FORUMINTERNATIONAL TRADE - Women's economic empowerment Issue 1 - ITC
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2018 ADVISING, EMPOWERING & INSPIRING TRADE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FORUM
Issue 1
Women’s economic
empowerment
MESSAGE FROM
Pressing for progress
with SheTrades
ARANCHA GONZÁLEZ, Executive Director, International Trade Centre
T his is an incredible time for women’s
empowerment. The movement to
ensure equality for women and girls is
However, there is hope. Last year we
witnessed three moments that I believe will
prove a sea change to the rhetoric and policy-
influencing all facets of our daily lives. And making for women in trade.
trade is no exception. Still, there is much left The first was the inclusion of gender
to do if we are to attain Goal 5 – empower all chapters in international trade agreements.
women and girls – of the United Nations 2030 This initiative, pioneered by Uruguay and
Agenda for Sustainable Development Chile at the end of 2016, was replicated by What matters more, though, is what
Trade does not have a gender: it does Canada and Chile, which last year signed a happens on the ground. Through SheTrades
have a gender impact and is not always gen- free-trade agreement with a dedicated chapter we are seeing the impact from more women
der neutral. This is why ITC launched the on trade and gender. entering international trade.
SheTrades initiative: to empower women eco- The second was the adoption by the G20 In Kenya, a partnership with Barclays
nomically through greater integration in trade in Germany – on the proposal of the Women20 Bank has helped to provide $3 million worth
and investment, and to connect one million – of a set of commitments to address the gen- of capital to more than 200 women-owned
women to market by 2020. Through partner- der digital, labour and financial gaps. The Ger- enterprises. Meanwhile, eBay has provided free
ships, collaboration and shared commitments, man G20 presidency can be proud. For the first online shopfront access to dozens of selected
women entrepreneurs are enabled to produce, time in G20 history, Women20 representatives women-owned companies. (See Page 14.)
scale up and trade. attended the meetings of top government offi- SheTrades is also about Phyllis, an online
A significant proportion of micro, small cials resulting in an exchange on how world florist in Kenya who, with ITC support, created
and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) leaders could increase women’s participation in Tandao Commerce, an e-commerce platform
around the world are owned by women. In the global economy. that is now revolutionizing online trading in
developing countries around 36% of MSMEs The third big moment of 2017 was the Africa. And there is Charitha from Sri Lanka,
are partially or fully owned by women. While Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Wom- who set up a sustainable, luxury eco-tourism
this is encouraging, the share of women- en’s Economic Empowerment, which was resort and is now closing business deals with
owned companies participating in interna- supported by more than 120 members and international travel agencies. (See Page 28.)
tional trade stands at a more modest 20%. observers of the World Trade Organization These are just of few success stories
An estimated one billion women are not (WTO) during its Ministerial Conference in among countless of successful women entre-
able to fully participate in the economy. This Buenos Aires, Argentina. ITC is proud to have preneurs making a change for themselves and
has to do with multiple reasons that can and co-led this initiative with the Governments of on society.
should be tackled, from lack of education or Iceland and Sierra Leone under the auspices of ITC is committed to women’s economic
training for women and girls, to financial and the International Gender Champions. empowerment. I invite you all to do the same.
legal constraints. As pointed out by the Inter- Over the next two years, stakeholders Big steps. Small steps. Be a champion. Be a
national Telecommunication Union, more will exchange knowledge and share best prac- mentor. Share your knowledge. Create oppor-
than 250 million fewer women than men tices to help connect more women entrepre- tunities. Be part of the movement.
have access to the online world (see Page 18). neurs to international trade. It will enable the
This is alarming, especially since the economy next WTO Ministerial Conference, in 2019,
of the 21st century will be very much techno- to set a clearer direction on how to craft trade
logically and digitally driven. policies that benefit women – and men.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 3
Contents
International Trade Editor
Forum focuses on trade Jarle Hetland
promotion and export
development as part of Assistant Editor
ITC’s technical Kate Baglaeva
Co-operation programme
with developing countries Writers
and economies in Anna Jankowska-Eriksson
transition. Anna Mori GLOBAL VIEW
Mohammed Saeed
Published quarterly since Julia Spies
1964 in English, French Victoria Tuomisto NEWS BRIEF....................................................................................................6
and Spanish. Fiona Walker
Poonam Watine A NEW WORLD PARADIGM..........................................................................10
See the online version at Matthew Wilson David Abney, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, UPS
tradeforum.org
Copy editor
Sign up for e-mail headline Michael Kelley EURASIA, THE SUPERCONTINENT THAT WILL DEFINE
alerts at tradeforum.org/ OUR CENTURY..............................................................................................12
alerts Design, illustrations Bruno Maçães, Author, ‘The Dawn of Eurasia’
and art direction
Subscriptions Kristina Golubic
forum@intracen.org Iva Stastny Brosig AGENDA........................................................................................................37
Print subscription Printer
US$ 60/year (free to ITC Digital Printing
trade support institutions
and firms in developing Disclaimer
countries) Views expressed in Trade
Forum are the contributors’
ISSN: 0020-8957 and do not necessarily
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coincide with those of ITC,
Address UN or WTO. Designations
International employed do not imply the
Trade Centre expression of any opinion on
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Reprints Publisher
Articles from this The International Trade
| 12
magazine may be Centre is the joint agency of
freely reprinted, with the World Trade Organization
attribution to the author and the United Nations.
and to International Trade
Forum, ITC. A copy of Cover photo:
the reproduced article Kristina Golubic – from
would be appreciated. Shutterstock.com elements
Copyrighted photos may
not be reproduced.
