South Africa

<p>The United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme aims to increase trade from developing countries to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) by maximizing the benefits of UK and EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the UK&apos;s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The UKTP Programme works in partnership with government agencies, private sector organisations, public sector institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and other local stakeholders.&nbsp;</p><p>The UKTP Programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the UK&apos;s Trade Centre of Expertise. EPA and DCTS countries participating in the UKTP Programme will have access to high quality trade-related technical assistance through sector initiatives. Target beneficiaries will be export-ready SMEs that are committed to securing new trade opportunities with the UK. This project will aim to promote exports through facilitating access to markets, providing advisory services to SMEs to improve their products and business operations, and strengthening business support organizations.&nbsp;</p><p>This project builds upon the lessons learnt and achievements of the UKTP programme since 2019. Previous engagement with SMEs in multiple EPA countries has shown the benefit of selecting export-ready companies with compelling products for UK customers and consumers to participate and of preparing them specifically with UK market entry services to succeed in the UK market.&nbsp;</p><p>This project complements and works in synergy with UKTP in the Pacific. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ITC FOR EVERY WOMAN, EVERYWHERE.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span lang="EN-GB">ITC recognizes that Gender Equality is a right in and of itself and a requisite for sustainable development. All women everywhere have the right to a decent income, employment, working conditions and a choice and voice in shaping their economic context. Over the next four years, ITC will support a broad universe of women (entrepreneurs, producers, workers, young women, small-scale cross border traders), by leveraging trade and public procurement, mobilising SheTrades Hubs and high-level champions, and tapping into partnerships. The implementation strategy will be scaled up, inclusive, results-oriented and future-focused.<br></span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB">ITC&rsquo;s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan identifies gender as one of the five impact areas to deliver an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-GB">Our Vision by 2025 is as follows:</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span>1.<span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">ITC is recognised as an <strong>agenda-setter</strong> on empowering women to trade, through the SheTrades Initiative&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span>2.<span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Through ITC support, <strong>BSOs, market partners and financial institutions</strong> develop world-class women in trade programmes&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span>3.<span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">Women <strong>trade more</strong> and on <strong>better terms</strong>, hold more <strong>decent jobs</strong>, and a stronger <strong>voice</strong> in trade&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span>4.<span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">ITC is a <strong>trusted and effective partner</strong> to deliver on the A4T/gender agenda&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB"><span>5.<span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">ITC has an <strong>effective coordinated response</strong> to addressing the trade and gender challenge</span></p>

<p><span lang="EN-GB">COVID-19 has vastly accelerated the growth and adoption of e-commerce. It is critical that women-led businesses are able to harness the power of e-commerce to internationalize their business and reach new markets. The <strong>SheTrades: Empowering African women through e-commerce</strong> project, funded by GIZ, aims to promote economic growth and job creation in Nigeria and South Africa through the increased participation of women-led businesses in digital trade. The project will build the competitiveness, digital skills and e-market connectivity of 100 of women-led SMEs and will work with&nbsp;</span>two key partners, specifically the SheTrades Hubs hosted by The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and South Africa&rsquo;s Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). This project will also work with<span lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;market partners including buyers, to help them implement strategies to support women in their supply chains.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>This project is targeting women owned businesses (WOBs) in the Apparel, Accessories and Home D&eacute;cor sector from Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Senegal, and South Africa.<span>&nbsp;It</span> aims to support income generation and job creation for women owned businesses in the Apparel, Accessories and Home D&eacute;cor sector by:</p><ul type="disc"><li>Creating a more supportive ecosystem of partners and institutions to help the growth of women&apos;s economic empowerment initiatives and activities;</li><li>Increasing the competitiveness of women owned businesses in the sector;</li><li>Creating new market linkage<strong>&nbsp;</strong>opportunities for women owned businesses in the sector.</li></ul>