A delegation from the Mano River Union (MRU) recently completed a successful study tour of the ‘Busia One Stop Border Post’ (OSBP) between Kenya and Uganda, gathering valuable insights into efficient cross-border trade systems that specifically benefit women traders. This tour brought together women traders and border officials from Liberia and Sierra Leone, in collaboration with representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The Busia OSBPs, known as one of East Africa’s busiest border crossings, handles a high volume of traffic daily, with over 3,000 people and 900 vehicles crossing between Kenya and Uganda. Since its establishment in 2018, the facility has significantly improved trade efficiency and has played a crucial role in empowering women economically.
Nelly Maina, Principal Gender Officer at the African Development Bank, led the Bank delegation and highlighted the importance of structured trade facilitation and targeted support in driving economic empowerment for women in cross-border trade. She emphasized the need for collaboration with government agencies, provision of essential resources such as training and capacity building, and the development of inclusive policies tailored to address women’s specific needs.
The study tour was part of the African Development Bank-funded Building Inclusive Business Ecosystems for Stabilization and Transformation (BI-BEST) project, which aims to empower 1,500 women traders in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The project focuses on enhancing women’s participation in cross-border value chains to foster resilient economic growth and social cohesion.
During the tour, discussions were held with various stakeholders including Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the National AfCFTA Committee, TradeMark Africa, Busia Border management authorities, and local women cross-border traders. The women traders from Kenya and Uganda shared how the OSBP has facilitated their business operations across borders, enabling them to conduct trade seamlessly and efficiently.
The delegation from Sierra Leone and Liberia found the experience inspiring, noting the collaborative efforts between Kenyan women traders and security officials, as well as the management of businesses alongside childcare responsibilities. They expressed their intentions to share the lessons learned with their respective women’s associations back home.
The tour highlighted the importance of infrastructure and policy in creating a safer and more inclusive trade environment for women. For example, the establishment of a daycare center at the Busia OSBP has provided accessible and affordable childcare services for women traders, allowing them to focus on their trade activities without worrying about childcare responsibilities.
Overall, the Busia OSBP has transformed cross-border trade by simplifying trade regimes, providing accessible documentation, and offering facilities such as lactation rooms and secure storage spaces for women traders. Continuous sensitization efforts by the governments and private sector have also helped women traders become more informed about their rights and available resources, fostering a more inclusive trading environment.
The insights gained from the study tour will be applied within the MRU region to contribute to building an inclusive business ecosystem in West Africa.
This article was distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
