Imagine a female entrepreneur navigating border crossings daily, facing not just complex customs procedures but also security risks and inadequate infrastructure. How can these barriers be dismantled to ensure trade benefits all participants, particularly women who often face greater challenges? The collaboration between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Togo's Revenue Authority (OTR) aims to create a fairer, safer, and more efficient trading environment.
Strategic Partnership: Gender Equality in West Africa Security Project
From September 16-20, 2024, WCO and OTR conducted a week-long Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) monitoring mission in Lomé, Togo. This initiative forms a crucial component of the West Africa Security Project (WASP), a partnership between WCO and the German Federal Customs Administration funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office. WASP enhances trade security and facilitation across West Africa through customs capacity building, with gender equality as a key dimension.
Action Plan: Multi-Faceted Approach to Empower Women Traders
During the monitoring mission, WCO teams engaged in intensive discussions with OTR departments about the draft GED Action Plan developed under WASP's capacity-building framework. The plan outlines strategic measures to eliminate gender barriers in trade:
- Enhanced External Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with government agencies and women's trade associations
- Gender Awareness Training: Educating customs officials about gender-sensitive approaches
- Border Infrastructure Improvements: Creating safer, more inclusive facilities addressing women's specific needs
- Streamlined Clearance Processes: Simplifying procedures to reduce delays and costs
National Workshop: Engaging Stakeholders
A joint national workshop facilitated dialogue between customs officials and trade stakeholders, attracting representatives from Togo's Ministry of Commerce, Foreign Trade Office, and West African Cross-Border Food Trade Association, along with over 50 micro, small, and medium enterprise traders—predominantly women.
Key discussion topics included:
- How trade facilitation measures can promote gender equality
- Opportunities under WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement and African Continental Free Trade Area
- Detailed explanations of customs import/export procedures
Addressing Security Concerns
The workshop specifically examined safety measures for women traders:
- Increasing female border officials to better serve women traders
- Preventing harassment and gender-based violence at borders
- Combating illicit and hazardous goods trafficking
- Ensuring compliance with international standards
- Developing gender-sensitive infrastructure including rest areas and sanitation facilities
Policy Recommendations for Gender-Inclusive Trade
The collaboration yielded several policy proposals:
- Developing comprehensive gender-sensitive trade policies
- Expanding training programs for women traders and customs staff
- Modernizing border infrastructure with women's needs in mind
- Creating information-sharing platforms about trade regulations
- Establishing monitoring mechanisms to evaluate policy effectiveness
Case Study: Transforming One Trader's Experience
Aisha, a Togolese textile merchant, previously faced lengthy delays, unfriendly customs treatment, and safety concerns during cross-border trips. After WCO-OTR interventions, she now experiences faster clearances, improved official interactions, and better facilities including women's rest areas. Participation in trade association programs has further enhanced her business skills and networks.
International Cooperation for Inclusive Trade
Togo's experience offers valuable lessons for developing nations. The WCO facilitates knowledge-sharing about gender-inclusive trade practices across borders, demonstrating how international collaboration can create fairer global trading systems.
Gender equality isn't merely an ethical imperative—it's an economic catalyst. By removing trade barriers facing women, nations can unlock significant growth potential. The WCO-OTR partnership exemplifies how policy innovation and international cooperation can create more equitable commercial opportunities.