Third edition of the OSBP Sourcebook analyses One Stop Border Posts in an AfCFTA perspective

In September 2001, an OSBP Sourcebook was developed as a collaborative effort by NEPAD, various technical assistance agencies, and Regional Economic Communities in Africa, to consolidate in a single text the experiences of African countries that have implemented One Stop Border Posts at their respective borders, with lessons learned, best practices and awareness-raising campaigns to communicate the advantages of such structures to the various categories of stakeholders. This publication was subsequently updated on May 2016. The 3rd edition of the OSBP Sourcebook, now available online, points out that OSBPs are central to enhancing interconnectivity and to deepening regional market integration in Africa through the processing of border clearance at one location.

As Africa moves towards continent-wide integration with free movement of goods, people, and investments through the AfCFTA, such facilities will play a critical role as a first step in laying the foundation for a Continental Customs Union. In this regard, Article 25.2 (e) of Annex 4 to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods mandates State Parties, to the extent possible and practicable, to cooperate on mutually agreed terms with other State Parties with whom they share a common border with a view to coordinating procedures at border crossings to facilitate cross-border trade. The article further specifies that such cooperation and coordination may include: (a) alignment of working days and hours; (b) alignment of procedures and formalities; (c) development and sharing of common facilities; (d) joint controls; and (e) establishment of one stop border post control.

A One Stop Border Post is a shared space located at a border crossing between two adjoining countries, or in its proximity, where the border agencies of the two States with inspection responsibilities on goods, persons and vehicles (e.g. Customs, Immigration, Police, health authorities, veterinary authorities, etc.) carry out their functions in a combined and coordinated manner. Compared to traditional border crossing posts, which are characterised by the “double stop” concept, where separate formalities need to be fulfilled first in the country of exit and then that of entry, in OSBPs traders complete such formalities directly to the entry country where both the exit and the entry procedures are carried out simultaneously.

More information on OSBPs in Africa is available here.