Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD) on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development and the University of Nairobi through the Women Economic Empowerment Hub (UON WEE Hub) an agreement that will see the three partners work jointly to support cross border traders along the border points.
The agreement will provide a room for collaboration on evidence-based policy advocacy to inform policy implementation, upscaling and graduating of best practices for women, youth, children and persons with Disability (PWDs) economic empowerment in Kenya with focus on cross-border trade.
Speaking during the ceremony, PS. State Department for East African Community, Dr. Kevit Desai said the overall goal of the initiative is to comprehend President Uhuru Kenyatta’s goals of ensuring that there is inter-connectivity with the EAC partner states. This he said will result into improvement of intra-trade that currently stands at 15%.
“This initiative brings about the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development, University
of Nairobi and Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development and it recognizes the need of facilitating the capacity of women cross border traders through incentives, creation of relationships and building of markets,” said the PS.
The PS added that the partnership will provide the government, private sector organizations, the civil society organizations and the academia with an opportunity to work together and transform the overall development of women, youth, PDWs in the cross-border trade.
Adding that the entry of the University of Nairobi will an added value in the partnership as they will be able to amplify trade through research and education.
Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development Executive Director, Masheti Masinjila, lauded the new
partnership, saying that the MOU agreement is an extremely important meeting point between the policies that are made and the women who have suffered traditional kind of disadvantages.
“This kind of collaboration is going to enhance what these women will practically see an improvement from the policies the government has put in place, the research the University is doing and regional kind of efforts,” said Masheti.
Adding: “The agreement will also look into increasing the accountability of stakeholders who are the people of the East Africa Community.’’
He pointed out that the Treaty establishing EAC, the Common Market Protocols, the Simplified Trade Regime are all very people centered, people friendly and they have huge ambition in terms of participation but stakeholders are the reference points in terms successful implementation.
The University of Nairobi Vice-chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, said the University will work through the Women Economic Empowerment Hub will work with the government and CCGD in addressing the barriers witnessed in trade within the EAC partners states with focus on women cross border traders.
“The Ministry, CCGD and the University are ready to work together to ensure that there is acceleration of trade in the EAC region,” said Prof. Kiama.
He added: “The University of Nairobi will bring the data decision making approach on table.’’
The tripartite agreement which will implemented within a span of three years will see the three institution collaborate in area of research, policy and monitoring and evaluation.
