World's poorest countries integrating trade and development policy.

• Author: Naidoo, Indira

The Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries (EIF) brings together six international agencies to help least developed countries integrate trade capacity building in national development strategies.

Today, 33 countries have carried out studies to confirm the main trade constraints. These studies are a foundation for policy priorities, and less than five touch on gender-based trade constraints.

Dorothy Tembo, Executive Director of the EIF Secretariat, reflects on women's changing involvement in trade.

F: Since you've been involved in trade policy, what are the biggest changes you've witnessed in women's involvement in trade?

DT: I see the formation of women trade and business organizations, taking a lead on advocacy of issues of interest to women in trade and engaging policymakers. These organizations have also become part and parcel of the national, regional and multilateral consultative mechanisms.

F: How does your homeland, Zambia, fare in your assessment?

DT: Zambia, like many African countries, has felt the effects of not fully valuing the role of Zambian women in trade and the opportunity they offer in contributing towards poverty reduction. Much of Zambia's population remains female-dominated, and women run a large proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For a long time, the Government failed to recognize their importance and provide the right policy framework and incentives to give them a greater role in economic activities and developmental programmes.

This situation has changed in the last few years, with several programmes and activities being implemented or under implementation. A major step was the introduction of the Gender Unit, housed at Cabinet Office, which was subsequently followed by creating a Gender Ministry with a full Cabinet Minister. Following the institutionalization, a gender policy was drawn up and mainstreamed into the Fifth National Development Plan.

In the last two years the Government has been working on a Citizens' Economic Empowerment Scheme, which includes specific resource allocations for women and vulnerable groups.

While a tremendous effort has been made on the policy side, a lot remains to be addressed in ensuring that the policies are translated into action. In addition, the budget allocations for trade-related activities have to match.

F: What do you see as the greatest barriers to more women entering trade and export...