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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, Zambia’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 Africa 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. This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Corporate Communications Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat. For Feedback: [email protected] 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 business’. 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 Kenya 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 businesses 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, Uganda, fiscal shocks.