What is the SheTrades Initiative?
The SheTrades initiative was established by the International Trade Centre to address the barriers women face to access economic opportunities. SheTrades works to connect millions of women entrepreneurs to markets while promoting their full participation in international trade. The initiative is a proud contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Thriving Women-Inclusive Business Community
Empowering women to connect to trade opportunities is our business. SheTrades works across countries, regions and stakeholders to champion more inclusive business ecosystems – we do this by championing quality data on women’s participation in trade, working with policymakers to level the playing field for women and by connecting women to markets and learning opportunities through our one-stop online platform, SheTrades.com.
Discover our entire offering
SheTrades mission
We are working to empower women overcome the barriers that they face with growing their businesses. With them, we identified areas that urgently needed to be addressed.
SheTrades Story
Women’s economic empowerment has remained a prominent feature of the global development agenda for two decades. While we have seen promising progress, gender equality is still far from achieved.
In 2015, consultations with global thought leaders revealed persisting barriers between key actors and the building blocks of women’s enterprise development: gender-disaggregated research, inclusive policy, skills development, access to markets and finance. It was agreed that women’s economic empowerment is not 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 launched the SheTrades initiative, to provide a multi-stakeholder and multidimensional approach to accelerate global progress in achieving women’s economic empowerment.
Read women’s stories in our blog
In 2015, consultations with global thought leaders revealed persisting barriers between key actors and the building blocks of women’s enterprise development: gender-disaggregated research, inclusive policy, skills development, access to markets and finance. It was agreed that women’s economic empowerment is not 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 launched the SheTrades initiative, to provide a multi-stakeholder and multidimensional approach to accelerate global progress in achieving women’s economic empowerment.
Our Team
SheTrades is powered by a global community of committed individuals passionate about achieving gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Based within the Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chains Division, our team represents over X different nationalities, present in X regions across Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and Europe. The SheTrades community continues to grow and reach even more women as we expand.
SheTrades in the World
Hubs
SheTrades Hubs are a decentralized platform of the SheTrades initiative implemented and funded by local host institutions with the support of selected partners.
Read more
Projects
SheTrades is present in 25 countries, through in-country projects and national hubs. In-country projects have a sectoral focus and incorporate our 7 Global Actions to improve the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs, generate new business opportunities and foster a conducive ecosystem to trade.
Read more
Antigua and Barbuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Antigua and Barbuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Antigua and Barbuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Antigua and Barbuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Our Partners
We work with various partners across sectors and countries including business support organisations, 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.
