The 9-Ps AfCFTA Framework is a practical roadmap developed by the AfCFTA Academy to guide youth, entrepreneurs, SMEs, and policymakers through the complexities of trading across the African continent. Whether you’re a startup, a cooperative, or a government agency, this framework equips you to move from compliance to competitiveness — and from potential to profit.
What is the Framework?
The 9-Ps AfCFTA Framework simplifies continental trade into three essential stages – each stage designed to equip startup founders, informal traders, youth-led MSMES, women entrepreneurs, TVET trainees, and students with the knowledge and tools to navigate intra-African trade.
FOUNDATION
Understand the system before you trade:
1. Parties: Who are the key players in AfCFTA? Learn how to engage with them.
2. Policies: Decode trade laws and protocols. You don’t need to be a lawyer, but you must understand them.
3. Paperwork: Prevent costly delays by knowing which documents to prepare and when.
PRODUCT READINESS
Make your product ready for the African market:
4. Products: Every market is different. Adapt your goods for local relevance.
5. Packaging: First impressions matter. Strategic packaging builds trust and drives sales.
6. Pricing: Set competitive prices across borders while navigating tariffs, taxes, and currencies.
SCALE & SUSTAINABILITY
Grow and sustain your trade footprint:
7. Platforms: Explore export opportunities or go digital. Platforms are how African businesses scale without owning warehouses.
8. Partnerships: Networks and cooperatives amplify your impact and reduce risk.
9. Profits: Profit is more than revenue. It’s about sustainability, jobs, and empowerment.
Why It Matters
💢 Simplifies AfCFTA compliance and competitiveness
💢 Equips youth and SMEs for cross-border trade
💢 Builds Africa-first strategies using real-world tools
Key Benefits to You
✅ Trade With Confidence: Gain clarity on parties, policies, and paperwork to avoid surprises and delays.
✅ Build a Future-Ready Brand: Strengthen your product, packaging, and positioning for continental relevance and resilience.
✅ Scale Across Borders: Learn how to expand to new markets using suitable platforms, partnerships, and tailored pricing.
✅ Certificate: Issued jointly by the AfCFTA Academy and the Centre for Contemporary Pan-Africanism upon completion.
Partner With Us
Are you a development partner, training institution, government agency, or business association looking to empower African businesses for the AfCFTA era?
📨 Book a Training for your team, community, or member network
📘 Request the Framework as a resource for your programme or project
🤝 Partner With Us to scale this tool across Africa
📩 Contact Us Today — Let’s build the next generation of AfCFTA-ready enterprises.
About AfCFTA Academy
We are a Pan-African training hub under the Centre for Contemporary Pan-Africanism’s economic pillar, committed to simplifying Africa’s economic integration through education, storytelling, and policy training. Our mission is to build a generation that doesn’t just trade under AfCFTA but thrives in it.
