Investment Facilitation for the AfCFTA

Investment facilitation has become an increasingly important part of modern investment policy. Attracting investment is not only about generating investor interest: governments also need to create an environment in which investors can establish, operate, and expand their activities efficiently. Clear information, transparent and predictable rules, streamlined administrative procedures, effective coordination among public authorities, and accessible investor support services can all play an important role in turning investment opportunities into successful projects.

This course introduces the concept of investment facilitation and examines how it is being incorporated into international and regional investment frameworks, with a particular focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Investment. You will first explore what investment facilitation means, how it differs from investment promotion, and the main disciplines and practical measures through which governments can improve the investment environment. You will also examine how investment facilitation has developed at the multilateral, regional, and bilateral levels.

The course then turns to the African context. You will examine the objectives and scope of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol and explore its main investment facilitation provisions, including transparency, streamlined administrative procedures, investor assistance services and national focal points, regulatory coherence, and digitalization. Particular attention will be given to the Protocol's emphasis on sustainable investment, responsible business conduct, local development, and the relationship between investment facilitation and wider economic, social, and environmental objectives.

Finally, you will explore how these commitments can be translated into practice. You will learn about the institutional mechanisms established under the AfCFTA Investment Protocol, including the Committee on Investment and the Pan-African Trade and Investment Agency (PATIA), and their roles in coordination, technical assistance, capacity-building, investment promotion, policy harmonization, and sustainable investment.