Women and trade

September 21, 2021 - Deanna Ramsay

Women-run businesses getting a boost in Rwanda and Zambia

Small businesses are receiving support to access much-needed finance

September 07, 2021 - Deanna Ramsay

In Lesotho, looking to expand from farming

Support efforts include new tools, from the tangible to the abstract

August 19, 2021 -

Shea is trading in French-speaking Africa

The multimillion-dollar shea industry is booming in French-speaking Africa. With the right support, there is a lot of room for the sector to grow and for rural women to benefit.

June 22, 2021 - Annette Ssemuwemba

A year of digitalization for women entrepreneurs?

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the trade ecosystem for women in the developing world

May 25, 2021 - Deanna Ramsay

Striving to take the local handicrafts of northern Lao PDR global

More training, more links to buyers of rural arts means more income for women

February 04, 2021 - Emeline Wuilbercq

Pay cuts and forced overtime: COVID-19 takes heavy toll on Ethiopia's garment workers

Originally published by Thompson Reuters Foundation News on 22 December 2020

December 15, 2020 - Global Shea Alliance

On augmenting Togo’s shea industry

Public-private partnership to boost incomes in shea.

December 01, 2020 - Dr. Fahmida Khatun

Access to finance is crucial for women entrepreneurs

In Bangladesh, COVID-19 is impacting the female labour force more

October 05, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

For women in business in The Gambia and Zambia, making all the right moves

Breaking ground with new ideas and new partnerships in two African countries

October 01, 2020 - Maria Sokolova

On the role of women trade trainers

In trade for development, more female trainers could make a big difference

September 30, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

Investing in The Gambia’s small businesses

Artisan handbag maker taking her enterprise forward, and receiving new financing

September 29, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Women at the Rwanda border

Country's cross-border traders persevere despite COVID-19 challenges

September 07, 2020 - Stephanie Barrientos, Charlotte Pallangyo

Building back equitably: Spotlight on women workers in global value chains

Women workers in global value chains have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

July 29, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Making it faster and easier for South Asian women to take businesses online

Recently launched ecommerce training program and portal will help hundreds of women entrepreneurs in South Asian LDCs become part of regional and global supply chains.

July 21, 2020 - Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Müge Dolun, Carmen Schuber, Nicolas Schmidt

Industries post-COVID-19: A gender-responsive approach to global economic recovery

Women’s specific needs and potential as leaders and agents of change must be considered for COVID-19 mitigation and recovery measures.

July 02, 2020 - Candice White

Making trade facilitation gender sensitive

New tool offers actions to tackle the barriers to trade that women face

July 01, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

How to tackle least developed countries' gender gaps in tech use and data

Originally published by Devex on 10 March 2020

June 25, 2020 - Global Shea Alliance

Seeing the silver lining in shea - Kora’s story

Shea is critical to the income of rural communities, and a new effort across four shea-producing countries in West Africa is looking to boost those incomes

June 15, 2020 - Violeta Gonzalez Behar, Houria Djoudi

Protecting trees, empowering women, ensuring incomes – suggestions for a just shea story

How to ensure the women who collect shea benefit from being part of the global marketplace

May 25, 2020 - Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba

How women in developing countries can harness ecommerce

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 April 2020

April 20, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Young designer shaking up Gambia’s fashion industry

Taking traditional African prints and making them modern, a female entrepreneur is aiming to go global – armed with the right business tools

April 09, 2020 - Trudi Hartzenberg

COVID-19 in Africa – some reflections on trade matters

Poverty, inequality and exclusion are key factors contributing to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on all African countries.

March 30, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

In Niger, creating promise in leather

March 02, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

Hanna Norberg: On instigating a new, and growing, trade community

The Trade Experettes founder discusses the blossoming global network of female experts from ‘all walks of trade’

November 18, 2019 - Michelle Kovacevic

Women bringing home the goods at international textiles trade fair

Opportunities and challenges abound for Zambia entrepreneurs eyeing new markets

November 11, 2019 - Michelle Kovacevic

From kitchen to boardroom: One woman’s story of business success

In Zambia, a sweet idea spurs entrepreneurship

October 29, 2019 -

Talking trade, and making 'Made in Vanuatu'

See how Vanuatu is recovering from the effects of Cyclone Pam, and how one handicrafts seller is striving for "Vanuatu made" to become the norm.

