Intra‑regional Food Trade in West Africa

Highlights booklet for the forthcoming report, Intra-Regional Food Trade in West Africa: New Evidence, New Perspectives

West Africa’s intra‑regional food trade is far larger, more diverse, and more essential than official statistics suggest, with up to 85% of flows going unrecorded and the true market value estimated at USD 10 billion annually, about six times higher than reported figures. This largely invisible network moves a wide range of staple and nutrient‑rich foods across borders, supplying enough calories each year to feed nearly a quarter of the region’s population and playing a critical role in food security and local livelihoods.

In West Africa, women play a central role in regional food trade, connecting producers to urban markets every day and supplying millions of households. Although this trade, which is mostly informal and estimated at nearly 10 billion USD per year, remains largely invisible, these traders ensure the vitality of cross-border food networks. However, they face numerous obstacles: restrictions and taxes, limited access to finance and infrastructure, complex border procedures and security risks. Despite these challenges, their contribution remains essential to food security and livelihoods throughout the region.