UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will hold a technical workshop in Cotonou, Benin, on 15 September 2026 to advance work on a proposed quadrilateral road transport agreement, aimed at strengthening regulatory convergence and facilitating road transport along key regional corridors.
The workshop is organized under the Global Gateway Support Programme – Cotonou–Niamey (GGSP-COTONI), funded by the European Union and implemented by ENABEL, TradeMark Africa and UNCTAD.
The event builds on work undertaken by UNCTAD with the countries concerned since 2022 and on the Quadrilateral Declaration adopted in Niamey on 25 May 2023, which established a roadmap for closer cooperation on transit and road transport.
Why it matters
Efficient regional corridors depend not only on transport infrastructure, but also on coherent and predictable rules governing road transport operations.
Differences in national regulatory frameworks, market-access conditions and transport practices can create additional costs and operational constraints for transport operators and traders, particularly when goods move across several countries.
The proposed quadrilateral approach seeks to provide a common framework for the organization and operation of road transport while taking into account existing bilateral arrangements and ongoing regional and continental integration processes.
It also responds to an evolving subregional environment and to opportunities arising from the progressive liberalization of trade in services, including transport services, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Focus of the workshop
The workshop will bring together public and private stakeholders to review and further develop the proposed quadrilateral road transport agreement.
Discussions will focus on:
the historical and regulatory context underpinning the quadrilateral approach, including the Niamey Declaration and existing bilateral and regional frameworks;
the key principles and objectives of a balanced quadrilateral framework for road transport and related intermediation services;
the proposed structure and main provisions of the draft agreement;
the identification of areas where greater regulatory convergence, coordination or mutual recognition could facilitate regional road transport; and
the next steps towards further refinement and consideration of the proposed agreement by the countries concerned.
A central part of the workshop will be a participatory review of the draft agreement, allowing national administrations, transport-sector representatives and other stakeholders to provide comments and proposals based on their operational experience.
Towards nationally owned regional solutions
The workshop is part of UNCTAD's broader support for the implementation of the Niamey roadmap and for improved transit, transport and digitalization along the Cotonou–Niamey corridor.
The process places particular emphasis on national ownership. The objective is to develop a practical framework that reflects the realities and priorities of the participating countries while providing a basis for greater regulatory convergence at the subregional level.
The workshop will bring together representatives of relevant Beninese ministries and public administrations, transport and trade institutions, private-sector and professional organizations, as well as experts from UNCTAD and representatives of the GGSP-COTONI implementing partners.
