Launch of the ATCMA program in Central Africa: the timber sector among the priority value chains

13.02.2026

The implementation phase of the Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Program in Central Africa (ATCMA ECCAS) is now underway. This initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by ITC and UNIDO, positions the timber sector among the priority value chains for sustainably strengthening intra-African trade and trade between Africa and the EU.

The Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Framework Program in Africa (ATCMA) is a structuring initiative aimed at sustainably increasing intra-African trade and EU-Africa trade.

Funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the program is based on a two-tiered approach: a continental component and subregional components within five regional economic communities, including ECCAS.

Clear objectives: market access and competitiveness for SMEs

The ECCAS component of the program has two objectives:

improve market access for targeted value chains;
strengthen the export competitiveness of SMEs in these priority sectors.

In this context, the timber industry has been identified as one of the priority value chains in Central Africa. This choice reflects the strategic importance of the sector in the sub-region, in terms of employment, export revenues, and local industrial processing potential.

An operational approach focused on the timber value chain

The current implementation phase includes:

An in-depth analysis of the timber sector in Central Africa (species, markets, supply, demand, processing capacities, constraints, and opportunities)
Identification and prioritization of the most promising market-product combinations for the ECCAS region
mapping of key stakeholders (administrations, companies, professional organizations, technical partners)
development of tools for the technical evaluation of processing units and operational recommendations for structuring program activities

The objective is clear:

strengthen regional and international trade flows;
support local industrialization;
improve access for SMEs in the timber sector to regional, continental, and European markets.

A strategic challenge for Central Africa

For the Central African timber industry, ATCMA represents a structuring opportunity:

better position processed products in high value-added markets;
support industrial upgrading;
strengthen compliance with legal, traceability, and sustainability requirements, which have become decisive for access to international markets.

In a context marked by stricter regulatory requirements (particularly in Europe), the need to diversify markets, and the growing desire of governments to promote local processing, this initiative comes at a strategic moment for the sub-region.

The terms of reference for the timber sector are available here.

ATIBT will closely monitor the implementation of this program and remain committed to contributing to discussions and initiatives promoting a competitive, sustainable timber sector that is fully integrated into regional and international trade.