The Facilitating Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Trade (FIRST) project has officially been launched in Lusaka by representatives from the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Zambia.
The initiative, which will gobble 9.7 Million Canadian Dollars, is funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Cowater International.
Implemented in close partnership with these three countries, the five-year initiative (2024-2029) will strengthen small-scale cross-border trade by providing policy and institutional support to help implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and its Protocols on Women and Youth in Trade and Digital Trade.
Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce and Trade Permanent Secretary Lillian Bwalya said the initiative will improve the trading environment for small-scale cross-border traders, especially women, youth, and traders living with disabilities.
The FIRST project is built on three core pillars designed to create a more inclusive and accessible trading environment.
The initiative seeks to expand economic opportunities for women and other marginalised groups, including youth and persons with disabilities, by reducing trade-related discrimination and barriers in trade policy implementation.
The project also focuses on improving access for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises led by women, youth, and persons with disabilities to the benefits of inclusive and environmentally sustainable trade.
Finally, the project will strengthen the institutional capacity of Ministries of Trade and key stakeholders in the three countries to collect and disseminate trade-related data.
The representative from the Ministry of Economy, Mozambique, stated that Mozambique is ready to partner with the FIRST Project to address the barriers that restrict small-scale traders, particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities, through the implementation of a gender-responsive and inclusive trade policy.
Targeted capacity building and training will enable FIRST to benefit approximately 300,000 small-scale cross-border traders, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, on the Zambian and DRC side of the Kasumbalesa border crossing.
DRC’s Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary Jules Muilo noted that the FIRST Project is creating an enabling environment in the DRC for women, youth, and persons with disabilities in small-scale cross-border trade.
Local trader associations have also welcomed the project.
Cindy Kanungwe, Secretary of the Association of Women in Regional Cross-Border Trade of Kasumbalesa, said that they look forward to working closely with the FIRST project to address the barriers women face in cross-border trade, creating opportunities for growth and economic empowerment.
Corry van Gaal, Head of Office at the High Commission of Canada in Zambia, stated that despite the challenges faced by small-scale cross-border traders, including safe trading conditions, the resilience of women and youth in cross-border trade is inspiring.
The FIRST project, funded by the Government of Canada, is supporting women, youth, and persons with disabilities in DRC, Mozambique, and Zambia to leverage new trade and economic opportunities created through the AfCFTA.
