Abstract:
Trade Facilitation Office Canada (TFO Canada), with the financial assistance of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the technical support of TFO Canada Dr. Yiagadeesen Samy (Director, Normal Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University) and regional research organizations- Centre for Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) and Mekong Institute (MI), worked in partnership and implemented an innovative initiative to produce research on trade and women’s economic empowerment, build capacity of stakeholders and disseminate knowledge on women’s inclusion in trade. The research project ‘’Women in trade Knowledge Platform to Boost Inclusive and Sustainable Growth’’ has completed its third year in December 2022 and met its objectives. The objective of the research project is to examine the relationship between trade and job creation for women, and the extent to which these jobs contribute to women’s economic empowerment. The research project uses both original survey data and qualitative methods to answer the following research questions as they relate to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs): 1). Why – and under what circumstances – do some trade sectors create more jobs for women and others do not? 2). To what extent are the jobs created contributing to women’s economic empowerment? 3). What strategies and policies are needed to ensure these sectors work optimally? The project focused on six developing and least developed countries (LDCs) in South-East Asia: Cambodia and Vietnam and Sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Madagascar.
