported compliance and certification interventions reduced certification costs by 40%, simplifying market entry for exporters and contributing to faster access to export markets, with fewer product rejections at borders
79% reduction in testing costs
Testing costs reduced by 79%, from $79 in 2020 to $17 in 2023, lowering the cost of accessing testing services.
TMA increased cross-border trade opportunities for marginalised communities – addressing unique structural and logistical obstacles facing women, youth, persons with disabilities, and small-scale traders to catalyse inclusive economic transformation.
Over 50,000 Traders Transition to Formal Trade
To formal trade between 2018 and 2024 via cooperatives against a target of 20,000, improving their market access and recording 15% higher trade values.
Better Prices for Women Traders (86% Goli and 78%- Elegu)
86% of women traders in Goli and 78% in Elegu reported fetching better prices for their goods across the border, following TMA-supported OSBP reforms that improved market access and trade.
Over 95,000 iSOKO App Users
70% annual increase in sales on the iSOKO platform with over 95,000 traders, 90% women in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda onboarded as of May 2025.
Over 7,800 Farmers Linked to $51M trade
Over 7,800 horticulture farmers in Kenya were linked to markets by TMA, generating $51 million in trade value-35% women and 40% youth.
Supported over 23,000 Youth-in-Work
Inclusive trade and enterprise programmes have supported over 23,000 youth into work, with women- and youth-led SMEs increasing export sales from $0.7 million in 2023–24 to over $5.6 million in 2024–25.
Systematic Result
Formalised businesses, membership in cooperatives, and safer, empowered, resilient women traders.
TMA makes it easier for businesses to trade efficiently and competitively across borders – through strategic investments in physical and digital infrastructure that unlock economic value and expand market reach.
41 million trade growth at Goli-Mahagi OSBP
Trade value more than doubled to $41 million, driven by TMA investment in One Stop Border Post infrastructure and coordinated trade facilitation systems.
Over 30% corridor traffic growth on the Ethiopia-Berbera corridor
Traffic increased from approximately 30,000 vehicles in 2021 to 40,000 in 2023 following TMA-supported Hargeisa Bypass upgrades that improved connectivity and the movement of goods.
44% growth in Somaliland livestock exports
Livestock exports-Somaliland’s largest export sector,grew by 44%, reflecting the impact of TMA-supported infrastructure investments connecting producers to regional and international markets.
More than $10 million in export orders unlocked for Kenyan mangoes
TMA support helped restore export pathways and reconnect producers to international markets, facilitating the first mango shipment to the United Kingdom since the COVID-19 period and unlocking over $10 million in offtaker orders.
Border clearance times reduced by up to 83% across major OSBPs
Upgrading and operationalisation of Elegu (Uganda), Goli (Uganda) and Mahagi (DRC) OSBPs contributed to a reduction of border clearance times by 83%, 58% and 63%, respectively.
Cargo throughput at the Port of Mombasa has roughly doubled over the past 10 years
Mombasa port throughput increased to 36 million tonnes, up from 23 million tonnes, strengthening regional trade flows.
60,000 tonnes of bulk fertiliser were offloaded at Lamu Port,
marking the first Ethiopian import through the port following TMA-supported corridor development and engagement – locking a new trade corridor and expanding regional market access.
35% Increase in Trade
TMA facilitated the Electronic Data Exchange System between Malawi and Tanzania, which led to a 35% increase in trade ($580 million) in just five months by allowing real-time access to customs declarations.
Stories of Change
Toolkit
TradeMark Africa was established to reduce barriers to trade across Africa, to support economic growth and reduce poverty. Phase I ran from 2011 to 2017, Phase II from 2017 to 2023 and Phase III (2023 to 2030) is currently under implementation. As part of assessing progress under Phase II, TradeMark Africa commissioned independent evaluations of its programmes. All results presented reflect TradeMark Africa’s contribution, based on the independent portfolio and thematic evaluations. Outcomes were achieved in partnership with governments, regional institutions and the private sector.
Explore independent evaluation reports for 2011–2017: https://trademarkafrica.com/independent-evaluation-reports
Download 2017–2023 evaluation reports: https://trademarkafrica.com/strategic-evaluation/
Download the annual reports: https://trademarkafrica.com/annual-reports/