Women entrepreneurs are emerging as key drivers of Africa’s economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), women account for about 70% of informal cross-border traders on the continent, while the World Bank estimates that full implementation of the AfCFTA could increase Africa’s exports by 29% and boost intra-African exports by more than 80% by 2035. Yet unlocking these opportunities will require greater access to finance, information, digital skills and simplified trade procedures.
As implementation of the AfCFTA accelerates, policymakers and development partners are placing women entrepreneurs at the centre of Africa’s trade agenda. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), women account for about 70% of informal cross-border traders on the continent. In this regard, the adoption of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade marks a significant step toward ensuring that women-owned businesses benefit from the continent’s single market while reducing longstanding barriers to participation in regional commerce.
“So if we allow women who are in the front lines, particularly in cross-border trade, if we are able to remove and lower the barriers for them, they can drive the momentum that is required behind this AFCFTA. But also, if women gain in terms of their business ambitions, what happens is that 80 to 90 % of their profits pluck back into social activities, education, health, nutrition. I think this is a factor that only women can claim”.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator & Regional Director for Africa – Nigeria
According to the World Bank, the full implementation of the AfCFTA could increase Africa’s exports by 29% and boost intra-African exports by more than 80% by 2035. However, significant challenges remain. Limited access to finance, inadequate market information, cumbersome border procedures and low levels of digital and financial literacy continue to constrain women-led enterprises. Officials say addressing these constraints requires coordinated action involving governments, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector rather than isolated interventions.
“We cannot address problems in isolation. We need to address in an integrated manner. When we talk about the different problems, that is; access to financing it means that we have to talk to banks, to DFIs, to insurers. When we talk about problems at the level of borders, it means that we also have to strengthen the capacities of custom administrations. When we talk about problems at level of training itself to really bring women, whether is in matter of digital literacy, or financial literacy, it means that we need partners who are able to participate in these programs that we really need to develop in an integrated manner”
Cynthia Gnassingbé-Essonam, Director of Private Sector Engagement and Communication, AfCFTA Secretariat – Togo
African countries are stepping up national implementation efforts to translate the AfCFTA into practical opportunities for women-owned businesses. In Nigeria, authorities are rolling out simplified trade guides, expanding awareness campaigns and preparing financial boot camps to equip women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to trade across African markets. Officials say the next phase of the agreement will be measured not by policy commitments, but by the number of businesses successfully trading under the AfCFTA.
Last year in April, we gazetted the provisional schedule of tariff concessions for trading goods, which signalled our readiness to extend and receive preferential rates under the AfCFTA. Quickly following that, we opened a new air cargo corridor between Nigeria and Uganda. We wanted to penetrate the East African market. Three weeks ago, we opened another air cargo corridor, this time with Rwanda, so we can get our goods into Rwanda and then down into the Southern Corridor. We’re currently in talks with Algier’s air because we want to penetrate so it’s not just having the document signed. Aside that, to address one of the concerns that was raised by one of the operators around information and education from Nigeria has, under the NAC office, undertaken what we call the P3 summit. P3 stands for public, private and press, and what we try to do is to simplify the AfCFTA architecture in bite sizes. Everyone understands it.
Patience Okala, National Coordinator, Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office – Nigeria
As the AfCFTA moves from negotiation to implementation, empowering women entrepreneurs is becoming essential to unlocking the agreement’s full potential. By removing barriers to finance, skills, market information and cross-border trade, African countries can ensure that women play a leading role in expanding intra-African trade, strengthening regional value chains and driving inclusive economic transformation.
