Friday, 1st December 2023: – UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and the East Africa Business Council (EABC) have joined forces through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at fostering collaboration to advance gender equality and empower women in the business sector across East Africa.
The MOU, signed by representatives of both organizations, solidifies their commitment to collectively address gender disparities and enhance opportunities for women in various spheres of business, particularly in trade, policy advocacy, digital inclusion, capacity building, and research initiatives.
“UN Women is delighted to formalize this partnership with the East Africa Business Council,” stated Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, Country Representative of UN Women, Uganda. “This collaboration reflects our joint commitment to promote gender equality and provide tangible support to women entrepreneurs and business leaders in the region.”
T
he EABC, as a key regional body promoting trade and investment in East Africa, has continuously worked towards fostering an inclusive business environment. “We are proud to collaborate with UN Women to further our efforts in supporting women in business,” remarked John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of the East Africa Business Council. “This partnership aligns with our vision of enabling women’s participation in trade and economic activities, amplifying their voices, and creating sustainable opportunities.”
The MOU outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration between UN Women and EABC, covering various key areas of cooperation:
- Joint Resource Mobilization to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in trade initiatives.
- Advocacy and Policy Dialogue to influence gender-responsive trade, tax regimes, and investments.
- Advancing and Promoting Women in cross-border Trade and Business through innovative solutions and support.
- Digital Inclusion and Promotion of Gender Responsive E-Commerce, focusing on women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Capacity Building and Training programs for women entrepreneurs, encompassing entrepreneurship skills, financial management, leadership development, and market access.
- Research and Knowledge Management to identify challenges faced by women in business and inform policy interventions.
- Business Development Services providing mentoring, coaching, access to finance, and networking opportunities for women-owned enterprises.
- Awareness Raising Campaigns to change attitudes towards women traders and entrepreneurs.
- Partnership Building to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment across stakeholder networks.
The agreement also underscores the Parties’ commitment to exchanging information and documents, recognizing each other’s contributions publicly, and settling disputes amicably through established mechanisms.
The MOU will be effective for three years and is extendable by mutual agreement. Both UN Women and EABC are enthusiastic about the collaborative potential outlined in the agreement and anticipate substantial progress in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the business landscape across East Africa.
