by w.s. kamalandua presented at agoa civil society organizations forum. washington dc 12-15 june...
TRANSCRIPT
By W.S. Kamalandua
Presented at AGOA Civil Society Organizations Forum. Washington DC 12-15 June 2012
OUTLINE1. Position of women in economic activity
Women in Agriculture Women in Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT)
2. Positioning of Women in Economic Activity
3. The global economic crisis
4. Importance of trade
5. Recommendations for empowerment of wmn entrepreneurs
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Position of women in economic activityWomen and girls disadvantaged (transcends sectors).
Why Gender Inequality despite proliferation of interventions?—GI in access and control of resources
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Position of women in economic activityWomen largely operate SMME – retail
outlets, boutiques, restaurants, hair dressing, consultancy, handicraft stalls, horticulture and other agricultural activity.
Wmn in ICBT:Goods from country of origin - mainly
handcrafts: wooden products, leather shoes, traditional Jewellery, items from a variety of grasses, traditional attire, and traditional dried flowers.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Position of women in economic activityGoods from the country of destination – kitchen utensils, curtains, bedding, clothing, shoes, bags, second hand clothing, hair accessories, cosmetics, toys, computers and accessories, cell phones perfumes, sun glasses, umbrella, floor polish.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Position of women in economic activityVery few services traded by ICBTs- major service
traded is hair dressing.Profile of Traders:ICBT not only for unemployed wmnOffice assistants and professionals augment
incomesNature of Trade: Hawkers also include barteringICBT incomes an important source of livelihoodPoor support from Govt and other stakeholdersLack of harmonization of border policies
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Positioning of Women EntrepreneursCapacity gaps:- record keeping-interpretation of financial statements-understanding a business concern, ethics-business networks and skill transfer-contingency planning and ability to focus-understanding competition -innovation, value addition, diversification-market penetration and branding
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Positioning of Women EntrepreneursSPS and other TBTs
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
AGRICULTUREWomen > 40 percent of the labor force 3 to 20 percent of landholders. In Africa, wmn-owned enterprises approx 10% of
all businesses. wmn comprise < 20 % of the world’s legislators. Empowerment of wmn farmers with the same
access to land, new technologies and capital as men, can increase crop yields by as much as 30 percent and feed an additional 150 million people. (http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment)
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISISFinancial crisis (2008) – global economic meltdown-
loss of demand from international markets-loss of employment-fall in export revenues.
These changes may be expected to last for several years and to be uneven between men and women, industrial sectors and global regions. (Walby 2009)
Small business traders source their finances mainly from cooperative schemes and informal money lenders (exorbitant interest rates) - inflation rates have a bearing on the profitability of women’s trade.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISISIntegration into global markets does generate
uncertainties for women.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
TRADE AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Importance of trade: positive association between export share in state domestic product and the empowerment of women.(UNCTAD, 2009)
Study highlights important role of education in delivering holistic benefits from trade liberalization.
Employment opportunities have increased in export oriented sectors (average wages and profits improved)AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING
WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
TRADE AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSBroad based and sustained growth (efficient
resource allocation)Exchange of knowledge embodied in traded
goods & technological advancementIntensive use of abundant factors (focus on
endowments)Innovation can lead to development of other
areas of comparative advantage
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Recommendations for empowerment of wmn entrepreneurs Conducive policy environment
Positioning of women in business (may need affirmative action to level playing field)
Favourable national legislationEnhanced access to international
markets.Preferential access with built in
programmes for improved technical capacity.
Proper management of NTMsAGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
Recommendations for empowerment of wmn entrepreneursFocus on Sustainable Development and Green Economy in entrepreneurial activity – key for poverty eradication:Economic developmentSocial equityEnvironmental protection.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
OPTIMAL CASESpecific Interventions aimed at development of livelihood sources leveraging enhanced market access through trade liberalization and preferential arrangements that protect the environment, ensure high yields and equitable distribution of returns.
AGOA CSO Forum --EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTRPRENEURS TO GAIN FROM TRADE
SIYABONGA THANK YOU
MERCI