Gender and Trade in East Africa

Abstract

This paper maps out the entry points for women and women’s organisations in the trade policy processes in Uganda, and provides
understanding of the impact of trade policy on different groups in society. Using a series of in-depth interviews with actors in trade policy
processes in Uganda, the paper underscores the significant attempts to involve several stakeholders in the policy processes, including women’s
organization but finds that their chance to influence policies is limited. Although the national machinery for trade policy consultation and
formulation has made some in-roads in ensuring the participation of women, in practice the point of entry for women organizations falls outside
key points of influence in the policy dialogue. The gender balance of the institutions at the centre and those on the periphery of the policy
process largely favours men. The findings illustrate both the institutional and analytical gaps which need to be bridged if more gender-aware
approaches are to be successfully incorporated into trade policy and practice.

IPRAA WORKING PAPER 15

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