SPECIAL REPORT
CONNECTING WOMEN TO MARKETS THROUGH SHETRADES .......14
Anna Mori, Programme and Partnerships Officer, International Trade Centre
THE FEMINIST APPROACH TO INCLUSIVE TRADE AND
POLICYMAKING..........................................................................................16
Ann Linde, Minister for European Union Affairs and Trade, Sweden
CALLING TIME ON THE DIGITAL GENDER DIVIDE..............................18
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership,
International Telecommunication Union
IN VANUATU, ‘MARKET MAMAS’ ARE TAKING CARE
OF BUSINESS................................................................................................20
Simon Hess, Coordinator, and Deanna Ramsay, Communications Officer,
ITC EMPLOYMENT Enhanced Integrated Framework
ITC is recruiting qualified professionals within different WOMEN ARE KEY TO ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE
areas of expertise. If you would like to contribute your
skills to increasing export competitiveness for developing DEVELOPMENT GOALS .............................................................................22
economies, and are motivated to work in an international Cathrine G. Jahnsen, Executive Programme Manager, Virke
environment that promotes diversity, please check our
jobs website, which is updated weekly:
www.intracen.org/about/jobs
4 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018
PHOTO FEATURE
© Matthew Wilson / ITC
|8
LOCAL WORK, GLOBAL IMPACT
How IKEA is helping Indian women export their
handicraft worldwide.
INTERVIEW
THE ITC FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.........32
Fiona Walker, Human Resources Adviser, International Trade Centre
ANALYSIS
UNBLOCKING CROSS-BORDER TRADE..................................................34
Victoria Tuomisto, Associate Expert, and Mohammed Saeed, Senior Trade
Facilitation Adviser, International Trade Centre
| 28 PUBLICATIONS
© ITC
RESOURCES ON TRADE AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT......................38
SPECIAL REPORT
MAKING AID FOR TRADE WORK FOR WOMEN.....................................24
Anoush Derboghossian, Gender Focal Point, World Trade Organization
HARNESSING EXPORT POTENTIAL TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.................................................................26
Anna Jankowska-Eriksson, International Consultant and Julia Spies, Market Analyst,
International Trade Centre
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS BREAKING BARRIERS................................28
© Shutterstock.com
Michelle Kristy, Associate Expert, , Poonam Watine and Caroline Kemunto,
| 34
International Consultant, International Trade Centre
THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.................30
Linda Calabrese, Research Fellow, Aarti Krishnan, Senior Research Officer and
Abigail Hunt, Research Fellow, Overseas Development Institute
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 5
NEWS
News Brief
Buenos Aires Declaration on Women and Trade
For the first time in the history of the World Trade
© WTO
Organization (WTO), a number of members and
observers have endorsed a collective initiative to
increase the participation of women in trade. More
than 120 WTO members and observers agreed to
support the Buenos Aires Declaration on Women
and Trade, which seeks to foster, and remove bar-
riers to, women’s economic empowerment.
Signatories have voluntarily undertaken
to enhance their cooperation on issues related
to gender-responsive trade and development
policies with a view to agree on further
commitments at the 12th WTO Ministerial
Conference in 2019.
ITC to boost digital skills of Jordanian
youth, Syrian refugees
Through linking Jordanian youth and Syrian refugees in Jordan to
market opportunities, the International Trade Centre (ITC) will
help potential entrepreneurs learn how to offer services online
and how to reach new markets. Funded by Japan’s Ministry of
© Shutterstock.com
Foreign Affairs, the project will help strengthen technical skills
such as data entry basic computer programming; digital content
creation; document translation; integrated digital publishing;
and sales and marketing.
ITC, UNCTAD, WTO launch Global Trade Helpdesk
© Shutterstock.com
ITC, UNCTAD and the WTO unveiled an the Helpdesk, which is still in a beta ver-
© ITC
innovative tool to help businesses, in particu- sion, provides data on applicable tariffs
lar smaller firms, benefit from trade. Accessi- and taxes; relevant health and safety stand-
ble through a new online hub – HelpMeTrade. ards and compliance procedures; details
org – the Global Trade Helpdesk will serve about export and import procedures such
as a one-stop shop for businesses and poli- as pre-shipment formalities; and current
cymakers to turn trade data into intelligence. trade patterns and trade agreements. Data
Launched at the WTO’s 11th Ministe- will be added to the Helpdesk over a three-
rial Conference in Buenos Aires, the Global year period, and complemented with busi-
Trade Helpdesk is a multiagency response ness information such as buyer and seller
to an information gap in trade. For compa- contacts as well as trade fair dates and
nies looking at potential export markets, locations.
6 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018
ITC, Dubai Exports join
© Dubai Exports
forces to set up SheTrades
Middle East Hub
The first regional hub for ITC’s SheTrades
initiative, created to connect women entre-
preneurs to markets and support greater
economic empowerment of women, was
launched in Dubai in February 2018. The
global SheTrades initiative spearheaded
by ITC aims at connecting one million
women to markets by 2020, the Middle
East hub seeks to rally support from poli-
cymakers, business community and wom-
en’s organizations to increase women’s
participation in trade.
ILO and IFC launch strategy to enhance gender equality
© Shutterstock.com
in garment industry
Better Work, a joint initiative of the Although women represent around
International Labour Organization (ILO) 80% of the workforce in the garment sec-
and the International Finance Corporation, tor worldwide, they are concentrated in the
launched a comprehensive, five-year gender lowest-paying, lowest-skilled occupations.
strategy to empower women, reduce sexual Gender-based discrimination during recruit-
harassment and close the gender pay gap in ment processes and sexual harassment in
the global garment industry. the workplace remain widespread. Social
The new strategy aims to promote norms and the predominance of working
women’s economic empowerment through mothers also contribute to a sizeable gender
targeted initiatives in apparel factories, and pay gap, with female factory workers earn-
by strengthening policies and practices at ing up to 21% less per hour than their male
the national, regional and international levels. counterparts.
WTO, ITC launch
© Shutterstock.com
Cotton Portal to enhance
transparency, support
development
The WTO and ITC launched an online plat-
form for market intelligence for cotton prod-
ucts, enabling cotton producers, traders
and policymakers to better harness market
opportunities in the sector. Launched at the
WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference in Bue-
nos Aires, the portal is expected to contrib-
ute to a more efficient cotton trading system
by providing improved transparency and
accessibility of trade-related information,
providing relevant information for produc-
ers, traders and policymakers.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 7
PHOTO SPECIAL
Local expertise creates global footprint
MATTHEW WILSON, Chief of Staff, International Trade Centre
© Matthew Wilson / ITC
Women in India see their handiwork go international via IKEA
I n February 2018 International Trade
Centre Executive Director Arancha
González and her team entered a small
Industree Foundation, will find them-
selves in IKEA stores and living spaces
around the world.
Many of the women were taking home
an income for the first time in their lives.
Many were gaining new expertise or trans-
building in a little village in Mandya, India, The set-up provides a micro-ecosystem lating their knowledge into marketable skills.
to see entrepreneurship at work. of empowerment, skills upgrading and mar- All of them were increasing their confidence,
Twenty women – some with their ket connection. For ITC, it provided lessons and their contributions to their family in-
young children – were seated in a long learned that can be shared with ongoing come while also finding dignity in work.
room full of looms used to weave fab- and future projects, such as our work with These photographs offer a brief glimpse
rics for homeware, and using traditional women in Ethiopia under ITC’s Support- into the beautiful and unique work of these
techniques to create beautiful designs. ing Indian Trade and Investment for Africa women, showing how local expertise can
Their products, through the support of (SITA) project. create a global footprint.
8 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 9
GLOBAL VIEW
A new world paradigm
DAVID ABNEY, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, UPS
© Shutterstock.com
Global trade needs a reboot to expand the global economy
I
n recent years free trade has come under to associated declines in poverty, child and
criticism from populists who blame it for slave labor and even military conflicts. One For trade to drive global growth –
every lost factory job. In reality trade has study of 40 economies also found that trade and for that growth to be shared more
been responsible for fewer job losses than auto- increased the purchasing power of lower- widely – governments, businesses,
mation, a technological force much harder to income households by about two-thirds as non-governmental organizations and
reverse. So while trade has made for a popular they spend more on basic goods that are others must make a concerted effort
to work together.
scapegoat, the truth is cross-border commerce often imported, like food and clothing.
has played an underappreciated role in pro- That is evidence to the contrary, and
ducing the inclusive global prosperity we have the criticisms are not likely to go away. substantial on a macroeconomic level,
enjoyed over the past 60 years. If advocates of free trade were honest, they while the short-term losses have been felt
Economic study after economic study would admit that the global trading system on a more personal level.
has proven trade played a major role over the has not kept up with the changes in global To win over the critics, global trade
past half-century in boosting employment, commerce. They would also acknowledge needs a major refresh. Here are four areas
incomes and average life spans. It has led that the long-term benefits have been where we can start.
10 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018MAKING TRADE INCLUSIVE
© Shutterstock.com
If there is any valid criticism of the existing
trading system, it is that trade creates win-
ners and losers in the short term. So even
if trade has been overwhelmingly positive
over the long run, we need to give more
consideration to the workers displaced
by trade or technology efficiencies – and
to the small businesses that could trade
more. A trading system is sustainable only
if everyone shares in the benefits. There-
fore we must ensure that trade is more
inclusive and helps support sustainable
development.
Governments also must create better
safety nets for workers who lose their jobs
to trade flows or technology. What that
assistance looks like will vary by country,
given the cultural differences that exist
MODERNIZE TRADE LAWS around the world. In some countries
If implemented wisely, the TFA Whether regional, global or bilateral, many this assistance can subsidize the cost of
could cut trading costs by up to 15%, of today’s trade agreements were written retraining workers through classes or
facilitating a $1 trillion expansion in an era when manufacturing drove the on-the-job apprenticeships. In others it can
in global trade. This will require
global economy. Today the service industry include wage and health insurance, even
policymakers everywhere to act in
is a much bigger force and services such as special assistance to affected businesses
good faith as they enact customs
reforms. information technology, logistics, architec- and farmers. While countries should tailor
ture, law and accounting now trade easily their approaches to their social policies,
across borders. the WTO and the business community can
What’s more, many forms of commerce help promote best practices.
REFORM THE WTO – including retail – are now digital. Cross- Over the past decade regional or even
Since its inception in 1995 the World Trade border e-commerce is expected to hit nearly bilateral trade agreements have become
Organization (WTO) has faced its share of $1 trillion by 2020 but trade regulations more popular, a reflection of the difficul-
criticisms, including concerns that pro- have not kept pace. Only 20% of regional ties in finding consensus among the WTO’s
cessing cases takes too long and too many trade agreements address such e-commerce 164 member nations. However, for trade to
countries ignore the notification rules. It issues as transparency, data protection and drive global growth – and for that growth
is easy to forget that before its founding paperless trading and it is imperative that to be shared more widely – governments,
the world trading system was perceived trade laws catch up to the times. businesses, non-governmental organiza-
as a club controlled by the world’s biggest tions and others must make a concerted
economies, one that resisted any change to STREAMLINE CUSTOMS effort to work together.
the status quo. The creation of the WTO While tariffs get the most attention, what Those of us who advocate for trade
accelerated the liberalization of trade and really inflates the cost of trading are non-tar- understand the economic benefits of
gave countries both large and small a dis- iff measures such as needless customs ineffi- allowing goods and services to flow freely
pute settlement system guided by the rule ciencies and the quotas, licensing and local- across borders. A 21st-century trading
of law, not power. As a result, more coun- content laws designed to protect domestic system will also enable governments to
tries have been willing to bring their griev- producers. The WTO Trade Facilitation improve environmental standards and
ances to the WTO. Agreement (TFA) ratified in early 2017 labour standards. Before we can make
Though the WTO is not perfect, could help cut the red tape and bureaucracy the case for global trade, we must make
the global trading system needs a strong that needlessly increase the cost of trading. a convincing argument that a 21st century
governing body at its core. The WTO’s rule- If implemented wisely, the TFA could trading world calls for a 21st-century policy
based system provides the predictability and cut trading costs by up to 15%, facilitating environment in which free trade benefits
accountability that businesses need before a $1 trillion expansion in global trade. This everyone.