October 22, 2019 - Deanna Ramsay

Ann Linde: Talking aid for trade, global growth and making trade deals happen

Then Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade, Ann Linde (now Minister for Foreign Affairs) discusses supporting developing country exports and the need to close the gender gap

September 23, 2019 - Deanna Ramsay

Isatou Touray: On getting good data, shaping gender-responsive policies and unleashing women in business

On the sidelines of the Aid for Trade Global Review 2019, The Gambia’s Vice President discusses the potential of women in trade

September 18, 2019 - Amelia Kyambadde, Ratnakar Adhikari

Unleashing the power of women to transform the world’s poorest countries

Originally published by Thomson Reuters Foundation News on 11 September 2019

September 09, 2019 - Deanna Ramsay

Anne Kabahuma Kalinzi: Pushing for local handicrafts, readying for global business

Empowerment and markets are on this Ugandan woman’s agenda

July 01, 2019 - Deanna Ramsay, Violeta Gonzalez Behar

4 ways to empower women in the world's poorest countries

Originally published by World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 June 2019

June 25, 2019 - Marianne Musumeci, Kaori Miyamoto

Strengthening the gender dimension of aid for trade in the least developed countries

Aid for trade can support women’s economic empowerment, which is key to sustainable development.

April 04, 2019 - Michelle Kovacevic, Violeta Gonzalez Behar

Friendship across borders: When trade brings peace

Businesswomen creating a united front in Rwanda and the DRC

March 23, 2019 - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

New initiative aims at transforming economic lives of women in Least Developed Countries

TOKYO – 23 MARCH 2019 – Across the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), women continue to face constraints that limit their participation in trade.

December 13, 2018 - Michelle Kovacevic

Speaking from the heart: Empowering women to share business ideas

EIF has been working with hundreds of entrepreneurs for the past few years, to help them build and implement strategies for brand promotion, participate in regional and international trade fairs, improve in processing capabilities and value addition as well as provide support to cooperatives

December 07, 2018 - Deanna Ramsay

Monique van Daalen: On women, better business and Rwanda’s trade landscape

Following a recent visit to Rwanda with EIF, Netherlands Ambassador to the WTO and LDC Sub-Committee Chair Monique van Daalen discusses seeing the country’s cross border trade efforts in person, as well as the country’s policy in action

October 26, 2018 - Deanna Ramsay

In Zambia, enhancing women’s economic horizons

Launch of country’s SheTrades initiative to focus on agriculture and textile industries

August 13, 2018 - Deanna Ramsay

Ibrahima Sittina Farate: As one woman innovates, a nation’s exports set to bloom

In Comoros, an essential oils doyenne has plans for her country’s unique yields

July 17, 2018 -

Dragons' Den: Bright ideas for inclusive trade development in LDCs

Representatives from LDCs had the unique opportunity to pitch new investment opportunities that support inclusive trade to the experts, and received immediate feedback

Participants at the "Talking trade strategies for small businesses, women and youth" panel at the Global Forum on Inclusive Trade for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), held from 13-14 June 2018, hosted by EIF at the WTO. ©Jan Turnbull/EIF

July 13, 2018 -

Talking trade strategies for small businesses, women, and youth

This session gathered ministers from LDCs and global leaders to discuss implementation of trade strategies and national-level plans in light of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

July 09, 2018 - Deanna Ramsay

Princess of Burkina Faso Abze Djigma: On the need to support small businesses in LDCs, and good finance

We need to be in the driver's seat of economic growth because it's important for us and for the next generation, and is the right pathway to trade with other countries. It's my duty to start doing some of the homework to facilitate trade

June 07, 2018 - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

Women & Trade Magazine

In this issue: "Samoa's coconuts go global," "Taking female-led businesses from local to global," and "Women at the helm of Senegal's mango industry"

April 29, 2018 - Daria Shatskova

OECD event parses unleashing the potential of women and youth

On 5 April the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) opened its doors to welcome over 500 participants, including government officials, private sector, civil society and academia, to brainstorm on what needs to be done to empower 4.6 billion women and youth worldwide.

March 20, 2018 - Simon Hess, Deanna Ramsay