The Institutional support for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is the first multilateral support received by the African civil aviation commission (AFCAC). The SAATM is considered as a crucial logistic infrastructure and a facilitator for the successful operation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) complemented by the Protocol on the Free Movement of People and Goods and the African passport. The project has been designed considering the SAATM prioritized action plan as well as the results of the Bank's study on market access and liberalization in 2019. This study highlights inter alia that one of the main reasons for the failure of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) was the lack of a body with the power to enforce the regulations approved; and conclude that there is need for the support envisaged. This project aims to enhance the AFCAC's institutional capacity to implement the SAATM, an AU 2063 Agenda flagship initiative. It will deliver improved capacity and institutional development through a range of interventions that will facilitate the joining and effective implementation of the SAATM provisions by Countries. The project will also support the sustainable development of air transport in the continent by enhancing the level of aviation safety, security and environmental protection. It entails the following components: (i) Institutional strengthening of the AFCAC to provide the Executing Agency and other stakeholders institutions, mainly RECS, States and Airlines with the awareness and skills needed to establish the SAATM in a sustainable manner; (ii) Support to the sustainable development of Air Transport in Africa through a long term legal and operational framework for SAATM, enhanced safety, security, environmental protection; (iii) Project management, monitoring and evaluation. The project is estimated to cost UA 5.58 million and is co-financed by the Bank Group (89.54%) and the AFCAC (10.46%). The implementation period is 36 months.

The development objective of the project is to improve access to air travel for African travelers by supporting AFCAC fulfill its mandate to implement SAATM. The specific objectives of the project are to (i) strengthen the Executing Agency of the SAATM and YD so as to be fully operational in order to effectively carry out its mandate ; (ii) advocate for the implementation of the SAATM within an efficient and enforced legal and operational framework, (iii) assist in the improvement of the compliance levels of African States and airlines in safety,security and environmental protection, and (iv) build capacity in RECs and other stakeholders involved in the SAATM.

The scope of the project is continental. Thus, beneficiaries include all African countries population (approx. 1.216 billion people). Considering the major objective of reinforcing the YD and SAATM Executing Agency to deliver on implementation, the key beneficiary of the project will be the AFCAC. The project is also designed for the AFCAC to extend support to the RECs, member states, Airlines and Airport Operators. This consists in capacity enhancement for the Executing Agency, RECs and the RMCs to implement the SAATM/YD provisions within an efficient regulatory framework. The project also aims at ensuring the sustainable development of air transport by enhancing the compliance of RMC, Airlines and Airports with safety, security and environmental protection requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

EKOTO EKOTO Romain Philippe Michel

r.ekoto@afdb.org

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/.