December 3, 2015

Empowering Women Through Trade

Date: Tuesday, 15th December 2015, 8.30am – 10.00am
Venue: Hilton Hotel, Tsavo Room

Panellists

Frank Matsaert, TradeMark East Africa, CEO; Makena Mwiti, TradeMark East Africa, Gender Advisor; Lisa Karanja, TradeMark East Africa Senior Director, Business Competitiveness

Session Objective

Across the developing world, women participate significantly in trade – managing exporting firms, producing products destined for international markets, and transporting small and large consignments across borders. Yet despite their active participation in this sector, women face a number of gender–based constraints that undermine their economic activities, their profits, and their potential to grow their business. These include among others lack of access to capital, skills, production inputs and market information and international trading networks, the threat of harassment and extortion when crossing borders and the challenge of balancing their business with household duties.

This session will highlight some of the trade-related constraints and obstacles that still exist for female traders and entrepreneurs in various countries and regions, and explain why tackling these is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Speakers will go on to suggest specific policy reforms and programming options for addressing and overcoming these obstacles, as well as reiterating their own commitments to scaling up efforts for promoting women’s economic empowerment through trade.