The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on member states to incorporate gender considerations into their trade policies to realize the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). ECOWAS emphasized that achieving meaningful development in the subregion will remain elusive unless women, who make up half of the population, are fully integrated into the trade sector.
Speaking at a regional meeting on trade and gender in Abuja on Tuesday, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse, stressed the importance of promoting inclusive trade by empowering women entrepreneurs. She noted that ECOWAS’ approach aligns with international best practices, calling for the removal of barriers that hinder women’s participation in international trade.
“Women-owned businesses often face challenges accessing export markets, and women workers are concentrated in low-wage, low-skilled sectors,” Toure-Litse said. “Trade policies frequently neglect gender-specific needs, worsening existing inequalities.”
She highlighted the urgency of addressing these disparities to unlock the potential of women in business and ensure that international trade benefits all. Toure-Litse also pointed out that discriminatory trade practices could widen the gender gap in economic participation, particularly as an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa is conducted by women.
ECOWAS, she said, has already developed several initiatives to promote gender-inclusive trade, which align with the organization’s commitment to deepening regional integration and fostering development through equitable trade practices.
Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Doris Uzoka-Anite, represented by Dr. Simon Ozomo, Director of Special Duties, reiterated the importance of mainstreaming gender into trade policies to create a prosperous and equitable trade environment. She noted that the Federal Government’s trade facilitation policy aligns with this objective.
Toure-Litse urged participants to share their expertise on gender mainstreaming to strengthen ECOWAS’ draft action plan on trade and gender, noting that a well-crafted strategy would contribute to achieving the AfCFTA’s goals, the AU Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
