Making Trade Work for Women in East Africa

Search for Common Ground (Search), with funding from TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), implemented the “Making Trade Work for Women” project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This project aimed to contribute to the greater inclusion of women in trade as one of the pathways to increased business competitiveness and increased trade in the East African Community.

To achieve these results, Search in collaboration with TMEA, targeted small-scale cross-border traders, members of Cross-border Trade Associations and Cooperatives (CBTAs), officials at border posts, and administrative authorities.

PERSONAL AGENCY POLARIZATION INSTITUTIONAL LEGITIMACY INVESTMENTS VIOLENCE

Peace Impact Framework

Outcomes of this project relate largely to Institutional Legitimacy (how institutions maintain trust from the people they are meant to serve), Investments (whether a society has the resources to support peace or conflict in the long term), Personal Agency (whether people believe they have the power to positively change their societies) and Violence (people’s personal and direct experience with violence) themes in the Peace Impact Framework.

Project start & end date

12/01/2020 - 12/01/2022

Objectives

  1. Improved environment (policy/regulation/institutional reforms) facilitating women's trade in East Africa.
  2. Increased formalisation and value of goods traded by targeted women in East Africa.
  3. Improved prevention and response to gender-based violence and harassment by targeted women traders in East Africa.

Peace Impact Framework Pillars

  • Lived Experience
  • Aligned Measures
  • Expert Observations

Lived Experience

500

people from the community were consulted

Aligned Measures & Project Indicators

Institutional Legitimacy

% of the population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive.
% of the population that are satisfied with services they seek from authorities.
% respondents who changed their behavior and attitude towards customs officials
% respondents who attest that border officials have complied with policies and regulations compared to 12 months ago
% cross border traders who think that laws/regulations are correctly applied in the decision-making process by officials
% cross border traders who think that information on laws/regulations is available to cross border traders
% women cross border traders who feel they can report GBV with confidence
% cross border traders who report having heard of a resource centre or suggestion box
% cross border traders who think that the resource centre and suggestion box are effective in preventing or reporting violations of women's rights
% surveyed cross border traders who report having received assistance or reparation when they were victims of GBV, rights abuse, harassment, conflict and others
% cross border traders satisfied with the assistance they received when using the resource centres

Investments

% targeted women traders who perceive a significant increase in their income
% women benefiting from opportunities in trade
% small traders who received funding for their small business

Personal Agency

% small traders who report an improvement in their social and economic autonomy
% respondents who believe they have sufficient knowledge to confidently defind their rights in the case of GBV or any other form of harrassment
% small traders who feel that the opportunities available are accessible

Violence

% cross border traders who said they felt safe
% reduction in GBV cases reported to resource centres
Indicates Aligned Measures