Arusha — The 2nd EAC Conference on the Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development and in Business is set for 20th – 21st August, 2015 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

The overall goal of the Conference is for women in business in the East African region to come together to network and explore the opportunities offered by the EAC Single Customs Territory and the Common Market as well as exchange ideas on ways and means of increasing affordable financing for women owned businesses.

The two-day Conference which is being held under the theme Advancing and Expanding the Participation of Business Women in Intra-EAC Trade, targets about 350 women entrepreneurs and exhibitors from diverse sectors in the entire region.

Participants at the conference will consist of Women Entrepreneurs/Exhibitors, East African Women in Business Platform and East African Business Council representatives, Civil Society Organizations, MPs from the East African Legislative Assembly, and representatives from line ministries in the Partner States.

The main activities at the conference will include keynote speeches from inspiring business women within EAC, panel discussions, breakaway parallel workshops, exhibitions and networking opportunities.

Among other outputs, the 2nd EAC Conference on the Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development and Women in Business is expected to identify sources of affordable financing for women in business and recommend a way forward, strengthen and expand the Network of the East African Women in Business Platform and draft a Conference Report with an Action Plan to implement existing EAC Policy Frameworks and projects on Women in Socio-Economic Development and Women in Business.

The event will also consolidate the gains made from the 1st conference recommendations and strategies/policy documents to explore and strategize on ‘Advancing and Expanding the Participation of Business Women in Intra-EAC trade’.

Note to Editors

The inaugural EAC Conference on the Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development and Women in Business was held in 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda. Basing on the Recommendations of the 1st conference, the EAC Secretariat has made progress in developing the necessary strategy/policy documents to promote the role of women in socio-economic development and in business. These include:

• The EAC Social Development framework which was adopted in August 2013;
• A regional strategy for promoting women in socio-economic development and women in business which is awaiting adoption.
• Proposal on the establishment of a Regional Financial Facility in collaboration with the East African Development Bank. This will target women-owned businesses and aim at reducing the risk of loans extended to women-owned businesses, limit transaction costs as well as guarantee payment in case of default.
• A project proposal on Empowerment of Border Communities through locally shared markets and
• Gender and Social Development Outcome Indicators for the 4th EAC Development Strategy (2011-2016)

Source: All Africa

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