One-stop border posts (OSBPs) are a key initiative to improve trade facilitation and boost economic growth in East Africa. This paper assesses the impact of OSBPs on trade, production, prices, employment, and poverty, with a focus on the impact of OSBPs on transport times and operational costs.

This paper forms part of a research project aimed at assessing how one-stop border posts (OSBPs) have affected trade, production, prices, employment and poverty in East Africa, and the impact of OSBPs supported by TradeMark Africa (TMA, formerly TradeMark East Africa) on transport times and operational costs in East Africa. It quantifies the direct and immediate impacts of OSBPs, which can be used in subsequent analysis to assess indirect impacts.

OSBPs aim to reduce the time and associated operational costs for transport companies generated by the duplication of customs procedures between both countries, lack of coordination in the provision of services within each country and other inefficiencies.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute