Twenty-eight staff from COMESA Secretariat and its institutions have been trained on gender mainstreaming techniques to enhance application in the implementation of regional integration programmes. The training is also expected to strengthen institutionalisation and accountability mechanism for gender mainstreaming practice in COMESA.

Director of Gender and Social Affairs at COMESA, Mrs Beatrice Hamusonde, who organized the four-day hybrid training forum, said mainstreaming of gender is an obligation of all COMESA staff in line with the COMESA Treaty, which provides for the twin track approach to the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women.

“The full inclusion of women in all parts of society including the economy, is of utmost importance. Without the active participation of half of the population of our region, we will not reach the regional, continental and global goals on gender equality and empowerment of women,” she said.

Pursuant to this goal, the Secretariat has created a Gender Technical Working Group as a multisectoral approach to continue advocating for women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in all activities and programmes.

Over the years, COMESA Member States and institutions have also made commitments and directives to mainstream gender in all activities and to support initiatives on women in business. This has been done through Decisions of the Council of Ministers.

Staff from the Secretariat, COMESA Court of Justice, African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), and the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) participated.

The training workshop was conducted from 29 November to 2 December 2021 in Lusaka, Zambia and online.