A central theme of this edition of the report is empowerment of women in trade. Women constitute as high as 60-70% of informal cross-border traders across Africa, yet they contribute only 20% to export value. This disparity reflects systemic barriers that prevent women from fully participating in and benefiting from trade. To unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs across the Continent, it was yet another proud moment for the Continent to adopt one of its kind, the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, translating inclusive development theory into legally binding obligations. This adoption of the Protocol has paved a way for commercially and economically uplifting participationof women and youth in trade across the continent, by addressing their unique set of challenges and providing bespoke solutions applicable at continental scale.
The report can be looked at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-vIa-05R0dll5gC_a178rMgDvshFQOCg/view?usp=drivesdk
