Gender Mainstreaming, Employment and Youth - FAO

FAO is increasing its efforts for mainstreaming gender issues in its trade-related work. In particular, gender mainstreaming has been particularly effective in the work on cross-border trade (CBT) in East and Southern Africa. In Rwanda and neighboring countries, where over 70% of informal small cross-border traders are women, and only 10 % of these women are members of traders associations or cooperatives, FAO has been working with governmental institutions, international organizations and NGOs to address the challenges faced by women traders at the border. These include for example: (i) supporting formal and informal women traders groups and associations; (ii) supporting selected women traders groups to graduate out from informal and improve their efficiency through facilitated access to storage and processing equipment; (iii) training both formal and informal associations in basic business management and access to finance; and (iv) organizing awareness raising events with Customs Authority on implementation of existing trade protocols, agreements, etc.