USAID'S technical expert on agri trade project

The Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (SATIH), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by DAI, is a five-year project that aims to address barriers to trade and investment experienced by SADC member states.

The objective is to support SADC members overcome these barriers to create an integrated regional economy that delivers tangible economic benefits and improved food security through increased global competitiveness, trade and investment. SATIH has four key components: (1) Export competitiveness, (2) Trade facilitation and enabling environment, (3) Finance and investment, and (4) Agribusiness trade. For more information on SATIH, visit their site.

Genesis provides the following ongoing support to the export competitiveness and agribusiness trade components:

Export competitiveness:
- Our textile and apparel specialist assists companies to establish buyer linkages and attract investment, as well as support cluster development and capacity building.
- The specialist further works with the team to facilitate the use of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to improve overall export competiveness.
Agribusiness trade:
- Our agribusiness trade specialist contributes to the design and implementation of strategies that increase the competiveness of agricultural commodities traded regionally, with a view to increased foreign and national investments and access to finance throughout Southern Africa.
- We provide strategic advisory services to the agribusiness trade component.

In addition, Genesis’ monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team conducted the baseline study for SATIH. The purpose of the baseline study was to establish the initial conditions in the region as these relate to SATIH at the beginning of the project period, and to set the targets against which DAI will report to USAID throughout the project period.

The information collected through the baseline study was also used to generate evidence in support of the chosen project activities and interventions. The baseline study was conducted across eight of the SATIH countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia.