S2 | Ep1 "Launch of the #SheTrades Outlook Tool" with Vanessa Erogbogbo of the International Trade Centre

<p><strong>From Africa to the World: with Vanessa Erogbogbo</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Founder: she trades | Chief: Sustainable &amp; Inclusive Value Chains</strong></em></p> <p><strong>_________________________________</strong></p> <p>On the 7th July 2020, the International Trade Centre, a division of the World Trade Organisation launched SheTrades Outlook, a digital tool that allows governments and others to track progress on gender equality in trade, and progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 to empower all women and girls.</p> <p>In 2019, the World Bank Group released a report that stated that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, with approximately 42 percent of the non-agricultural labour force classified as self-employed or employers.</p> <p>Africa is also home to the world’s future. 19 of the top 20 youngest countries in the world are African. So, a focus on Africa’s women and girls are of paramount importance, not just for Africa, but to the world. Simply put, without Africa, the world has almost no future.&nbsp;</p> <p>UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said at the launch of the UK funded tool “Africa has the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs in the world, but many have not yet realised their full potential.”</p> <p>The project aims to increase the competitiveness of women-owned businesses in international trade, by improving the policy environment. According to the innovative digital tool, South Africa, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Samoa are among the countries that have designed leading policies that boost women's economic empowerment. In Africa, that is only 3 of 55 African states that assemble under the African Union. So, this is the first indication that we have much work to do on the continent as PABWA.</p> <p>The SheTrades Outlook provides quantitative and qualitative data using 83 indicators across six policy areas. It contains more than 50 good-practice examples to spur policymakers worldwide to introduce and reform policies tha