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Building capacity to help Africa trade better

Trade as a tool for the economic empowerment of women

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Trade as a tool for the economic empowerment of women

Trade as a tool for the economic empowerment of women
Photo credit: EIF Rwanda

The Expert Meeting on Trade as a Tool for the Economic Empowerment of Women is taking place from 23-24 May 2016 in Geneva.

Women are important players in trade: they manufacture products, trade goods across borders, manage and own trading firms and constitute a significant part the workforce in export-oriented sectors.

Women have increased their share of the labour force and of jobs in management and as entrepreneurs, and their growing participation in the economy has been a major engine of global growth and competitiveness.

Despite all these advancements, women’s potential in trade is too often held back by the many constraints they face. To analyse such problems and discuss possible solutions, UNCTAD is organizing this expert meeting.

The meeting will provide the opportunity to explore the gender and trade nexus focusing on three sectors:

  1. Agriculture

  2. Manufacturing

  3. Services

It will also allow a discussion of the treatment of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment within new global development frameworks, namely the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development.

The meeting, which is expected to be participatory and interactive, will review current thinking and evidence on trade and gender and offer the opportunity for a focused discussion on the issues under consideration.


Background note

The relationship between international trade and gender is complex and requires a nuanced understanding of economic and social dynamics, as well as of specific local contexts, in order to develop policies that catalyse economic development and poverty reduction while also promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality. Trade policies do not have equal impacts on all segments of the population, including men and women. Trade liberalization can be a tremendous force for providing new opportunities for women or may inadvertently further entrench or exacerbate existing gender biases and discrimination. Thus, this background note seeks to provide a firm foundation upon which to advance the global discourse on trade policy as a tool for economic growth, women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The background note explores the gender and trade nexus focusing on three sectors: agriculture, manufacturing and services. It also includes a comprehensive examination of the treatment of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment within the new global development frameworks, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development. Throughout, the background note provides not only a review of current thinking and evidence on trade and gender, but also offers policy guidance and presents focused discussion questions for consideration.

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