The Terra Talk initiative, launched by UNDP Guinea-Bissau, is a platform for debates on Guinea-Bissau’s main problems. With this space for reflection, UNDP intends to establish a culture of dialogue and thus to allow Guinea-Bissau to have a vision and to jointly discuss what the present and the future should look like.

To better work towards this ambitious objective, we will touch on a great number of topics: governance, environment, trade, and many more. Besides that, UNDP will invite all relevant stakeholders, from Government to Civil Society, as well as other sub-regional, regional and international organizations, to join this initiative.

In February 2020, the first Terra Talk meeting took place. The theme up for analysis was the creation of an African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and its implications for Guinea-Bissau.

Accordingly, the speakers – the Minister of Trade and Industry, the President of the Association of Economically Active Women [Associação de Mulheres e Activities Económicas] (AMAE), the Director of the Guinean Foundation for the Development of Industrial Entrepreneurship (FUNDEI) and the President of the Guinean League of Human Rights [Liga Guineense de Direitos Humanos] (LGDH) – debated in front of a quite diversified public the following topics:

How could the African Continental Free Trade Area become a driving force of sustainable economic development?

How can the country work towards diversification of production in this context of economic openness?

What could be the effect of this continental agreement on the democratic order and the rule of law in the country?

Which are the obstacles to be passed in order to allow Guinea-Bissau to benefit from this initiative?

Please note that the next Terra Talk session will soon be announced. Would you be ready to add to the debate and make your voice be heard?