Market Access Policy Research Network (MAPREN) is a non-profit, non-state and independent Think Tank that specialises in sustainable development-oriented and evidence-based market access training and research. MAPREN is a policy-driven Think Tank that connects and integrates ‘town and gown’ to stimulate the implementation of informed and research-oriented market access policies towards the achievement of sustainable development. The training and research cut across and transcend policy and practice associated with market access at the national, regional and global levels that impact the sustainable development of developing countries, especially Africa. Market access is the movement and/or flow of goods and services from one particular geographical location to another for transactional and economic returns purposes that can improve not only the economic conditions of the actors but also their geographical locations.

The market access policy and practice of importance to developing countries cut across different sectors, including agriculture and food, extractive and the real sectors that are relevant to the sustainable development aspirations of developing countries. The market access issues, such as agri-food policies, agri-food trade, trade and trade policies in goods and services, investments and investment policies, supply chains, regional and global value chains, governance and institutions, inputs and market access-oriented quality infrastructure and how they are impacted by the geopolitics and geoeconomics.