they invest. Given that, the WTO should will require policymakers everywhere to act
be reformed, not replaced. The first steps in good faith as they enact customs reforms.
would be for it to reform the transparency That will require free-trade proponents to
1. Cross-border trade has played a huge role in producing
and notification system and speed up the push governments around the world to do inclusive global prosperity.
dispute settlement process. the right thing. 2. The WTO should be reformed, not replaced.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 11GLOBAL VIEW
Eurasia, the supercontinent that
will define our century
BRUNO MAÇÃES, Author, ‘The Dawn of Eurasia’
© Shutterstock.com
The new century promises a world balanced between Western and
Asian poles
T he end of the Cold War was supposed
to inaugurate Europe’s age of recon-
ciliations, when the continent, finally
was first developed by Western multina-
tionals and financial institutions.
In recent years Chinese authorities have
We are forced to live with cultural
contradiction without immediately
at peace with itself, would be able to exist increasingly taken on this task and with the explaining it away as a result of
as a unified whole. However, reconciliation Belt and Road Initiative, a development societies existing at different stages
worked perhaps too well: the disappear- project of unmatched ambition, they intend of historical development.
ance of the Iron Curtain also meant that to be firmly in control. Spanning some
Europe struggled to differentiate itself from 70 countries and requiring investment started to emerge: Eurasia, the supercon-
the lands to the east. By expanding it might approaching $4 trillion, the initiative is tinent extending from Lisbon to Shanghai
expand without limits; by retreating it might deliberately intended to reshape the global or even Jakarta. While one could argue
become an importer of instability. political and economic order. China’s trade that this is a return to an older time, the
The decade that brought down the with countries along the Belt and Road rose dawn of a new age would be a more exact
Berlin Wall was also responsible for opening 17.8% year-on-year in January 2018. description. Romantic images of the Silk
China to global capitalism. Deep value Road or Marco Polo’s adventures can-
chains were quickly established, together NEW TRADE LINKS not hide the fact that trade along those
with the infrastructure – both physical and With the disappearance of old ideological routes was insignificant and almost no one
digital – necessary to make them work. It is battle lines and the establishment of new made the whole journey from sea to sea.
frequently forgotten that this infrastructure trade links, a new geographic entity has As for Genghis Khan’s empire, practically
12 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018© Shutterstock.com
China-Mongolia-Russia
Economic Corridor
New
Eura
Econ sia Land
omic B
Corr ridge
China-Central Asia- idor
West Asia
Economic Corridor
Bangladesh-China-
India-Myanmar
Economic Corridor
or
Co tan
rrid
s
om -Paki
ic
Ec hina
China-Indochina
on
C
Peninsula
Economic Corridor
limitless as it was to become, it still obeyed new centre but a world balanced between
the iron laws of empire and was organized Western and Asian poles. Contrary to the Spanning some 70 countries and
around a power centre. A genuine meeting Cold War, these two poles will be deeply requiring investment approaching
between East and West is a creation of our integrated. $4 trillion, the [Belt and Road]
own time. Eurasia is a word perfectly suited to initiative is deliberately intended
One immediate consequence of the capture the main elements of this world, to reshape the global political and
economic order.
new political geography is how Russia the first of which is contradiction. The new
will define its position in the world. Eurasian century is not one where different
Traditionally, Russian elites see their task regions of the world converge towards a Because Europe has taken the Western
as that of bringing about a gradual but single model. If the end of the Cold War political model to its logical conclusion,
complete integration with a more advanced allowed many in the West to entertain those while China remains unique in its closure
Europe. That vision is now being replaced dreams, they are conclusively over. All public and resistance to Western influence, it is
with a new self-image as the centre and and private statements coming from China tempting to think of these two regions
core of the Eurasian supercontinent. In this speak of a country confident in its ability as setting the outer limits for Eurasian
position, Russia can reach in all directions to master modern technology and build a politics. Between them, major powers such
and provide a bridge between Europe and modern society without in any way adopting as Russia and India will try to find different
China on both ends. Asia, long associated a Western economic and political model. positions within the broad spectrum of
with historical backwardness in Russian For the first time in many centuries, we are alternatives. Finally, across the oceans,
minds, is emerging as a pole of attraction. forced to live with cultural contradiction benefitting from a more distant perspective,
without immediately explaining it away as a the United States may be expected to pick
INTEGRATED POLES result of societies existing at different stages and choose from different models as it
This takes us to the second and deeper of historical development. strives to preserve its leadership position,
meaning of Eurasia, as a historical age rather The second element is that of even if the world it wants to lead is now a
than a geographic unit. A lot has been writ- integration. For all their differences, the Eurasian rather than Western one.
ten about a new Asian century and with main political and economic blocs are
Bruno Maçães’ book, ‘The Dawn of Eurasia,’
four of the world’s five largest economies increasingly integrated. Modern society
was published in January. This article was first
soon to be located on the continent, the idea by its very nature pushes towards larger published on the World Economic Forum’s
has some appeal. What that premise ignores spheres of action and technology breaks Agenda blog.
is that Europe and the United States of old barriers of geographic distance. By
America will keep their power and wealth combining contradiction and integration, we
largely intact and that, in some crucial are entering the second age of globalization,
dimensions, Asian economies and societies where borders tend to dissolve but cultural 1. A train service for the Eurasian century.
