Addis Ababa, 15 March 2021, ECA – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) are jointly organizing a webinar on Wednesday 17 March to discuss women's role in small-scale cross-border trade in Africa.
The virtual event istaking place on the sidelines of the 65thCommission on the Status of Women (CSW), the main global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The topic for discussion is the future for women’s small-scale and informal cross-border traders in Africa, and it comes in response to the global health crisis, as countries in Africa introduced restrictive measures affecting the movement of people and merchandise.
“As has been the case with other shocks, women risk bearing the brunt of this pandemic,” the organizers said, adding: “A more tailored package of measures is needed.”
Speakers to discuss the topic are: Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director, Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Divisionof the ECA; Simonetta Zarrilli, Chief, Trade, Gender and Development Programme, UNCTAD; Nomagugu Ncube, Chief of Mission of International Organization for Migration in Zambia; Mariana Lopez, Senior Manager GSMA Connected Women Programme; and Goodson Mbewe, President of Cross-border Traders Association of Zambia.
Nadira Bayat, a gender and trade expert at the ECA will be moderating at the session.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +21 11 51 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org