newsletter Issue #: 659_1st April, 2021

Gender Ministers Approve Key Documents for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment 1

SG Kapwepwe delivering her statement during the opening of the 11th Meeting of the COMESA Ministers Responsible for Gender Ministers responsible for Gender and Women’s gender specific non-tariff barriers,” He added During the same event, Secretary General Affairs from the COMESA Region recently met “This meeting has the opportunity to change Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe appreciated and approved several toolkits and documents this situation by implementing instruments the support from Member States and said which are expected to help the region promote that can support women and improve their this work on gender and social development gender equality, women empowerment and welfare,” Hon. Yaluma said through his will accelerate the achievement of inclusive social development. The one-day Ministerial representative at the meeting Hon. Elizabeth development goals and is in line with meeting held virtually via zoom on 29 March Phiri, Minister of Gender Affairs. COMESA’s vision in the Medium-Term Strategic noted that women have continued to be Plan (MTSP) 2021-2025, African Union (AU) negatively affected by many challenges He highlighted the importance of the Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development including COVID-19 which has contributed to normative frameworks being developed by Goals (SDGs). most of them recording slow progress. COMESA to advance gender equality and social development in the region. He also added how She reminded the MS of the need to take Speaking during the official opening of the COMESA has been doing commendable work keen interest in the implementation of meeting, ’s Minister of Commerce, Trade when it comes to the inclusion of gender in COMESA policy frameworks, and Council and Industry Hon. Christopher Yaluma used trade matters. To overcome the challenges Decisions related to gender equality, women the occasion to encourage the Ministers and that COMESA Member States face, the Minister empowerment and social development across Member States MS) not to relent in their efforts added that there needs to be concerted efforts sectors to ensure that the ‘no one is left behind’ of empowering women and fighting poverty. from all stakeholders and that starts with the doctrine is realised. He described the meeting as crucial as it was deliberations, adoptions and implementation of being held at a time when is grappling important policy frameworks such as the ones Among the documents that were approved with COVID-19 and women are bearing the presented during the meeting. during the highly interactive meeting was the major brunt of it. COMESA Gender Policy Implementation and Minister Yaluma highlighted Zambia’s Tracking Plan, the COMESA Online Course “Gender inequality remains a major challenge unwavering support to COMESA’s initiatives on Gender and Trade, the COMESA Social affecting the regional integration agenda. and stated that Zambia was the first country Charter Toolkit and the HIV and AIDS Policy women entrepreneurs continue to experience to launch the 50 Million African Women Speak Implementation and Tracking Plan. The different forms of harassment and many Project. Secretariat was urged to disseminate these ILO Director Mr. George Okutho and Secretary General important documents to Member States.

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Contact Address : COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center , Ben Bella Road P.O. Box 30051, +260 211 229 725, +260 211 225 107 www.comesa.int; email: [email protected] WEEKLY NEWSLETTER COMESA Women Celebrate their Heroines on 50 Million African Women Speak platform ● 50 Million African Women Speak digital platform users pick out the women who inspire them most ● Dozens of women leaders nominated from all over the COMESA region

Ms. Precious Limamu, a Zambian user, picked Mrs. Mizinga Melu as her inspiration and WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY stated thus: “Seeing you get to such great 2 heights gives me assurance that I too can climb the ladders of success despite being female.”

