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Desiderio Consultants Ltd. is a think tank and a network of independent professional international development consultants. We specialize in promoting and influencing customs, trade, and transport policies in African nations. Our goal is to drive policy and regulatory reforms that improve regional integration and enhance Africa's participation in regional and global value chains.
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Connecting the Souths: Identifying Strategic Sectors for Africa-Latin America Trade, industrial and Value Chain Cooperation

Amidst rising geopolitical uncertainty and tensions, Africa and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) possess significant, yet untapped potential for developing resilient South-South value chains. A new paper we prepared in collaboration with the Latin-Africa Chamber of Commerce in Colombia conducts a comparative analysis of their business environments and identifies structural and regulatory challenges to cross-continental industrial collaboration. Sectors with the greatest complementarities-including agri-food, light manufacturing (such as textiles and apparel), digital services, and logistics-are highlighted as priorities for cooperation. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes a pragmatic, phased, corridor-focused strategy to operationalize South-South value-chain integration. Key elements of this roadmap include the establishment of strategic pilot initiatives, the adoption of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) to harmonize certification, testing and inspection procedures, the deployment of blended-finance instruments to de-risk joint investments, and the integration of informal economic actors to ensure inclusivity. This approach aims to translate identified complementarities into sustainable, institutionalized value chains that strengthen interregional trade and economic resilience. Read on SSRN.

Transport Observatories in Africa: Overview and Current Status vs. their Limitations

Transport Observatories (TOs) are data-driven monitoring tools that track key performance indicators (KPIs) along major trade and transport corridors. The primary function of a TO is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based view of corridor performance by measuring critical variables. Despite their potential to improve trade efficiency and infrastructure management, the development and deployment of TOs in Africa remain limited. This article explores the main challenges hindering their adoption and suggests ways to overcome them. Read more on our blog.

Africa’s Role in Geopolitics-Driven Next Global Trade Flows: Simple Transit Zone or Active Orchestrator of Global Connectivity?

Recent analysis, such as the DHL–NYU Stern Global Supply Chain Report (2025), shows a remarkable stability of global supply chains despite tariffs, geopolitical frictions, and rising protectionism. Although expectations of large-scale restructuring have been widespread, the process is evolving gradually. Supply chains remain widely dispersed, with only a few countries—such as Mexico—showing significant reorientation toward the U.S. and Canada, while diversifying import sources globally. On our blog.

WCO Unveils Digital Framework for Sharing Certificates of Origin

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has taken a major step to cut red tape and fight origin fraud by introducing a new digital interconnectivity framework for secure, real-time electronic exchange of Certificates of (preferential) Origin between customs administrations. This system is designed to modernize how countries verify the origin of goods.

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DESSU Corridor Authority Officially Launched in Djibouti

A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by the Minister of Transport and Logistics arrived yesterday in Djibouti for the official launch of the Djibouti-Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Management Authority, a regional initiative aimed at boosting trade, infrastructure, and economic integration in the Great Horn of Africa.

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