still lag significantly behind. What the new and civilizational differences do not. I call it 2. Six economic corridors of the Road and Belt initiative
century promises is not the emergence of a the Eurasian age. spanning Asia, Europe and Africa.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 13SPECIAL REPORT
Connecting women to markets
through SheTrades
ANNA MORI, Programme and Partnerships Officer, International Trade Centre
ITC’s flagship initiative for women entrepreneurs marks its two-year
anniversary
© ITC
T he SheTrades initiative, which aims
to connect one million women
entrepreneurs to the market by
approach of merely improving the quality
of women’s products and services. Instead
it sets out to engage all actors involved in
Partnerships are crucial to increasing
the reach, quality and sustainability of
2020, was launched just over two years women’s economic empowerment includ- the SheTrades initiative.
ago. It is the International Trade Centre’s ing governments, the private sector and civil
(ITC) main vehicle to support Goal 5 of society. All have critical roles to play. the Pacific, women handicraft producers are
the United Nations 2030 Agenda for trained to improve their produce and linked
Sustainable Development, to empower all THINKING GLOBALLY to high-end fashion designers. Across the
women and girls. Today the SheTrades initiative works directly coffee sector in eastern and central Africa,
The SheTrades initiative evolved from with 15,000 women entrepreneurs through ITC works with several associations to help
ITC’s Women and Trade programme, which a plethora of ITC projects and programmes. women farmers and producers meet inter-
since 2016 has focused on creating oppor- In Kenya, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, women national quality standards.
tunities for women in trade. It aims to fos- in the services sectors are connected to Partnerships are crucial to increasing
ter change by going beyond the traditional regional and global market opportunities. In the reach, quality and sustainability of the
14 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018Despite initial growing pains, the
© ITC
Many of the entrepreneurs ITC is SheTrades initiative is now delivering results
working with are found in the digital and impacts for women entrepreneurs.
sector or are using technology to Take for example Chiedza Makonnen.
scale up their enterprises. She is the founder of Afrodesiac Worldwide,
a Ghanaian fashion brand and a SheTrades
SheTrades initiative. So far, teaming up entrepreneur. Following participation in
with different partners has ensured support training provided by several SheTrades part-
for some 200,000 women entrepreneurs. ners, was exposed to international platforms
For example, in Kenya ITC has teamed up and has since conquered the European mar-
with Barclays Bank to provide finance to ket with her contemporary Afro-Urban style
women entrepreneurs and ensure access to clothing line.
markets. So far the bank has already made Makonnen’s business philosophy is also
available more than over $3 million worth aligned to the thinking behind the SheTrades
of loans to 120 SheTrades entrepreneurs. initiative. For her, it is imperative to contrib-
Meanwhile, working with eBay, the ute to the manufacturing industry in Ghana. ON THE RIGHT TRACK
global online retailer, more than 100 selected A fully 80% of the fabrics used in her pro- To date, the SheTrades initiative has success-
women entrepreneurs are receiving support duction are produced in Africa and 99.9% of fully generated $80 million in export value
to expand their businesses and improve those suppliers are women artisans working opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
their digital commerce capabilities. Support in impoverished areas. Growing her business And so far the initiative has been launched in
provided by eBay to the SheTrades include means that she contributes to improving live- 10 countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific
in-depth training on market skills, mentoring lihoods in her local community as well. and South America. February also saw the
on digital commerce and a full-fledged eBay Makonnen started her business with a launch of the first regional SheTrades Hub.
shopfront for a period of one year for half of few female employees at the micro-produc- This took place in the United Arab Emirates
the 100 selected companies). tion level. As a SheTrades beneficiary, she in partnership with Dubai Exports and will
was able to receive support, which enabled provide support to women entrepreneurs
WOMEN IN TRADE DECLARATION her to scale up her production and employ across the Middle East and North Africa.
Partnerships with governments matter, too. more people. More importantly, Makonnen Such national or regional chapters, run
Together with Sierra Leone and Iceland, is now helping ITC scale up its SheTrades in partnership with governments and the pri-
ITC has been leading the Trade Impact activities in Ghana, ensuring that more vate-sector entities, allows for the SheTrades
Working Group of World Trade Organization women entrepreneurs can follow the trail initiative to be adapted to the local context,
member states to develop the Buenos Aires that she has blazed by tapping into her busi- further ensure that more women are con-
Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic ness networks and being enabled to access nected to opportunities in trade.
Empowerment. This commits signatories to credible financial institutions. So far more than 120 corporations and
include an increase their focus on gender in institutions have committed themselves to
trade policy and galvanizes stakeholders to TECHNOLOGY FOR EQUALITY participate in the effort to connect one mil-
take action to boost economic growth world- Technology is often touted as way to include lion women to markets by 2020.
wide. This again can help create more and more women in true. Indeed, many of the While great strides have been made
better-paid jobs for women. entrepreneurs ITC is working with are found towards reaching the 1-million target, more
By the time the Declaration was pre- in the digital sector or are using technology partners will be needed to fully achieve this.
sented to the WTO at its Ministerial Con- to scale up their enterprises. For ITC, too, The SheTrades initiative will continue to
ference in December 2017, more than 120 digital technology has proved invaluable to allocate a part of its resources to embrac-
World Trade Organization (WTO) members roll out the SheTrades initiative, ensuring ing challenges and promising high-impact
and observers had signed the declaration. high impact with low costs. solutions, basing its interventions on what
It makes it easier to work with part- is the core of the initiative’s work: engage-
GROWING PAINS ners, establish networks of women entre- ment with and between the public and
However, building and ensuring the suc- preneurs, and disseminate knowledge, tools private sectors to ensure for women entre-
cess of the SheTrades initiative has not and frameworks related to the SheTrades preneurs.
been straightforward.For ITC, the growth objectives. Women entrepreneurs have
To learn more and join the SheTrades initiative, visit
of the initiative required some soul-search- quick access to eLearning courses, business
SheTrades.com.
ing: is the organization equipped to create and investment opportunities and tailored
an ecosystem of solutions that empower capacity-building activities.
women economically? Does it have the And through the SheTrades web and 1. Some of the thousands of women entrepreneurs
knowledge and resources required to lead mobile app, buyers that previously found it benefiting from the SheTrades initiative.
on issues concerning the intersection of hard to identify eligible women suppliers are 2. A women entrepreneur discusses with a potential buyer
gender and trade? now making new business connections. at the 2017 SheTrades Global conference.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 15SPECIAL REPORT
The feminist approach to inclusive
trade and policymaking
ANN LINDE, Minister for European Union Affairs and Trade, Sweden
Sweden has proven that equal opportunities for women and men is
good for job creation and good for economic growth
© Shutterstock.com
W hen the current Swedish govern-
ment came into power in 2014,
the first thing it did was to state it
cooperation, security, promotion, public
diplomacy and, of course, trade.
