Fostering inclusive trade within the African Continental Free Trade Agreement

The adoption of the Protocol on Women and Youth by the African Union Assembly in February 2024 marks a significant milestone for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This protocol, along with the broader AfCFTA framework, has the potential to empower women as entrepreneurs, exporters, consumers and workers. The realization of this potential depends on the effective implementation of the Protocol, the ability of the state parties to address the unique challenges faced by diverse groups of women and youth, and the establishment of policies and frameworks that support an inclusive trade regime.

The AfCFTA is an ambitious initiative to create a single continental market for goods and services. To test the operational instruments of the AfCFTA and demonstrate how trade under the AfCFTA will be conducted, a Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) has been developed and is being implemented with a select number of participating countries that have met the minimum requirements for commencing trade under the Agreement. As intra-regional trade accelerates within the GTI, it is crucial to operationalize the Women and Youth Protocol as a vehicle for fostering inclusive trade.

This project will pilot the implementation of the Women and Youth Protocol through the development of guidelines and deep engagement with business associations (for micro, small and medium enterprises and women- and youth-owned businesses), private sector organizations and national policymakers to support the inclusive implementation of AfCFTA. The goal is to ensure that women and youth benefit equitably from AfCFTA as entrepreneurs (including aspiring and informal traders) and employees in participating firms under the GTI. The work will focus on four countries — Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa — to provide proof of concept and guidelines for promoting an inclusive trade agenda.