Support the registration at national and/ or EU level of African GIs (as of Sep 2020)

The Continental Strategy for GIs in Africa (2018-2023) highlights the importance of the development and registration of GI products as pilots and drivers for rural and sustainable development to provide learning and demonstrative effects.

GI producers and communities, with potential GIs or GIs registered only at national level, need technical assistance to understand how they can benefit from the GI system, how to register a GI, defining product specifications, knowledge of national and international registration procedures, the importance of maintaining quality control mechanisms and brand development. This means promoting the GI system in local markets, as well as in protecting local GIs in foreign markets (the EU in particular).

Through this activity, AfrIPI will provide technical assistance in areas where support is needed to obtain registration of the product as a protected Geographical Indication (GI) at national and/ or EU level. This technical assistance is expected to contribute to the strengthening of the capacity of the productive sector in African countries to compete in national or external markets.