Making Trade Work for Women in Eastern Africa is a holistic CAD18 million regional programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by TradeMark Africa between 2018 and 2024 to maximise cross-border opportunities for women traders at 20 border points across EAC by:

• Significantly transforming cross-border trade for 150,000 women in Eastern Africa by tackling systemic barriers, catalysing their economic transformation and improving livelihoods – 23% growth in the women traders’ sales; 78% empowerment
• Advocating for 33 gender-responsive policy, institutional and regulatory reforms to address structural and logistical challenges, improve access to formal markets, and foster a secure business environment
• Making it safer for cross-border women traders by enhancing prevention and response to gender-based violence and harassment through sensitisation and awareness creation, partnership with border officials and boosting confidence to report incidences
• Enhancing resilience of women in trade during the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks to minimise disruptions to their businesses and loss of income.