For the government, a feminist foreign
Economic data tells us that countries
in which more women participate
is a feminist government. As such it made policy is aimed at achieving gender equal- in the labour market enjoy greater
a clear commitment to promoting gender ity by eliminating all forms of discrimination economic growth than countries that
restrict the possibilities of women to
equality in all policymaking. against women and girls and improving gen-
work on equal terms as men.
During the past years the government eral conditions for women and girls. It is a
has combatted inhibitive gender roles and question of human rights, but also of equal
structures and we have let gender equality opportunities allowing men and women to and people flow across countries faster
have a formative impact on policy choices, use their potential and contribute to society. than ever before, information and knowl-
priorities, and in allocation of resources. But it is also a question of smart economics. edge have become global commodities.
The Swedish government pursues this Economic globalization and trade can
agenda in all facets of its work – in Swe- ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION channel and reinforce universal values of
den, in the European Union and globally. The world has witnessed an enormous democracy, equality and human rights as
Gender equality will permeate all areas economic transformation over the past ideas and skills move from one country to
of Sweden’s foreign policy: development three decades. As goods, services, capital, another.
16 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018© ITC
Only a third of the world’s nations
gather data that makes it possible to
measure and understand women’s
and girls’ economic situation.
Hundreds of millions of women and
girls are still invisible.
Therefore, Sweden supports various
efforts in this area, as for example UNCTAD’s
tool box on trade and gender, which I launched
together with Secretary-General Mukhisa
Kituyi last year. The tool box is meant to assess
to what extent trade policies affect men and
women in a distinctive manner.
Women’s participation in the economy, Generally, trade liberalization has Sweden also supports the important
as entrepreneurs, employees, leaders, produc- helped to create more jobs and stronger work of the International Trade Centre
ers and consumers is a measure of a coun- connection to markets for both men and (ITC), an organization with long experience
try’s economic viability and progress. Access women. But, although trade rules are gen- in the field of trade and gender that has been
to resources and economic opportunities for erally intended to be gender-neutral, inter- able to collect valuable information and data,
women and girl – and the knowledge to make national trade and trade liberalization can in addition to analysis in the field.
use of these – enables strategic choices that can effect men and women differently. The OECD is an organization with a
lead to positive change. Gender-based inequali- clear strength in cross-sectoral analysis. A
ties impose significant development costs on GENDER-AGGREGATED DATA welcome addition to what other organiza-
societies: they reduce the growth potential, the To ensure women’s equal access to global trade tions are doing is therefore the growing inter-
productivity and the performance of the econ- markets, this dimension needs to be integrated est in the OECD to deepen its analysis also on
omy as a whole. Economic data tells us that into discussions on international trade and trade and gender. The World Bank Develop-
countries in which more women participate trade policy, whether they take place at the ment Report from 2012 on gender equality
in the labour market enjoy greater economic World Trade Organization, the United Nations and development was ground-breaking and
growth than countries that restrict the possibili- Conference on Trade and Development (UNC- we are looking forward to more analysis that
ties of women to work on equal terms as men. TAD) or the Organisation for Economic Coop- will contribute to deepened understanding in
In the case of Sweden, women’s eco- eration and Development (OECD). the trade and gender nexus.
nomic empowerment and participation in A challenge is the slow progress regard- In April, Minister for Foreign Affairs
the labour force were made possible mainly ing gender analysis, which is as complex as Margot Wallström, Minster for International
through three reforms: the abolition of the it is crucial. Getting an accurate picture will Development Cooperation Isabella Lövin and
joint taxation system, the expansion of enable us to design policies and measures in myself will host the Stockholm Forum on
publicly-funded affordable child and elderly a way that favours women’s empowerment Gender Equality. This will cover critical issues
care, and the reform of the parental insur- and well-being, and at the same time avoids and seek common solutions around human
ance that allows mothers and fathers to take increasing gender inequality and mitigating rights, representation and access to resources
parental leave on equal terms. existing disparities. for women and girls. Participants from civil
Unfortunately, the UN estimates that society, private sector, governments and aca-
TRADE AND GENDER EQUALITY there are currently only available and reli- demia will gather to exchange experiences,
As trade minister I wish to see that trade able data to follow up a mere one-third of methods and strengthen dialogue. It will also
contributes to growth and jobs. It would be the global targets. be an opportunity to experience the feminist
provocative to say that I want this to hap- Add gender-specific data and the situa- perspective in Swedish foreign policy during
pen just for men. But in practice this could tion is even worse. Only a third of the world’s recent years.
be the case. The problem is that we do not nations gather data that makes it possible to For more information on the Stockholm Forum on
always know whether the actions or policies measure and understand women’s and girls’ Gender Equality, please visit genderqualworld.com.
we discuss or decide upon are as beneficial economic situation. Hundreds of millions of
for women as they are for men. women and girls are still invisible.
Because the link between trade and gen-
der is complex and to a large extent depend PARTNERSHIPS
on national circumstances. The effects can go Governments and relevant international 1. Sweden has benefited economically from high women
both ways. Trade and trade liberalization can organizations need to give priority to further participation in the workforce.
affect equality, but the equality situation in a analysis and collecting statistical data that is 2. SheTrades champions: Sweden’s Trade Minister Ann
country may also affect its ability to trade. gender-differentiated. Linde and ITC Executive Director Arancha González.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 17SPECIAL REPORT
Calling time on the digital gender divide
DOREEN BOGDAN-MARTIN, Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, International Telecommunication Union
Empowering women in the tech sector creates ideas, role models
© ITU
W e live in a world in which the near-
ubiquity of information and commu-
nication technology (ICT) and rapid
What’s more, instead of liberating women
by opening up a new world of previously
unavailable possibilities, it is all too often
More than 25 years since the invention
of the World Wide Web, we face a
advances in areas like robotics and artificial perpetuating and even reinforcing tradi- gender digital divide that is actually
intelligence are shaping the evolution of just tional gender stereotypes. getting wider in the very parts of the
about every other economic sector. More than 25 years since the invention world where access to technology
could make the most difference.
The technology sector is brimming of the World Wide Web, we face a gender
with almost limitless opportunities. But digital divide that is actually getting wider in
regrettably for such a new industry it has the very parts of the world where access to least developed countries (LDCs) that gap
inherited some pretty old problems. In Sili- technology could make the most difference. balloons to 30% or more. Aggregated across
con Valley today women hold fewer than In Africa, the proportion of women countries, that adds up to some 250 million
one in five tech jobs and fewer than one in using the internet is 25% lower than that of fewer women globally with access to the
10 senior positions at the leadership level. men. In the 47 United Nations-designated online world.
18 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018© ITU
© ITU
Inclusion can only be effective and
meaningful when there is awareness
of the benefits of connectivity, the
skills and confidence to exploit it
and affordable, attractive content that
meets women’s needs.
SCIENCE GAP
The gender digital divide extends even fur-
ther. Since the 1980s, when computer sci-
ence courses first appeared on university
curricula, the number of young women
choosing to study ICT degrees has been in
steady freefall.
Today, fewer than one in five com-
puter science graduates in Organisation of
Economic Co-operation and Development EQUALS a data-gathering and analysis effort which
(OECD) countries is female. Fewer than Together with founding partners UN seeks to fill the many data gaps that currently
one in six app developers is a woman or girl. Women, the GSM Association (the mobile impede effective evidence-based policy-mak-
Only 17% of all ICT jobs are held by women industry body), the International Trade ing in the area of technology and gender.
and women who choose to join the ICT sec- Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Clearly, the primary aim of EQUALS
tor are leaving it in droves, with fewer than University, we launched EQUALS, a collabo- targets SDG 5 – ‘Achieve gender equality
1% of female ICT graduates still working in rative global multi-stakeholder initiative that and empower all women and girls’ – but the
the sector after five years. brings together nearly 60 partners from pri- EQUALS founding partners believe it goes
Research indicates that the problem vate companies, government departments, much deeper than that. Just as technology
spreads its roots at an early age: despite per- regulatory agencies, non-governmental has become crucial to the achievement of
forming at least as well as boys in mathe- organizations (NGOs) and academia. all 17 SDGs, so gender equality and gender
matics and science, by age 15 far fewer girls EQUALS is dedicated to promoting gen- empowerment are fundamental to creating
(4.7%) than boys (18%) say they are plan- der balance in the technology sector by cham- the world we want. To paraphrase a popu-
ning a career in computing or engineering. pioning equality of access, skills development lar slogan, none of us can be equal until all
At the other end of the skills spectrum, uni- and career opportunities for women and men of us are equal. That is why we are striving
versity employment figures show that only alike. With grassroots collaboration at its heart, towards with EQUALS and we are delighted
slightly more than 20% of tenured staff in it’s about leveraging the power of partnership; to be working alongside such a dynamic
computing and information-science depart- amplifying results through collective strategies partner as ITC to achieve 50:50 gender par-
ments are women. Within the tech sector and programmes; coordinated policymaking; ity by 2030.
itself, many women complain of a toxic, and shared successes that can be adapted and We all lose without women’s partici-
testosterone-centric culture that underval- replicated in new contexts. pation in digital technology development
ues women’s contribution and limits their By promoting awareness, building and access to digital technology resources.
ability to get ahead. political commitment, pooling resources, Inclusion can only be effective and meaning-
Predictably, perhaps, the result is a exchanging knowledge and harnessing the ful when there is awareness of the benefits
dearth of female role models to inspire different skills and capacities of our mem- of connectivity, the skills and confidence
younger generations and a substantial bers, EQUALS is striving to reverse the digital to exploit it and affordable, attractive con-
gender pay gap that many in the industry gender divide and close the gender gap by tent that meets women’s needs. EQUALS
privately acknowledge but are reticent to 2030, supporting United Nations Sustainable is about generating fresh investment and
discuss. Development Goal (SDG) 5 by empowering exciting, creative public-private collabora-
ITU has called time on the status quo. women through their use of technology. tion models to unlock the power of ICT
After several years of campaigning for gen- To address the three core issues of connectivity and fast-forward progress on
der equality in the tech sector through ini- access, skills and leadership, EQUALS has the SDGs.
tiatives including Girls in ICT Day and the set up three dedicated coalitions. Its partners
annual GEM-Tech technology awards, we can choose to get involved in the work of any
1. In Silicon Valley women hold fewer than one in five tech
decided in 2016 to scale up global advo- or all of them, depending on their areas of jobs.
cacy by joining forces with other commit- expertise and interest. To support the work of 2. In Africa, the proportion of women using the internet is
ted international organizations with a strong these coalitions, the United Nations Univer- 25% lower than that of men.
track record on gender issues. sity is leading the EQUALS Research Group, 3. Closing the digital gender gap is crucial.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 19SPECIAL REPORT
In Vanuatu, ‘market mamas’
are taking care of business
SIMON HESS, Coordinator, and DEANNA RAMSAY, Communications Officer, Enhanced Integrated Framework
Women entrepreneurs are helping to restore island nation’s economy
after the ravages of Cyclone Pam
© EIF / José Carlos Alexandre
T he island nation of Vanuatu is sur-
rounded by bright blue ocean, so it
should come as no surprise that tour-
part by the hands of women whose liveli-
hoods depend on tourism dollars.
