3.3. Strengths, Challenges and Gaps 4. EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 73

groups by 2030; and ending AIDS-related deaths by 2030.356 Among its objectives are the establishment of maternal and sexual and reproductive health-friendly systems for the prevention of new HIV infections; and ensuring access to HIV treatment, care and support for women of reproductive age.357

Concerning women’s economic empowerment, the Framework for Comprehensive Support for Women and Youth Cross-Border Traders in the Region for the Period 2018–2023 aims to increase the competitiveness of women and youth in COMESA regional economic integration processes, ensuring equitable participation and benefits from regional integration programmes at all levels.358

COMESA has also established an institutional structure focusing on gender. Since 2009, the Division of Gender and Social Affairs in the COMESA Secretariat has worked on issues such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and harmful practices. The Division also coordinates and oversees implementation of the COMESA Gender Policy in Member States and in the Secretariat.359 COMESA has also established the Federation of National Associations of Women in Business (FEMCOM) to support women in the private sector. Since 2012, FEMCOM, along with the Secretariat, has implemented the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs. This aims to support African female entrepreneurs in agro-processing, handicrafts and information and communication technology (ICT), in particular in the COMESA region.360 The Women’s Economic Empowerment Fund, established in 2013, aims to alleviate the challenges faced by women in accessing financial resources, such as access to credit.361

3.3. Strengths, Challenges and Gaps

COMESA has conducted considerable advocacy work concerning cross-border trade that includes a significant gender perspective. While the Small-Scale Cross Border Trade Initiative contributes significantly to intra-COMESA and intraAfrica trade, female traders continue to face significant challenges such as harassment, violence and a lack of access to storage facilities and resources.362 Frameworks that address these challenges are weak, and many women traders lack access to information.

COMESA has also adopted significant frameworks concerning women’s rights and gender equality, such as on HIV/AIDS, harmful practices, SRHR, maternal health, human trafficking and VAW.363 Particularly notable is COMESA’s framework on HIV/AIDS.

A challenge for gender-related programmes concerns low budgeting and low priority accorded to gender in national budgeting frameworks.364 The Revised Gender Policy calls on Member States to provide contributions and resources to the COMESA Secretariat Gender Division. However, limited resources hamper COMESA’s ability to implement these commitments.365

For the gender commitments of COMESA to work effectively and have a real impact, all countries must implement them. COMESA and its Member States should continue to incorporate gender mainstreaming in all its policies, structures, systems, programmes and activities in line with the 2016 Gender Policy. As of April 2020, only four Member States (Mauritius, Malawi, Madagascar and Seychelles) have signed the Social Charter and no country has ratified it.366

The COMESA Member States submit performance reports to the Secretariat based on the COMESA Guidelines for Preparing Country Progress Reports on the Implementation of the COMESA Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Action Plan and Council Decisions.367 The Secretariat can build a knowledge base by encouraging the submission of country progress reports, and share good practices and fill in the gaps. COMESA should also work with Member States to consistently gather gender-disaggregated data. Such data will help ensure that goals are met and highlight areas in need of improvement. Notably, the Revised Gender Policy calls on Member States and the Secretariat to ensure the availability of sex-disaggregated data at the national level.368