In another moving tribute, a user from Eswatini had this to say about her heroine, Ms. Sindisiwe “Sindi” Dlamini, “Your passion for women moving forward is infectious and I would love to see you break into the African markets primarily as a stepping stone into international markets. You’re a trailblazer despite the obstacles that come with being a voice of hope to young women and I pray you Businesswomen from countries in the that they have defied the odds, and their keep doing what you do relentlessly because COMESA region have spoken out on who ability to break through male-dominated I and so many others appreciate you.” their female role models are as part of a spheres for picking them out as the women campaign named ‘30 days of women in who inspire them most. The COMESA Director for Gender and ’. The campaign which is running Social Affairs Mrs. Beatrice Simwapenga on the 50 Million Women African Speak Women who wish to participate in the Hamusonde expressed her delight at platform (50MAWSP) in celebration of the campaign are required to visit www. the responses from women all over the international women’s month of March womenconnect.org or to download the continent, “When we rolled out this campaign invites platform users to name the women 50MAWSP app, and to then submit short we were focusing on the COMESA region, but who inspire them. stories about their most admired business we are excited to see so many women from women, giving reasons why, and what they all over Africa interacting and celebrating Two weeks into the campaign, dozens of would tell them if they had a chance to meet one another. users from Tunisia to to Zambia and them in person. The most compelling of Eswatini have had their say, nominating these submissions are being published on “This feedback affirms one of the key well-known women leaders who run large the platform and those who submitted them objectives for the 50 Million African Women enterprises, as well as women who may be may have an opportunity to meet their role Speak platform, which is building deep out of the limelight but are an inspiration to models. and beneficial connections among women those in their communities. on the continent for them to tap into their Nominating Mrs. Tabitha Karanja, a Kenyan knowledge and resources to start, grow, Among those nominated were Mrs. Tabitha platform user, Ms. Sheila Karwitha Mabe, scale up and sustain their and Karanja of Keroche Breweries, a leading wrote: “Your growth and tenacity in the ultimately achieve economic empowerment.” beverage producer in Kenya, leading brewing industry, a business dominated by Zambian banker and Absa Zambia chief our male counterparts, has not only given The ‘30 days of women in business’ campaign executive officer Mrs. Mizinga Melu, and the women of today hope and confidence covers Comoros, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, former Democratic Republic of Congo First of a bright future in contributing greatly Ethiopia, Eritrea, Eswatini, Madagascar, Lady Mrs. Olive Lembe Kabila. to the economy of this country but also, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sudan, Tunisia, motivated us to start our businesses. You Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the countries where The 50MAWSP users cited reasons such as have spearheaded the journey to Women COMESA is implementing the 50 Million passion exhibited by these women leaders, in Leadership not only in Kenya but across African Women Speak Project. their entrepreneurial achievements, the fact Africa.” Nine COMESA Countries Receive CMI Develops User’s Guide on Fiscal Stress COVID-19 Vaccine Testing for Central Banks

The COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) has workshop will go a long way in equipping developed a user’s guide on Fiscal Stress the experts with the right tools to conduct Testing for Central Banks and Ministries these stress tests,” Mr Zeidy said during the of Finance whose main objective will be to workshop which was held virtually from 22 3 assist Member States better understand how to 26 March 2021. to deal with fiscal risks. One of the key roles of government is to COVID-19 vaccines have started being rolled CMI Director Mr Ibrahim Zeidy states that develop the National Budget as a guide out in more COMESA countries. As at end addressing fiscal risks is a key element of towards achieving specific development and of March 2021, nine COMESA countries the COMESA Multilateral Macroeconomic social objectives. However, more often fiscal have received the vaccines and are Surveillance Framework and the fiscal outturns differ substantially from the budget administering it on their citizens. stress test examines how the public forecasts, owing to factors outside the finances would respond to fiscal risks. government’s control such as deviations of The COMESA Early Warning System economic growth from expectations, terms He was speaking during the opening of of trade shocks, natural disasters, calls on (COMWARN) reports that vaccination the validation and training workshop government guarantees, among others, thus efforts are gaining momentum in the region which enabled participants from Member posing challenges to the attainment of the as more countries receive their first batches. States to review and approve the Users’ government’s intended objectives. Guide. According to financial experts, a “Analyzed according to the raw numbers of comprehensive disclosure and analysis Specifically, the occurrence of fiscal risks, doses administered, the data indicates that of fiscal risks can help governments to defined as the deviation of fiscal outturns so far Rwanda has administered the highest ensure that fiscal policy settings respond from initial forecast, leads to additional number of doses followed by Malawi, to a range of potential future economic and government obligations, revenue losses, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Kenya, , fiscal shocks. This also helps governments larger public debts, and occasionally, Mauritius and Egypt,” COMWARN states in monitor and manage specific risks and refinancing difficulties and crises. its latest Situational Update on COVID-19. avoid abrupt and disruptive changes in policy when risks materialize. The 49 delegates drawn from 12 Central Most countries have prioritized health Banks and Ministries of Finance were taken workers, security personnel, government Fiscal stress test is therefore, an important through identifying specific fiscal risks and activity that all countries are required designing stress test scenarios for fiscal employees and the elderly. to perform for prudent public finance stress tests. They were trained to be able to , in order to understand how undertake fiscal stress testing for individual However, if the daily dosages are juxtaposed public finances would respond to significant risk factors and to interpret results correctly by population (per hundred people) the data economic and/or financial shocks. for effective macroeconomic management. shows that Seychelles, Malawi, Tunisia and They also used the opportunity to share Rwanda have administered more doses of “It is important for COMESA Member knowledge and experience on fiscal stress vaccines. Seychelles, for example, has so States to be conducting fiscal stress tests testing in member countries. far vaccinated about 70% of its population, and therefore we believe this validation according to COMWARN.

