tralac launched its ‘Women in Trade Governance Network’ (‘SheGovernsTrade’) during its 2019 Annual Conference in Nairobi. The WiTG targets female professionals working in trade policy and governance with the aim to build technical capacity in international trade governance, to support professional skills development and to enhance women’s participation in trade governance across the continent.

This network consists of two pillars:

• a broader network of women experts in trade all over Africa contributing to Africa’s trade governance agenda at national, regional, continental and multilateral levels

• a development programme for more junior women professionals designed to increase their technical and leadership skills with respect to rules-based trade governance.

Women in Trade Governance Network (‘SheGovernsTrade’)

The objectives of the SheGovernsTrade network are to:

• Support the increased participation of women in Africa’s trade governance.

• Advocate for women traders and champion gender mainstreaming in trade on the continent and between African countries and the rest of the world.

• Establish a Trade Governance Development Programme for young women leaders working in trade governance in Africa.

Women in Trade Governance Development Programme

tralac’s inaugural WiTG development programme residential took place in Cape Town from 8-12 July 2019. Twelve future leaders in trade governance gathered to network, learn and reflect.

Over the course of the week, participants acquired new technical knowledge, shared experiences on trade, worked on honing their communication skills and connected with like-minded women from their own and other countries. The residential week also gave the women time to reflect on their goals and aspirations. Find out more about the event here.

The 12 women from across the Continent form the core of tralac’s Women in Trade Governance network (SheGovernsTrade).