A sub-regional workshop will be convened on 23 June 2022 in Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania, as the final activity of the component dedicated to women informal and small-scale cross-border traders under the inter-agency project “Global Initiative towards a post-COVID 19 resurgence of the MSME sector”. UNCTAD implemented this component of the project in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia.

Launched in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the inter-agency project was aimed at mitigating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis on MSMEs as well as strengthening the resilience and contribution of these enterprises to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The purpose of the sub-regional workshop is to launch the Impact Assessment Report of UNCTAD’s related activities, present the results of the trainings carried out at the borders, as well as to explore interventions to facilitate small-scale cross-border trade, especially for women, in a post-pandemic environment. Participants will include representatives from relevant ministries of the five participating countries, as well as representatives of cross-border trade associations. Regional economic communities, and international and regional organizations will also be represented (COMESA, EAC, SADC Secretariats, TMEA, UNECA and UNDP).

The programme and additional information related to the workshop will be posted on this website shortly.