Follow-up to the regional and global platforms for action on economic empowerment of women: outcome of the first global women entrepreneurs trade fair and investment forum in Africa

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E/ECAIACWIARCC.XVIII/97/4A 9 April 1997

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UNITED NATIONS

• ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Eighteenth meeting of the Africa

Regional Coordinating Committee for the Integration of Women in Development (ARCC)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 24-26 April 1997

Original: ENGLISH

FOLLOW-UP TO THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PLATFORMS FOR ACTION ON

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Outcome of the First Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and

Investment Forum in Africa

First Global Women

Entrepreneurs' Trade Fair and Investment Forum in Africa

June 26 • July 3, 1996

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DfCLRRRTION

JULY _~" 1996

[~ccra, Ghana

Accra Declaration on Women Entrepreneurship in the New World. Economic Order

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III We, women entrepreneurs and women in business representing 38 I countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North and South ..

! America, meeting at the First Global

Women

Recognising that we represent a potential force for the economic growth and development of our countries,

Conscious of the challenges posed by the globalisation of the world economy to women businesses,

Noting that there are still barriers, constraints and frustrations to women's economic empowerment,

Desirous of promoting economic equity, in line with the

Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action for the Advancement of Women

Do hereby call on national associations of women entrepreneurs and women

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development agencies to strongly consider the following:

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A. INFORMATION NETWORKS

Establish networks and exchange information and business directories on a continuous basis to upgradeknowledge on technology and other relevant data...

B. LOBBYING COALITIONS

Form coalitions for lobbying governments toadopt and implement policies and resolutions beneficial to the further development of the private sector. Media networks and associations such as the . West African Media Network (WAMNET) and the associations of women in the media, should actively support the lobbying agenda of women entrepreneurs,

C. TRADE MISSIONS

Program international trade missions, provide training in

international business transactions and establish support systems that will bring added value to women businesses.

D. TRAINING

Organise extensive training and extension services for women as the core of all activities aimed at upgrading women's skills to enable them move from the informal to the formal sector.

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A. ABUJA TREATY

African governments should show a stronger political will and

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commitment.towards implementingthe Abuja Treatyin order to remove Intra African trade barriers and stimulate women 's

economic activity. Attention should begiven.to critical sectors such as transport and communication, industry, agriculture"

education, science and technology, customs, common currencies, monetary and fiscal policies and duty free concession on goods , manufactured in the region.

B. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

African governments should provide regulatory and legal reforms to promote trade liberalization and competitiveness.

African governments need to pursue concrete measures so as to benefit from the expected 10-15% increase in world trade

.following the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade'Agreementofthe World Trade Organization.

C. REPRESENTATION ON TRADE MISSIONS

All government trade missions should include at least40%

representation of women entrepreneurs and women in businesses in order to expose women to international negotiations and to increase direct foreign investment in women businesses. -

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D. FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND WOMEN IN

BUSINESS

All governments should provide the regulatory framework to encourage the private sector and non-governmental organizations by establishing financial institutions to provide credit lines for growth of women businesses. Existing banks; both private and government, should create special desks to address women's financial needs.

E. INFORMATION NETWORkS

All governments of developing countries should establish information systems among Governmental agencies to facilitate trade transactions for women in the private sector.

Countries with well established information structures should

support young economies in order to strengthen their data bases for policy and decision support for the private sector.

Women Business Associations are capable of implementing

progran;unes bordering on their interest and should be encouraged to offer substantial inputs into the development of such

programmes and their implementation.

A. CAPACITY BUILDING

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entrepreneurs and women in business in the areas of

entrepreneurial training, skills upgrading and related support.

B. DIRECT SUPPORT

International development agencies should foster direct linkages with associations that represent women entrepreneurs and women in business.

C. INFORMAnON TECHNOLOGY

International development agencies should assist national

association of women entrepreneurs and women in business to gain access to information technologies that facilitate business growth.

IV. S£ECIAL APfEAL ON WARS AND CON:ELICT..S

Without political stability, our economies will not receive either local or foreign investment needed to create jobs, provide incomes and improve living conditions. We therefore call on African Heads of State and Government to more actively make use of the existing DAD mechanism for conflict prevention, resolution and

management to end the senseless wars and conflicts and provide a conducive environment for meaningful intervention for the private sector. In this context, we, women in business reiterate that we have natural skills in the prevention of conflict and can playa critical role in the peace process.

DATED this 3rd day ofJuly, 1996 at Accra, Republic ofGhana

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