EABC, ITC partner to empower women SMEs

THE East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP), have launched an initiative to empower women entrepreneurs across East Africa to access new markets.

The initiative ‘SheTrades’ aims at advancing the competitiveness of womenled enterprises across East Africa.

The EABC Acting Executive Director, Mr Adrian Njau, underscored the critical role women entrepreneurs play in driving East Africa’s economic development hence supporting them will add more power to them to penetrate in the regional markets.

“Women-led enterprises are key to sustainable economic progress within the East Africa regions. “It is essential that we create enabling frameworks to unlock their full potential,” said Mr Njau last Friday during the webinar meeting.

He said SheTrades initiative, alongside the EU-funded MARKUP II programme are transformative platforms that address barriers women face, particularly in access to finance, digital tools and market reach.

The EU-funded MARKUP II programme alone has provided training, mentorship and funding to over 800 MSMEs across six East African countries, particularly in high-growth crops including coffee, cocoa, leather and horticulture.

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The webinar brought together more than 200 entrepreneurs, including women and business leaders to explore strategies for enhancing women’s participation in regional and global markets. It addressed numerous systemic challenges that hinder women’s economic empowerment, such as limited access to finance and digital tools and various solutions were brought up.

Among others, the role of partnerships in overcoming these challenges and the regional integration efforts like the AfCFTA will be crucial in further expanding market opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Africa.

The EAWiBP’s Chairperson, Ms Nancy Gitonga, underscored the significance of collaboration among stakeholders to empower women in trade.

“By working together, we can break down the barriers that hold back women entrepreneurs,” she said.

She commended ‘SheTrades’ for fostering a more inclusive business environment and creating pathways for women-led SMEs to succeed, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.

She told participants to utilise the tools provided through the programme to build resilience, improve business acumen and increase market connectivity. Additionally, the ITC/ MARKUP II Regional Coordinator Unity Ms Angel Becaty said that only a fifth of women-led MSMEs are currently exporting, highlighting the vast potential that the programme focuses on unlocking.

“Our goal is to help bridge these gaps by connecting women with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed on a global scale,” Ms Becaty said.

ITC is committed to expand technical training, networking events and digital skills development across East Africa.