Rosalie Vatu is a so-called ‘market
Where the new beautification is at
the moment I always love to sit there
ism makes a hefty contribution to the coun- mama’, an arts and crafts trader who sells looking over the horizon. It means
try’s economy. That model was disrupted assorted items ranging from t-shirts and a lot to us. It’s a beautiful site.
in March 2015 when Cyclone Pam struck, baskets to carvings and colourful dresses.
devastating the country and its tourism- Her day starts at 4 a.m. making coconut Handicrafts, a cooperative of more than
dependent income. Its recovery from that crème rolls for a shop down the road. She 30 women who sell and promote products
natural disaster has been assisted in no small is also the founder of Bulvanua Arts and made in Vanuatu.
20 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018© EIF / José Carlos Alexandre
© EIF / José Carlos Alexandre
TOURISM ECONOMY restoring the local economy and the futures
Over the last decade the country has of Vanuatu’s entrepreneurs. Profits were leaving the country
become an increasingly popular tourist des- ‘We were convinced that the new as quickly as they arrived. The key
tination, with its number of international seafront could provide an opportunity to to retaining the benefits of tourism
visitors growing by 42% and its tourism sec- better showcase local goods to tourists and was to be found in sourcing local
products and presenting these
tor employing 55% of Vanuatu’s total labour provide much-needed stimulus to the local
to tourists, preferably outside the
force. Tourism represents nearly two-thirds economy,’ Luen said. hotel environment.
of GDP.
However, increased tourism has been SEAFRONT DEVELOPMENT
a mixed blessing for some entrepreneurs. With the help of the New Zealand govern- seafront and are contacting him for orders,
Foreign-owned hotels have sprung up across ment in partnership with the Enhanced he now has enough income to send his
the main island, luring tourists to spend the Integrated Framework, in September 2017 daughter to school,’ Luen said.
majority of their time and money in those Vanuatu completed and launched its new In her efforts to better connect local
spaces rather than in local markets. seafront development, now an enticing and producers with traders, Vatu, who started
According to Willie Luen, Principal attractive area for locals and visitors alike. selling goods to visitors in 2003, is already
Trade Development Officer at Vanuatu’s The mamas’ handicrafts market was seeing change.
Department of Tourism, to be competitive, rebuilt with added power and internet ‘[Tourists] are no longer going back to
many of the traders began to rely on access and the women are back in the the shops where all the imported products
more cheaply priced imports, which then centre of town selling creative artisanal are,’ she said. ‘I see the opportunities that
depressed Vanuatu’s own production. work, brightly coloured dresses and woven men and women of Vanuatu can do out of
’Profits were leaving the country as bags and baskets from the outer islands. the local resources around them. With busy
quickly as they arrived. The key to retaining In the process, they are generating hands, they can create something to help
the benefits of tourism was to be found in stronger linkages between tourists and Vanuatu to build its economy.’
sourcing local products and presenting these Vanuatu-made products and services. There is a lot more on the horizon for
to tourists, preferably outside the hotel As tourist arrivals increase by a Vatu with her business acumen, as well
environment,’ Luen said. projected 36% and the mamas pivot towards as the others playing a role in boosting
For Vatu and her fellow market mamas, local producers, a supply chain is developing local livelihoods and, with that, Vanuatu’s
the opportunity to boost their own businesses that links the country’s many artisans to economic recovery.
and that of people producing island-made eager buyers at the new seafront, with the ‘Where the new beautification is at the
items came with the redevelopment plans promise of improving the lives of people moment I always love to sit there looking
for Vanuatu’s storm-damaged seafront. way beyond seaside kiosks. over the horizon,’ Rosalie said. ‘It means a
Cyclone Pam had damaged or The impact on the lives of ordinary lot to us. It’s a beautiful site.
destroyed 90% of the buildings on Vanuatu’s people has been marked, Luen said. He
main island and that included the market speaks of a highly visible change at least
infrastructure and ports. partly owing to the increased income from
‘We had to relocate temporarily and tourism: new and better houses, schools
1. Rosalie inspects a building in Port Vila destroyed by
during that time it was really sad for us filling with children and markets, specifically Cyclone Pam.
because we lost our businesses,’ Vatu said. the thriving Port Villa Seafront. 2. Rosalie weaves a basket.
That meant the government’s post- ‘One of the carvers recently told me 3. It’s 4 a.m. and Rosalie is up making coconut
cyclone reconstruction plans were critical to that because people see his works on the crème rolls.
FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018 | 21SPECIAL REPORT
Women are key to achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals
CATHRINE G. JAHNSEN, Executive Programme Manager, Virke
Promoting trade as a tool for the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development
© Virke
N
orway has a long history of dedicated Achieving Goal 5 – empowering all
policy for achieving gender equality in women and girls – of the 2030 Agenda Women’s participation in the
the workplace. Virke, the Enterprise on Sustainable Development is crucial for workforce plays a crucial part in
Federation of Norway, is a strong supporter improving all parts of society. At Virke we much-needed sustainable economic
of this agenda and believes it should be consider inclusion of business – and espe- growth and welfare – in Norway and
elsewhere.
duplicated in development policies. Paid cially the service sectors – a necessary part
work is an important part of transforming of the solution. There is no doubt that inter-
from the notion that women are somehow national trade is a prerequisite for sustaina- imports from developing countries and
an economic burden to an equal contributor. ble economic growth and thereby increased emerging economies. A central part of this
Indeed, women’s participation in the work- human welfare. effort has been on promoting ethical trad-
force plays a crucial part in much-needed Every day, Virke works to promote sus- ing in compliance with international recog-
sustainable economic growth and welfare – tainable economic growth and increased nized conventions with partners home and
in Norway and elsewhere. welfare through free trade and increased abroad. For example, in 2000, we were one
22 | FORUM ISSUE 1 | 2018You can also read
