Beyond a Single Story: Perspectives on US-Africa Relations

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), joins co-hosts Oge and Witney on Beyond a Single Story. Over the course of the conversation, Wamkele shares his goals for the AfCFTA, the process of implementing the free trade area, and where they are seeing immediate successes. Finally, Wamkele, Oge, and Witney discuss the future of the US-Africa trade relationship and the opportunities for mutual benefit presented by initiatives like the AfCFTA and AGOA.

Focused on understanding how African products impact US consumers and how African markets create opportunities for US businesses, Oge and Witney sit down with Gavin van der Burgh and Stephanie Agee. Gavin and Stephanie are international trade leaders working to expand opportunities for US businesses and consumers, but in two very different roles. As Chief Commercial Officer of the US-Africa Trade Desk, Gavin connects US retailers, supply chain leaders, and financial experts to African producers, expanding African market access to US consumers. Stephanie is Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for International Trade at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, where she supports Virginia businesses grow their international sales. Recently, Stephanie led a trade mission to West Africa spotlighting the role of US subnational engagement with African businesses and markets.

Co-hosts for this season, Oge Onubogu and Witney Schneidman are joined by Margaret Nyamumbo and Rahama Wright, entrepreneurs who have built successful brands connecting African products to US markets by utilizing AGOA trade preferences. Rahama and Margaret share perspectives from small business owners bridging US and African markets, creating jobs both in the US and the African countries where they operate, and changing the narrative around African goods. Through the conversation, Margaret and Rahama reflect on how they built their companies and their engagement with different US agencies and policies along the way.

Africa program director, Oge Onubogu, and co-host for this season, Witney Schneidman, take stock of the current moment in time and ask a series of US-Africa trade experts, What would you like to see next for AGOA and for US-Africa trade? Guests discuss coordination with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), prospects for renewal, diaspora investment, and the role of China, with Oge and Witney reflecting on implications for the future of AGOA and US-Africa trade.

In this episode of Beyond a Single Story, we explore the role of civil society in maximizing the impact of the AGOA with Ndidi Nwuneli, President and CEO of The One Campaign. Her conversation with Oge and Witney explores how trade, investment, and human rights factor into in the US-Africa partnership, reflecting on AGOA's untapped potential and what’s needed to drive meaningful change going forward.

Last week, Oge and Witney spoke with Jas Bedi, a Kenyan business leader and chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. In this longer conversation, Jas, Oge, and Witney touch not only on AGOA but on other topics that directly impact business investment related to AGOA. Tune in to hear more about Jas’ background as well as his views on domestic legislation processes, second-hand clothing markets, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

This week, we are exploring how AGOA has supported African businesses. Africa Program Director Oge Onubogu and co-host for season 1, Witney Schneidman, speak with Jas Bedi and Vanessa Adams. Jas is a Kenyan business leader, the Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, and vice-chair of the East Africa Business Council. Vanessa is the CEO and Founder of Level4International and has spent nearly two decades working to boost agricultural productivity, expand international trade, facilitate investments across Africa, and help companies utilize AGOA trade preferences.

Oge and Witney welcome Rosa Whitaker to the show, one of the key architects of the original AGOA legislation and a leading voice on US-African trade and investment. The three of them discuss AGOA's history from its enactment in 2000 to the present day, covering the Act's original intentions, opposition, support, and impact of its decades-long implementation.

Africa Program director Oge Onubogu introduces her co-host for this season, Witney Schneidman, in this brand-new podcast series from the Wilson Center. Oge and Witney open the series by discussing the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the people and ideas we will hear from throughout the series.