TRAPCA | ESAMI | Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) | East Africa Community(EAC)
24
Oct

Border Safety, Security & Compliance for Small Agroecological Traders

October 24, 2025
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Understanding HS codes, how customs valuation works (CIF), applying preferential tariffs under STR and AfCFTA, and how to appeal misclassification or unfair valuation.

Understanding HS codes, how customs valuation works (CIF), applying preferential tariffs under STR and AfCFTA, and how to appeal misclassification or unfair valuation.

Why Border Safety & Compliance Are Critical

  • Agroecological traders — especially women and youth — are among the most exposed to harassment, theft, informal fees, and intimidation at border crossings.
  • Informal or poorly documented goods are more vulnerable to confiscation, fines, and bribery demands.
  • Knowing your rights, proper documentation, and how to report abuse empowers traders and reduces costs.
  • Safer crossings encourage scaling up trade volumes and transitioning from informal to formal markets.

UN Women’s “Safe Cross-Border Trade” initiative found that 63% of women traders in the Great Lakes region reported harassment or bribes at some point during trade trips (UN Women, 2022).

Typical Safety & Compliance Challenges

Challenge

Impact

Example

Harassment by officials

Fear, lost income, reduced trade

Women traders asked for bribes to process STR

Theft or product loss

Financial loss

Produce is stolen on night buses or at unsecured warehouses

Over-documentation

Fines or delays

Traders asked for “extra” permits not legally required

Gender-based violence

Health & safety risk

Reports at Mpondwe & Busia OSBPs

Unclear payment processes

Corruption & unpredictable costs

No receipts for border charges

Digital exclusion

Missed safety alerts or reporting

Traders are unaware of NTB hotlines or mobile tools

Core Rights of Small Traders at Borders

  1. Right to clear, non-discriminatory treatment regardless of gender, age, or trader status.
  2. Right to official receipts for any payments.
  3. Right to request legal justification (law/article/notice) for any additional permit, inspection, or fee.
  4. Right to use STR procedures if consignment qualifies (≤ USD 2,000 and on Common List).
  5. Right to report harassment, corruption, or violence anonymously if needed.

Key Legal Frameworks:

Personal Safety & Security Strategies

Before You Travel

  • Plan: Know your HS code, STR eligibility, and required certificates.
  • Travel in groups: Safer and more visible to officials.
  • Use trusted transport: Cooperatives can contract reliable carriers.
  • Insure valuable goods: Low-cost micro-cargo insurance (Britam, Jubilee, UAP).

On the Way

  • Daytime crossings: Avoid night travel where possible.
  • Stay in well-lit, busy areas: At border posts, stick to public sections.
  • Secure packaging: Seal or label goods to deter tampering.

At the Border

  • Keep documents organised: Passport/ID, SCO/CoO, SPS/TBT certs, receipts.
  • Be calm & polite: Assert rights but avoid confrontation.
  • Ask for supervisors: If harassed or extorted, request a senior officer or gender desk.

Reporting Abuse, Bribes, or NTBs

A. NTB Reporting Channels

  • EAC NTB Online Portal:
    https://www.tradebarriers.org
    • File complaints about illegal fees, delays, and discrimination.
  • AfCFTA NTB Mechanism:
    https://tradebarriers.africa
    • For intra-African trade issues beyond the EAC.
  • SMS Hotlines: Some borders allow SMS reporting — check the Trade Information Desk for local details.

B. On-site Reporting

  • Trade Information Desk Officers (TIDOs): Available at One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) such as Busia, Rusumo, and Namanga.
  • Border User Committees (BUCs): Regularly meet to address harassment and non-tariff barriers (NTBs).
  • Police Gender Desks: Present at many EAC borders to handle gender-related complaints.

C. CSO/NGO Support

Compliance Basics to Avoid Penalties

Step

Why It Matters

Practical Tips

Carry correct ID & business registration

Proof of legality

National ID/passport; cooperative certificate

Use the correct HS code

Prevents wrong duties

Look up WCO

Prepare SPS/TBT certificates

Avoid rejection

Get e-Phyto or paper SPS from the plant health agency

Keep original & digital copies

Backup if papers are lost

Photos/USB/phone cloud

Know your duty-free entitlements

Avoid overpayment

Check STR list & AfCFTA rates

Request receipts for all payments

Proof against extortion

Refuse “cash-only” transactions

Using Digital & Community Safety Tools

  • EAC-ATKH (Agroecological Produce Trade Knowledge Hub) (launch upcoming) — safety alerts, border desk contacts, NTB links.
  • WhatsApp Safety Networks: Many trader associations run real-time groups.
  • AfCFTA Women & Youth Platform: https://au.int/en/ti/cfta/about.
  • Mobile Money: Reduce carrying cash; use M-Pesa/Airtel Money to pay duties.
  • GPS tracking apps (Where’s My Transport, Google Maps) for route safety.

Simple Safety Checklists Before a Trading Trip

✅

Item

Check STR eligibility & HS code

  

Prepare CoO/SCO, SPS/TBT certificates

  

Make 2–3 document copies (phone + print)

  

Save NTB hotline & gender desk contacts.

  

Travel with cooperative members if possible.

  

Carry phone with power bank & emergency airtime.

  

Use mobile money for border fees.

  

Case Study

Mpondwe Cross-Border Women Agroecology Network (Uganda–DRC)

  • Faced harassment and informal “gate fees.”
  • Organised a WhatsApp alert group, trained members on NTB portal reporting and gender desks.
  • Partnered with UN Women and AFSA to engage NTFC Uganda.
  • Result: Harassment cases dropped by 40%; NTB desk installed signage on reporting rights; micro-insurance introduced to reduce loss risk.

🔗 Key References & Tools

Insurance Providers: Britam https://www.britam.com | Jubilee https://jubileeinsurance.com

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