Some of the vaccines approved by COMESA Dates NAME OF VENUE ORGANIZER Member States include Oxford/AstraZeneca, MEETING Moderna, Pfizer/ BionTech, Sinopharm, June 2021 21st COMESA Virtual Secretariat Johnson and Janssen (J&J), Sinovac, Heads of State and Sputnik V, among others. Governments Summit COVID-19 cases have continued to surge in the region since January 2021.

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Gender Experts Meet to Review Programme Implementation WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY 4

The COMESA Online Trade Platform File: Women in COMESA Region

COMESA Gender and Women’s Affairs scale cross border traders -majority of and experience gender-based violence more experts held their 13th Meeting on Monday whom are women. than men. 22 March 2021 and discussed progress on the advancement of gender equality The meeting received and discussed a report “The issue of diseases like HIV is still high and empowerment of women through on the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness among females than males, illiteracy rates implementation of policy and legal and Access to Markets Programme are higher among females than males, more frameworks, council decisions, programmes (RECAMP) initiative, which is aimed at women than men have limited access to and projects. strengthening the capacity of Small, and information and business opportunities, Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) including fewer women than men are in decision The objective of the three-day virtual women and youth in selected value chains making positions, and that COVID-19 has meeting was to consider the progress made and access to markets. negatively affected women more than men by both the Secretariat and Member States among many other issues,” he noted. on the implementation of the Decisions of Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Tenth meeting of the COMESA Ministers Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry Within this broad spectrum of issues that responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs of Commerce, Trade and Industry Mr affect women and men, the COMESA held last year and related Council Decisions. Mushuma Mulenga appreciated the meeting Secretariat has been involved in redressing coming shortly after the international the legal and policy gaps including As a way of ensuring progress towards Womens’ Day when governments, private programme implementation disparities that attaining national, regional, and continental sector, community groups, professional contravene the rights of women, men, girls, goals on gender and women empowerment, associations, women’s networks, celebrate and boys in the cultural, social, political, and Member States and the Secretariat women around the world, and their economic spheres. are obliged to provide updates on the achievements in social, economic, cultural, implementation of the Council Decisions. and political spheres. To promote gender equality, Dr Cheluget said the Secretariat is pushing for the availability The agenda of the meeting included the “It is the period when we celebrate, raise of gender statistics to support gender report on the 50 Million African Women awareness about women’s equality, calling responsive planning, implementation, Speak Project- an initiative which fits well for gender parity, economic empowerment monitoring and evaluation for mainstream in the current times where digital platforms of women, and elimination of violence programs in COMESA. hold the answer to access to information, against women and girls,” he said. services, and market opportunities for To this end, the Secretariat is working women in business. They also received an Speaking during the same meeting, towards generating gender disaggregated update on the Small-Scale Cross Border Assistant Secretary General for Programmes data to strengthen availability of regional Trade Initiative and the Great Lakes Trade Dr. Kipyego Cheluget said despite the gender statistics in different sectors Facilitation Project both of which have progress recorded so far in the advancement including small scall cross border trade. a very strong focus on the creation of a of women, current data shows that majority conducive operating environment for small of them globally work in the informal sector, standards, lack of market information, COMESA and Partners Agree to Enhance Trade lack of linkages among enterprises in in Animal/Products under AfCFTA various countries, poor communication networks and inter-connectivity, lack of harmonized procedures and grading standards, transboundary animal diseases and competition from cheap imports from other regions.

