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Welcome to the AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network Site!!!


The AGOA Civil Society (CSO) Network is a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), chambers of commerce, and other groups in the United States and Africa that are interested in the successful application of AGOA for the benefit of the American and African people.

On January 17, 2003, one hundred and two (102) Civil Society Organization (CSO) participants from the United States and Africa attending the AGOA Civil Society Forum in Phoenix, Mauritius, established the AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network. The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) and the Mauritius Council of Social Services were appointed co-chairs and tasked with establishing and managing the AGOA CSO Network's Secretariat. The Network’s Secretariat was mandated to prepare for subsequent Civil Society Sessions of the AGOA Forum.

Since its inception, FDA has been the driving force in managing the AGOA CSO Network. FDA’s steadfast commitment has been evident in its leadership and proactive involvement in  AGOA legislative reforms and reauthorization since its enactment in 2000.

The AGOA CSO Network focuses on increasing the volume and quality of African exports under AGOA while educating stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean on this trade policy and how U.S. and African SMEs can maximize its benefits.






Trade-Related Presidential Actions

America First Trade Policy  The White House  January 20, 2025

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/america-first-trade-policy/

 

Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits

Executive Order  The White House April 2, 2025

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

Fact Sheet

President Donald J. Trump Declares National Emergency to Increase our Competitive Edge, Protect our Sovereignty, and Strengthen our National and Economic Security

The White House April 2, 2025

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/

2025 National Trade Estimate Report on

 FOREIGN TRADE BARRIERS

of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program

2025NTE.pdf  (click link)



A panel discussion on The Why, How, and When of AGOA Reauthorization and Enhancement and a Reception were held in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, CVC 217, South Congressional Meeting Room, First Street SE, Washington, DC, from 2:00 -4:00 pm the same day.

Download Agenda


21st  U.S. -Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum

The AGOA Forum took place July 24-26, 2024, at the U.S. State Department and select venues throughout Washington, DC. The theme was Beyond 2025: Reimagining AGOA for an Inclusive, sustainable, and Prosperous Tomorrow. The agenda included an African Trade Ministers’ Consultative meeting, a Private Sector, a Civil Society and Organized Labor gathering, and the Ministerial Session.

Chairman Oladeinde participated in Session #4 of the Civil Society meeting and was privileged to be accredited to attend the Ministerial Session at the State Department.






The 8th Annual AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network Spring Conference took place on April 13, 2023, at George Washington (GW) University, and virtually. The event was organized in partnership with the Institute for African Studies, The Elliott School for International Affairs, at GW University, and virtually. The theme of the Spring Conference was Extending AGOA to 2035: Using Trade to Strengthen U.S.-Africa Strategic Alliances.  

The hybrid event featured high-level speakers from civil society organizations, private sector companies,  and government institutions from the U.S. and  Africa committed to expanding U.S. - Africa trade and economic cooperation. The conference will addressed the following topics:

    •      AGOA Eligibility and Inclusive Economic Growth
    •       Increasing the Number of AGOA-Eligible Countries
    •       Expanding U.S. Africa Trade, Investment & Economic        Cooperation
    •       Extending AGOA to 2035   




AfrICANDO 2021/19th CSO Session         of the AGOA Forum 

Download the Agenda

Currently 32 of the 49 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Countries are Eligible for AGOA Benefits




SAVE-THE-DATE




Download Agenda

Speeches/Presentations

Abdourahmane Sy, Executive Director Project Monitoring and Evaluation Executive Director Project Monitoring and Evaluation

Fred Oladeinde, President, The Foundation for  Democracy in Africa (FDA) and Chair, AGOA Civil  Society Organization (CSO) Network Secretariat

Honorable Oliver G. Gilbert, III, Chairman, Miami-Dade            County, Board of County Commissioners, and Commissioner District 1

Abdoulaye Dieye, CEO, Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD)

Honorable Angela Ellard, Deputy Director-General,  World Trade Organization

Daniel Cardona, Vice President, Florida Export Finance Corporation (FEFC)

Dimitrios “Jimmy” Nares, Section Chief, Aviation Marketing, Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Dave Peterson, Senior Director, Africa Program, National Endowment for Democracy

Thomas T. Osobu, Founder & Executive Chairman, Jott Industries Nigeria Limited

Miguel Olivares, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service

Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, Chair and Professor of Biology/Biotechnology, Claflin University

Nicholas Panasik, Associate Professor, Claflin University

Ambassador John Shinkaiye, President  Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) and Chairman, JKS & Associates Ltd.  - Diaspora Town Hall Meeting

Honorable Frederica S. Wilson, Congresswoman (D FL 24th District) 

Ambassador John Shinkaiye, President  Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) and Chairman, JKS & Associates Ltd.  - Medal of Glory Award (MOGA) Acceptance Statement

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State of the United States under President George W. Bush

Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., Founder and Past President Rainbow PUSH Coalition



Check Out  Our  Publication !!! 

The Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. - Africa Trade

and Economic Cooperation



Download Publications  Here!!!



2021 Communique

Civil Society Organization Network Session

19thMinisterial Session of the AGOA Forum

Miami, Florida, USA 

On

October 20,  2021

Miami, Florida, USA


The Civil Society Organization (CSO) Session of the 2021 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum took place October 6-8, 2021, under the theme: The Impact of COVID-19 on US Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation: The Way Forward. The CSO Session was held jointly with the 22nd Annual US-Africa Trade and Investment Conference/Trade Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC), in Miami, Florida.

The CSO Session of the 19th AGOA Forum was a hybrid event that brought together members of the AGOA CSO Network from venues in Miami, Florida; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); Lagos, Nigeria, and other AGOA eligible countries with virtual participation from the United States and Africa. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss solutions and provide input to areas critical to public and private sector stakeholders’ success on The Way Forward regarding the following issues:

      AGOA: Miami the Gateway to Africa

       Cyber Security, E-Commerce and E-Learning

       Climate Change: The Impact on Politics and the Economy

       US-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation: The Way Forward

       Local Manufacturing of COVID-19 Vaccine in Africa: Challenges/Opportunities and Diaspora                             Contributions

       Civic Education, Elections and Governance in Africa

       Financing and Capacity Building for SME’s 

Discussion Highlights:
The COVID-19 pandemic almost brought global economic activity to a standstill, drastically disrupting the global supply chain and resulting in the loss of more than 4.7 million lives to date and causing significant structural damage to the nation’s economy. In January 2021,  the AGOA

CSO Network Secretariat and its members published a policy white paper on The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation - AGOA with recommendations and areas of concern for the Biden/Harris Administration and U.S. Congressional Leaders for action and implementation. To view the policy white paper visit www.agoacsonetwork.org/Publications.  (Read more)


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The AGOA CSO Network is an Initiative of The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA)

FDA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Address: 1200 G Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC  20005

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