African Union Commission: Women and youth pivotal to AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has long been seen as a game-changer for trade on the continent, but concerns have been raised regarding the inclusivity of the agreement, especially for women and youth traders who are predominantly in the small and medium enterprise space. In a recent interview on CNBC Africa, Dr. Monique Ensanza-Vaganoa, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, addressed these concerns and shed light on the efforts being made to ensure that women and youth become the engines of trade in Africa. Dr. Ensanza-Vaganoa highlighted the fact that women in trade on the African continent are mostly in the small and medium business sectors, with a strong presence in informal markets and sectors such as agriculture and services. Traditionally male-dominated sectors like construction, mining, and transport are slowly seeing a shift towards inclusivity, but there is still a concentration of women in agriculture and services. One of the key criticisms of the AfCFTA has been its perceived focus on benefiting big businesses and neglecting women and youth traders. However, Dr. Ensanza-Vaganoa emphasized that the AfCFTA is inherently inclusive and is designed to benefit everyone, including women and youth. She mentioned that there is a protocol for women and youth in trade being negotiated to ensure their active participation and protection within the trading landscape. Addressing the barriers faced by women and youth traders, Dr. Ensanza-Vaganoa cited issues such as limited access to productive resources, including financial resources and land, as well as challenges related to information access, opaque policies, and lack of inclusion in decision-making processes. Peace and security concerns across borders, complex business processes, certification hurdles, and inadequate infrastructure were also highlighted as significant obstacles. In response to these challenges, Dr. Ensanza-Vaganoa outlined some possible solutions to facilitate easier trade for women and youth. These solutions included focusing on growth and production to support resilient economies, improving access to finance through development financial institutions and digital financial services, enhancing the regulatory environment for doing business, and harmonizing standards and procedures across the continent. Furthermore, Dr. Ensanza-Vaganoa emphasized the importance of leveraging emerging technological innovations to drive trade under the AfCFTA. She mentioned the negotiation of a digital trade protocol and the promotion of digital payment systems, e-commerce, and other tech-enabled solutions to facilitate the movement of goods and services. The integration of digital elements was seen as essential for the full operationalization of the AfCFTA and for empowering women and youth traders. In conclusion, the interview with Dr. Monique Ensanza-Vaganoa provided valuable insights into the efforts being made to unlock the potential of women and youth in African trade through the AfCFTA. By addressing the challenges and barriers faced by these traders and proposing concrete solutions, the African Union Commission is striving to create a more inclusive and empowering trade environment that benefits all stakeholders, regardless of gender or age.