Boost fair markets.

Support strong competition law and enforcement to unravel entrenched market concentration and ensure that the rules of the market are fair for everyone.

The extreme levels of concentration in many African food and agricultural markets reveal dysfunctions and distortions in the system. From input to retail, markets are concentrated and present high barriers to entry, leading to frequent and harmful cartels.

The Shamba Centre has undertaken research is to support efforts to reform and strengthen competition law and policy.

The Shamba Centre has published a landmark three-part report with a review of the impact of agri-food market concentration in Africa, a situation analysis of competition law and institutions in Sub-Saharan African countries and a reform agenda to strengthen competition regimes. 

Entitled Empowering African Food Producers and Agricultural Enterprises Through Stronger Competition Law and Policy, the report provides the framework for advocacy and guidance at the country level.

Read the report or experience it online.

African Market Observatory Price Tracker

The Shamba Centre supports the monthly publication of the African Market Observatory (AMO) Price Tracker.

The monthly price tracker summarises key trends in prices in East and Southern Africa for selected staple food products.

The Shamba Centre supports competition authorities at the different stages of development in their enforcement activity, whether merger screening, market inquiries (or studies) or tackling anti-competitive behaviour.

This work contributes to making markets more competitive and fair for MSMEs in agri-food markets. Small producers and farmers can thus access new opportunities and thrive in these markets.