What is Hub and Spokes

The 'Building the Capacity of ACP Countries in Trade Policy Formulation, Negotiations and Implementation' ("Hub and Spokes") Project is a joint initiative concluded by the European Commission (EC), the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) with the support of the ACP Secretariat. The project, which forms part of the European Commission's Trade.

Com Facility, will seek to promote the effective participation of ACP countries in international trade negotiations and to strengthen their capacity to formulate and implement trade policies.
The Project aims to promote the effective participation of ACP countries in international trade negotiations and reinforce their capacity to formulate trade policy in compliance with their overall development strategy. The Project has three main components:

• Establishment of trade negotiation networks at national and regional levels to be actively used to define trade policy and negotiation positions.
• Establishment of national and regional participatory mechanisms for improved stakeholder consultation and involvement in trade policy formulation.
• Establishment of appropriate mechanisms for notification of trade policy measures to WTO.

To achieve these aims, the Project will place Regional Trade Policy Advisers (RTAs) in the following regional bodies:

• African Union (AU);
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA);
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);
• Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC);
• West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA);
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM);
• Southern Africa Development Community (SADC);
• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); and
• Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

The services of up to 48 Trade Policy Analysts (TPAs) will be made available at both regional and national levels. ComSec will be responsible for the implementation of the Project in ACP member states of the Caribbean, Pacific, Eastern and Southern Africa regions and the African Union (AU). AIF will be responsible for the implementation of the Project in the regions of West and Central Africa.