The need for gender mainstreaming in trade policies lies in the need to recognise trade’s differentiated impacts on men and women in the economy. Trade affects women differently depending on their role in the economy, and trade policies can also affect gender equality in various ways — such as through changes in growth and employment opportunities, competitive pressures, access to resources and services, and changes in trading rules. The main aims of the ECOWAS Community are “to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations among Member States …” (ECOWAS Revised Treaty, 1993). Article 63 of the ECOWAS Treaty on “Women and Development” provides that Member States undertake to formulate, harmonize, co-ordinate and establish appropriate policies and mechanisms for the enhancement of the economic, social and cultural conditions of women.
ECOWAS Plan of Action on Gender and Trade
Over the years the links between gender and trade have received little attention and the gendered effects of trade were initially ignored because of the assumed gender neutrality of economic policies. Gender sensitivity is vital to economic growth, trade and development.
However, most national trade policies have been formulated without due consideration to their gendered impacts. This situation undervalues women’s work and obscures their roles as economic actors, since women play many keys roles in the trading process as producers, employees, and consumers, in addition to reproducing and caring for the labour force. ECOWAS has a keen commitment to promoting inclusive and gender-responsive trade facilitation across the region.
