What is the SheTrades Initiative?
Our story
Women’s economic empowerment has remained a prominent feature of the global development agenda for decades. While significant progress has been made, we are still lightyears away from reaching gender equality.
In 2015, consultations with global thought leaders revealed persistent barriers between key actors and the building blocks of women’s entrepreneurial development: gender-disaggregated data, inclusive policies, skills development, and access to markets and finance.
What became clear was that advancing women’s economic empowerment through trade is not only a matter for government policy, the private sector, or society alone—we all have critical roles to play.
This is why the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, launched its flagship Women and Trade Programme, the ITC SheTrades Initiative.
In 2015, consultations with global thought leaders revealed persistent barriers between key actors and the building blocks of women’s entrepreneurial development: gender-disaggregated data, inclusive policies, skills development, and access to markets and finance.
What became clear was that advancing women’s economic empowerment through trade is not only a matter for government policy, the private sector, or society alone—we all have critical roles to play.
This is why the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, launched its flagship Women and Trade Programme, the ITC SheTrades Initiative.
A global movement for women in trade
Established in 2015, ITC SheTrades aims to create the right conditions and capacities for women to thrive in global trade.
At SheTrades, our work is underpinned by the firm understanding that empowering women through trade requires firing up all levers in the trade and business ecosystem.
In this regard, we provide women producers and traders with access to key knowledge, resources, and networks; support policymakers on inclusive policy reforms; and leverage public and private partnerships to amplify the impact of our work.
The SheTrades Initiative is a proud contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
At SheTrades, our work is underpinned by the firm understanding that empowering women through trade requires firing up all levers in the trade and business ecosystem.
In this regard, we provide women producers and traders with access to key knowledge, resources, and networks; support policymakers on inclusive policy reforms; and leverage public and private partnerships to amplify the impact of our work.
The SheTrades Initiative is a proud contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
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A community of leaders
SheTrades recognizes the value of community-building and networking for women’s entrepreneurial development.
Through SheTrades.com, we offer a one-stop-shop for women to learn, network, and access market and investment opportunities; through SheTrades Hubs, we collaborate with national and regional host institutions across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa to deliver customized solutions for women in trade.
Through SheTrades.com, we offer a one-stop-shop for women to learn, network, and access market and investment opportunities; through SheTrades Hubs, we collaborate with national and regional host institutions across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa to deliver customized solutions for women in trade.
A team of gender champions
Our diversity is our strength—and is reason why we never stop innovating.
The SheTrades family is powered by a team of over 40 individuals passionate about achieving gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
We are part of ITC’s Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) and Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WYVC) Section.
The SheTrades family is powered by a team of over 40 individuals passionate about achieving gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
We are part of ITC’s Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) and Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WYVC) Section.
Asia
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Bangladesh
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Indonesia
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The Philippines
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Vietnam
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Mongolia
Latin America & the Caribbean
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Argentina
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Trinidad & Tobago
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Uruguay
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Dominican Republic
Africa
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Ghana
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Kenya
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Mauritius
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Nigeria
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Rwanda
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South Africa
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The Gambia
Regional Hubs
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Caribbean
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Middle East & North Africa
Our Partners
We work with various partners across sectors and countries including business support organizations, cooperatives, alliances and private sector companies. Our partners are essential to reaching even more women and support us to achieve our mission.
Our Funders
Our funders help us to deliver projects by providing financial or in-kind support.
