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Vision; Mission

28 countries united by a shared vision: to promote the harmonious development of African crafts across the continent.

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Our Vision

“To promote the harmonious development of the crafts sector across the African continent in order to boost its contribution to the economic development of these countries.”

Our Mission

ODEPA aims to be a regional cultural and economic hub that fosters solidarity and complementarity among its member states.

The current context of market globalization and the expansion of international trade calls for a unified approach to the craft sector. We believe such a unified approach is essential to enable our countries to navigate this environment effectively, as individually, they lack the necessary resources to participate meaningfully in global trade, let alone address the many challenges associated with the development and promotion of our craft sector.

Our Strategic Priorities

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Pan-African Unity

Bring the 28 member countries together around a shared vision and a coordinated strategy for the development of the artisanal sector.

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Solidarity & Complementarity

Create a space for solidarity among Member States to collectively overcome barriers to international trade.

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Integration into the Global Market

Facilitate Member States’ integration into global trade through a shared collective strategy.

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Sustainable Development

Promoting crafts that respect local cultures and the environment as a driver of sustainable growth.

African crafts: a bridge between our cultures and a driver of our shared economic growth.

— ODEPA Strategic Vision

📊 KEY FIGURES

28
Member countries
4
Regional zones
12%
Contrib. to GDP
2M+
Sector stakeholders

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📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

14
JUNE

Pan-African Craft Summit – 2025

📍 Accra, Ghana

22
JULY

ECOWAS Artisans Forum – Dakar

📍 Dakar, Senegal

09
SEPT

International Craft Exhibition ISI

📍 Nairobi, Kenya

View all events →