Unleashing the development potential of Africa's women through African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)

Unleashing the development potential of Africa's women through African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)

Author: 
Sabela, Primrose Thandeka
Place: 
Oxon
Publisher: 
Taylor & Francis Group
Date published: 
2024
Record type: 
Responsibility: 
Masuku, Mfundo Mandla, jt. author
Mlambo, Victor H., jt. author
Journal Title: 
Journal of Contemporary African Studies
Source: 
Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Volume 42, No. 1 2024 pp. 1-17
ISSN: 
0258-9001 (Print); 1469-9397 (Online)
Abstract: 

This paper aims to analyse the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its potential to unleash the development of women in Africa. The envisaged benefits of the AfCFTA include increased trade diversification, regional integration, enhanced human security, increased foreign direct investment and technological advancement. Despite optimism about the prospects of the agreement as a local innovation spearheaded by the African Union, pessimists raise questions about the extent of stakeholder engagement. The agreement must be gender-responsive to enhance outcomes for women cross-border traders. The paper concludes that the lack of gender sensitivity confirms the need to address the specific needs of African women, especially those involved in informal cross-border trade. Hence, for AfCFTA, the policy focus should be on ensuring the formalisation of women who participate in informal trade, thus helping increase access to markets, information and growth opportunities.

Language: 
Country focus: 

CITATION: Sabela, Primrose Thandeka. Unleashing the development potential of Africa's women through African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) . Oxon : Taylor & Francis Group , 2024. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Volume 42, No. 1 2024 pp. 1-17 - Available at: https://library.au.int/unleashing-development-potential-africas-women-through-african-continental-free-trade-agreement