Making Trade Work for Women in Eastern Africa

This project aims to promote the economic empowerment of women traders in Eastern Africa and works to reduce sexual and gender-based violence towards them. The project is focused on addressing the constraints which limit the participation of East African women traders in economic activities and cross-border trade. Project activities include: (1) establishment of cooperatives and market access platforms for women traders; (2) simplifying translating and disseminating documentation on trading requirements for small scale traders (most of whom are women); (3) sensitizing border officials on gender; (4) adopting gender-sensitive cross border trade charters; (5) establishing safe working spaces for women; (6) developing and operationalizing a reporting mechanism on violence against women; (7) providing technical support to women traders in the areas of advocacy dialogue and strengthening membership services; (8) collecting sex-disaggregated data and conducting evidence-based research on issues affecting women traders; and (9) lobbying with public agencies.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) 30% reduction in incidences of violence against women traders at select border posts in Eastern Africa; (2) 15% increase in trade values for women-traded goods and increased access to markets and trade-related services for at least 150 000 women traders; and (3) improved policy regulatory and institutional environments to support women in trade.