A recent
research done by EASSI revealed that cross-border trade at informal sector
level is a strong component of intra-regional trade and an important aspect in
the East African Community integration process. Women in the EAC region have been
at the forefront of cross border trade both as a source of income and
employment, yet their experiences have not been adequately documented to
advocate for improved trade conditions. Women constitute the largest
proportion in this sector, engaged in small scale business transactions in a
range of products. According to a UNECA study, trade provides 60% of
non-agricultural self-employment in sub-Saharan Africa with informal traders
representing 70%-80%.
To enhance the capacity of
women informal cross border traders (ICBTs) and impart them with business
skills and knowledge in order to contribute to improved business
conditions, EASSI is currently conducting a training of some of these women in
Uganda. This is one of the activities under her Gender and Trade Project
in the EAC. The training will take place for two days and given the entire
package, it is expected to increase their knowledge in gender and trade to
reduce transaction costs and eliminate the non-tariff barriers in order to
increase their trade volumes.
The training in session
The training comes after an
assessment that was done by EASSI at the EAC border points to identify the
needs of these Informal Cross Border Traders. Some of the identified training
needs are already being addressed in the ongoing training by the facilitators.
The Uganda training is the first of similar national level trainings that will
take place in the rest of the partner states of the EAC. Our partners in the
Gender and Trade Project (Uganda Export Promotion Board and Uganda National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry) are also on board to facilitate sessions
during the training.
The
training will, among others, delve into the Customs Union & Common Market
Protocols that will look at opportunities for women traders and existing
challenges for women traders. Participants will also learn about Tax regimes in
the EAC region & harmonization of National Legislation on Trade Labor Law.
There will be in-depth discussions on Entrepreneurship / Business management;
Networking for Business growth; as well as Savings and Credit Schemes – Loans
Management and Access to Credit. The women will get to elect leadership for an
Association for the Uganda Chapter to wind up the training.
Participants of the training
The Gender and Trade Project recognizes that despite
the integration of the East African countries and the coming into force of the
customs union and common market protocols, women continue to engage in informal
cross border trade by using illegal border crossing routes and middlemen who
exploit them and take advantage of their ignorance.
Overall,
the project seeks to support women cross border traders in the informal
economy to increase their trade volume, reduce transaction costs and eliminate
the non-tariff barriers which remain obstacles to trade including sexual and
other forms of harassment - by arming them with information and supporting
their collective organization. The expected outcomes of the training
include:
- Enhanced coordination of support efforts to women in trade at policy level;
- Improved knowledge of trade issues among the different women traders in the EAC partner states; and
- A regional small scale trade association for women traders established
The
training falls under the women’s rights and gender equality programme of EASSI
and it is tagged to the EAC Campaign for a Gender and Development Protocol. As
East Africa moves towards integration, women should not be left behind
especially in the area of trade/economic empowerment.
p.s. – more about our gender and trade work at http://www.eassi.org/publications/cat_view/119-eassi-gender-and-trade-project
