Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Trade policy expert at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Nadia Hasham said inequalities could successfully undermine trade from effectively happening.
This she said during the high-level gender equality diversity, inclusion policy dialogue themed ‘advancing gender equality, inclusion and diversity in the East and Southern Africa Region’ held in Maseru this week and hosted by the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL).
She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement recognizes the importance of gender equality, sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, and improving export capacity of the informal suppliers, micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), women and youth.
Hasham further suggested that complimentary policies are necessary within the AfCFTA ecosystem.
“It is not only that trade impacts people differently based on where they are, but it is also that the effectiveness of this trade is limited by the inequalities,” she said.
She continued: “There is existing inequalities and they limit the effectiveness of trade and so we want to reverse those issues.”
She also mentioned the need to close the gender gap in access to finance.
AfCTFA is the flagship project of the Agenda 2063 and it is a free trade area bringing together the 55 countries that are the African Union (AU) Member States including eight regional economic communities (RECs).
“As part of its mandate, the AfCFTA is to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade. In particular, it is to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African economy. The AfCFTA will contribute to establishing regional value chains in Africa, enabling investment and job creation. The practical implementation of the AfCFTA has the potential to foster industrialization, job creation, and investment, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Africa in the medium to long term.”
Reflecting on policy actions for inclusive AfCFTA implementation she said women should be empowered in the export sector as well as their representation at corporate environment.
“Empower women in regional value chain, corporate supply chain and public procurement. Design and implement gender responsive trade facilitation agenda that incentivizes formal trade,” she said.
The trade policy expert said while efforts by the RECs to mainstream gender in trade policies and practices that have provided the opportunities for partners to support relevant projects, both within and among the RECs, there are still gaps and challenges that need to be addressed. Those she said are translating frameworks into actions; limited follow-ups on the implementation as well as accountability mechanisms and lack of gender disaggregated data.
She remarked that the RECs that have successfully mounted the comprehensive gender framework are now effectively integrating gender into trade policy.
Luisenda Andrade from the AU challenged the Heads of State and Government of the AU. She has recognized the need to ensuring that women and youth effectively participate in as well as benefit from the AfCFTA, and this she said is through accessing broader markets, improving their competitiveness and participating in regional value chains.
Notwithstanding the political will to advance inclusive gender policies within trade, she highlighted that the contribution of women to trade is “much less than it could be”.
She remarked that women and youth continue to face obstacles including legal, social, financial, bureaucratic procedures, extortion, and physical and moral harassment adding that they “jeopardize” their capacity to grow and develop their business.
Andrade added: “As you know, the African Union Commission has chosen as its theme for this year 2023, “Accelerating of the African Continental Free Trade Area implementation,” which means putting in place all necessary mechanisms for compliance with the provisions of the AfCFTA agreement and respective protocols with a special attention on Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.”
Effectiveness of trade is limited by inequalities
By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Trade policy expert at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Nadia Hasham said inequalities could successfully undermine trade from effectively happening.
This she said during the high-level gender equality diversity, inclusion policy dialogue themed ‘advancing gender equality, inclusion and diversity in the East and Southern Africa Region’ held in Maseru this week and hosted by the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL).
She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement recognizes the importance of gender equality, sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, and improving export capacity of the informal suppliers, micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), women and youth.
Hasham further suggested that complimentary policies are necessary within the AfCFTA ecosystem.
“It is not only that trade impacts people differently based on where they are, but it is also that the effectiveness of this trade is limited by the inequalities,” she said.
She continued: “There is existing inequalities and they limit the effectiveness of trade and so we want to reverse those issues.”
She also mentioned the need to close the gender gap in access to finance.
AfCTFA is the flagship project of the Agenda 2063 and it is a free trade area bringing together the 55 countries that are the African Union (AU) Member States including eight regional economic communities (RECs).
“As part of its mandate, the AfCFTA is to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade. In particular, it is to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African economy. The AfCFTA will contribute to establishing regional value chains in Africa, enabling investment and job creation. The practical implementation of the AfCFTA has the potential to foster industrialization, job creation, and investment, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Africa in the medium to long term.”
Reflecting on policy actions for inclusive AfCFTA implementation she said women should be empowered in the export sector as well as their representation at corporate environment.
“Empower women in regional value chain, corporate supply chain and public procurement. Design and implement gender responsive trade facilitation agenda that incentivizes formal trade,” she said.
The trade policy expert said while efforts by the RECs to mainstream gender in trade policies and practices that have provided the opportunities for partners to support relevant projects, both within and among the RECs, there are still gaps and challenges that need to be addressed. Those she said are translating frameworks into actions; limited follow-ups on the implementation as well as accountability mechanisms and lack of gender disaggregated data.
She remarked that the RECs that have successfully mounted the comprehensive gender framework are now effectively integrating gender into trade policy.
Luisenda Andrade from the AU challenged the Heads of State and Government of the AU. She has recognized the need to ensuring that women and youth effectively participate in as well as benefit from the AfCFTA, and this she said is through accessing broader markets, improving their competitiveness and participating in regional value chains.
Notwithstanding the political will to advance inclusive gender policies within trade, she highlighted that the contribution of women to trade is “much less than it could be”.
She remarked that women and youth continue to face obstacles including legal, social, financial, bureaucratic procedures, extortion, and physical and moral harassment adding that they “jeopardize” their capacity to grow and develop their business.
Andrade added: “As you know, the African Union Commission has chosen as its theme for this year 2023, “Accelerating of the African Continental Free Trade Area implementation,” which means putting in place all necessary mechanisms for compliance with the provisions of the AfCFTA agreement and respective protocols with a special attention on Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.”