Beyond Barriers: The Gender Implications of Trade Liberalization in Southern Africa

The report argues that trade liberalization in Southern Africa has had mixed results for women, often failing to account for the informal economy where 70% of sub-Saharan African informal traders are women. It highlights that legal and institutional barriers are more restrictive than social norms and advocates for regional trade agreements (RTAs) to incorporate a 'gender perspective' and support informal cross-border trade rather than eradicating it.

• The impact of trade liberalization and economic globalization on women has been inconsistent; while it has improved empowerment and livelihoods in many instances, in others, the benefits for women have been marginal compared to men, or have actively worsened gender inequalities and social status.
• International trade agreements are criticized for using market-based criteria and net economic benefit measurements that ignore societal imbalances, leading to long-term inefficiencies. Specifically, Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) does not address women's rights.
• Women are predominantly engaged in the informal economy in Africa, with women making up approximately 70 per cent of informal traders in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, trade facilitation focused solely on the formal economy would affect a much smaller percentage of women.
• National, institutional, and legal hurdles are more significant obstacles to women's earning capacity than the social perpetuation of gender gaps.
• Regional trading arrangements (RTAs) are better suited for women as they provide access to familiar neighboring markets without requiring large export markets. The report suggests that RTAs should address the reality of informal cross-border trade and adopt supportive institutional measures rather than attempting to eradicate it.

APA

Roy,, S. K. (2010). Beyond Barriers: The Gender Implications of Trade Liberalization in Southern Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-barriers-gender-implications-trade-liberalization-southern-africa

Chicago

Roy,, Sheila Kiratu,Suryapratim. Beyond Barriers: The Gender Implications of Trade Liberalization in Southern Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-barriers-gender-implications-trade-liberalization-southern-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roy, |first1=Sheila Kiratu,Suryapratim |title=Beyond Barriers: The Gender Implications of Trade Liberalization in Southern Africa |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=25 February 2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-barriers-gender-implications-trade-liberalization-southern-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roy2010beyond, author = {Roy,, Sheila Kiratu,Suryapratim}, title = {{Beyond Barriers: The Gender Implications of Trade Liberalization in Southern Africa}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/beyond-barriers-gender-implications-trade-liberalization-southern-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }