For as long as gender inequalities persist in international trade and in the key industries that drive economic growth in the least developed countries (LDCs), women and girls will not benefit as much as men and boys. Such inequalities are often more present in the most overlooked parts of production – among informal traders, small and microenterprises, but also among individual suppliers of raw materials and workers – many of whom are women. 

This is why over 60% of beneficiaries supported via the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) are women, and why the EIF launched the Empower Women, Power Trade initiative in 2019. An independent evaluation sought to gauge progress in achieving economic justice for all in settings where both poverty and inequalities are most prominent.

Three key takeaways and lessons have emerged:

Firstly: A unique approach to women's economic empowerment and trade for the LDCs matters 

In the LDCs, the pathways toward women’s economic empowerment through trade may be longer or more complex, particularly for women working in the periphery of value chains, often as suppliers of raw materials or in lower-paid service jobs. Reaching international markets often starts with strengthening women’s positions in the domestic market, and investing in such pathways to markets has been important. 

For instance, 50 cooperatives were created through a larger regional EIF project implemented by the Global Shea Alliance, with a primary focus on women, who made up 98% of the over 35,000 beneficiaries across Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo. In addition to increasing incomes and enhancing skills in shea butter production and cooperative management, women reported gaining more respect in their communities and being able to contribute to family expenses. At a systemic level, these women went from working alone, collecting small amounts of nuts, and selling at a low prices, to joining formal cooperatives, enabling them to sell larger volumes at higher, contract-based prices. Research has shown that income from shea nuts is one of the few sources women directly control. However, further study is needed to understand its impact on total family income and women’s time poverty. 

It is easy to assume that supporting women-led or women-owned micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises automatically has positive ripple effects throughout the value chain, including for those women working on the periphery of the value chain or stuck in low-paying jobs. 

However, the evaluation shows that this cannot be taken for granted, as women face different barriers depending on their position in the value chain.  While, in general, projects were good at targeting the areas where women need support the most, this could be done even more strategically, consistently, and explicitly going forward. 

Secondly: In-country ownership is critical 

The launch of the Empower Women, Power Trade initiative by the EIF signaled the importance of addressing gender inequalities in trade in the LDCs, drawing on the experience and skills of external partners while still aligning strongly with national priorities. Brokering relations between external implementing partners and national processes has been a unique but sometimes challenging experience for the EIF.  One of the most important strengths of the initiative has been to let national governments lead, own and adapt gender-targeted initiatives to their specific contexts, in line with the EIF’s partnership model. 

In The Gambia, this approach has been reinforced by years of trust-building, beginning with the 2007 Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS). Over time, support has expanded to priority areas such as trade and the digital economy, productive capacity, and export opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The EIF partnered with the International Trade Centre's flagship programme, SheTrades, to help the government include a gender dimension into its trade promotion, as outlined in The Gambia’s development strategy and investment programme. This resulted in a highly institutionalized approach and strong national ownership in taking the agenda forward. 

A follow-up initiative for women horticulture producers built digital skills among a cohort of female small-scale producers while also setting up a digital platform to connect them with potential buyers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project used cheap and innovative solutions, such as a WhatsApp Bot pioneered by a Gambian information technology company. Called the Jokkalante Market Platform, the platform was run by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment as part of its support for small-scale farmers. It, amongst others, enabled direct contact between farmers and buyers, and helped provide efficient transportation solutions to ensure the timely delivery of agricultural goods, thereby removing a major hurdle for buyers collecting produce from micro-enterprises run by women. Strong ownership, ‘co-branding’ and government involvement in The Gambia helped legitimize the platform, which led to wider use. 

Thirdly: Using the leveraging potential and demonstration effects

The trust built over time between the EIF and national governments helped create an understanding of how efforts to promote women's economic empowerment were linked to prioritized economic development goals. This was particularly clear when gender was included as a cross-cutting area for the DTIS and subsequent updates, both in The Gambia and other LDCs. This also enabled some national partners to align donor support and attract additional resources. 

In Uganda, additional funds were leveraged to build on the network of women cooperatives established across the shea belt. After the initial EIF support, the Uganda Women’s Entrepreneurs Association secured a project specifically geared towards women's economic empowerment, with the goal of strengthening the economic resilience of 340,000 women. An unanticipated spin-off effect occurred in relation to the conservation of shea nut trees with a shift in community norms to protect the trees also taking place.

In sum, these three lessons from the evaluation tell us that a tailored approach, local ownership and leveraging resources can be fascinating catalysts for creating positive change and making trade an essential part of achieving economic justice for all.