West Africa Connect – “Meet the buyers” events

Two events to bring numerous buyers and suppliers together—those are the main ingredients of West Africa Connect. Globally Cool has supported UNIDO in coordinating the organisation of two B2B events and the implementation of other related activities in the ECOWAS countries in West Africa. The specific objective of this project is to establish improved regional links between key actors in selected value chains.

The “Meet the buyer” events are branded as West Africa Connect and these events are implemented as part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP). We organised the first online event for the value chain textiles, garments, and ICT and during the second hybrid event, we put mango, cassava, and ICT in the spotlight. For both events, we were involved in many aspects of this multi-stage project—for example, the creation of the website, setting up the matchmaking tool, identifying suppliers and buyers from West Africa, Europe and North America, and delivering the networking events itself from beginning to end.

Activities

We have organized, coordinated, and delivered a networking event on November 16 and 17, 2021 and September 20 and 21, 2022. In the run-up to the event, we:

• Identified key players in the textile, garments, mango, cassava, and ICT value chains.
• Developed recommendations for the ECOWAS Commission on how to proceed with the first event based on the global pandemic situation.
• Developed recommendations for the ECOWAS commission on the host country for the second hybrid event. Based on the analysis, Accra in Ghana was chosen as the location for the hybrid event.
• Developed a matchmaking platform and database with profiles of MSMEs, including registration of buyers and suppliers, and generation of the meetings and webinar agenda.
• Developed a questionnaire to understand the needs of the potential buyers, identified BSOs and local consultants that can recruit potential buyers in West Africa, and build up the database with validated buyers’ profiles together with local consultants. We also approached around 200 international buyers.
• Were involved in the selection of suppliers from West Africa. We also were involved in the registration of the suppliers in the database.
• Developed several self-study guides, manuals, and videos in three languages on how to create a profile in the matchmaking platform, how to strengthen selling points, and how to prepare for a networking event.
• Established a clear event identity, including a logo, brand manual, promotion materials, and a website in three languages (see westafricaconnect.com)
• Designed a marketing promotion strategy and promoted the events in three languages via press releases, newsletters, blogs, and various social media channels.
• Opened a call for proposals to find a qualified BSO in the ECOWAS region that can host future networking events after the finalisation of the project. We selected the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) in Burkina Faso for this and involved them in the organisation of the first event to ensure sustainability for future events.

For the events itself, we:

• Selected relevant topics for the program of both events, coordinated content, and prepared the presentations with speakers.
• Composed a complete program of webinars and a matchmaking schedule.
• Prepared scripts for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the opening and closing of webinars.
• Arranged and coordinated video connections via Zoom.
• Coordinated translation of webinars in three languages.
• Assisted MSMEs and buyers during the matchmaking sessions, both online and in Accra during the second event.
• Prepared evaluation questionnaires.