Through in-depth analysis, capacity development, technical assistance, and focused trade policy dialogue events, ATPPN provides countries with an opportunity to exchange ideas and foster partnerships in areas of mutual interest. ATPPN is joint initiative between FAO and the Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (TRAPCA). It seeks to encourage practitioners and stakeholders involved in African trade and agriculture to take ownership of the related issues. 

One key objective of the network is to improve cross-sectoral and cross-country collaboration on emerging policy issues and to support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as other regional trade initiatives. 

AfCFTA promises greater market opportunities, which can trigger more trade and investment, and allow greater value addition and productivity growth. This growth, in turn, can lead to more and better jobs with expected improvements in social inclusion and thus to further enlarged markets.