In an effort to address some of these 5 challenges, the COMESA Secretariat has been facilitating and coordinating the implementation of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA) and the COMESA Livestock Policy Framework in the region.

Assistant Secretary General for Programmes Dr Kipyego Cheluget says these policies are assisting the Member States to address some of the identified challenges. COMESA Secretariat held a one-day capacities in the animal resources sector consultative meeting with Member States to advance industrial competitiveness and “We are witnessing Member States and other Regional Economic Communities economic transformation among several increasing their attention to the agricultural (RECs) on optimizing returns from intra- other recommendations. transformation and enhancing value Africa trade in Animals and Animal products chains and expanding agro-processing and under the African Continental Free Trade Zambia’s Permanent Secretary in the opening up their economies to domestic and Area (AfCFTA). Ministry of Fisheries Dr Benson Mwenya international investments,” Dr Cheluget said who was represented by the Director of in a statement presented by the Director of The virtual meeting discussed many Animal Production Dr Chibwe Kaoma Agriculture and Industry Mrs Providence issues including reinforcing multi-lateral commended COMESA Secretariat for Mavubi. cooperation for disease prevention and organizing the meeting whose outcome is control, integration of informal trade in expected to help the region deepen trade in He noted that the creation of the AfCFTA animals and animal products into formal animal and animal products. will play a major role in complementing trade and access to information on available COMESA’s efforts in creating greater market market opportunities and market potentials He pointed out that being a land linked opportunities, triggering more trade and within the region. country, Zambia knows firsthand the investment and allowing greater value struggles faced in trying to improve the addition. Other matters discussed included trade livestock sector. complementarity and the need for creating The ASGP also mentioned the need to value addition opportunities to create “Lack of access to markets and market develop infrastructure such as animal diverse markets within Africa and financing uncertainty for animal and animal products source food processing plants, abattoirs, the animal resources sector to boost has kept the country’s livestock production quarantines and laboratories, including productivity and development of the sector. and productivity stagnant,” he said. “The strengthening surveillance system, early AfCFTA therefore gives an opportunity detection, reporting and containment of the The consultative meeting came up with for our producers to increase livestock problems in collaboration with other RECs. a communique in which they called for production and productivity and create African Union InterAfrican Bureau for integration of AfCFTA-animal resources more jobs especially for women and youth.” Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Officer in development strategies into national AfCFTA Charge Mr Talal Kishlat also addressed strategies. This is in addition to identifying According to the experts, many COMESA the meeting and called for increased opportunities for investment along the value countries face similar challenges when collaboration with Member States and chains to enhance export capacity. They also accessing regional markets which include partner organisations. called for the development of productive stringent SPS requirements, exotic quality

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Photo Focus: Ministers that partipated in the 11th Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Gender and Womens Affairs WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY 6

SG Kapwepwe delivering her statement during the opening of the 11th Hon. Phiri of Zambia Meeting of the COMESA Ministers Responsible for Gender

Hon. Marie-Celine Zialor, Minister for Family, Youth and Sports of Hon. Béatrice Lomeya Atility, Minister of State for Gender, Family and Child Seychelles Chaired the meeting of DRC

Hon. (Mrs) Kalpana Devi KOONJOO-SHAH- Minister of Gender Equality Hon. Patricia Annie Kaliati, Minister of Gender, Community Development and and Family Welfare of Mauritius Social Welfare of Malawi Sample of the harmonized driver’s license

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