Turning Policy Into Access for Women Across Eastern Africa
In the sunlit fields of Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Chaltu — whose last name is being withheld for privacy — cultivated land she depended on but did not legally control. For years, customary practices treated land as a male-held asset, leaving her, a widow, exposed to claims from her late husband’s relatives.
Without formal documentation, she could not access credit or invest in her farm, despite relying on it for her livelihood.
That changed two years ago, following the enforcement of the Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation, which strengthened legal provisions for gender-equal land registration. Under the law, Chaltu successfully contested an attempt to take over her land.
By 2025, she had obtained a Second-Level Landholding Certificate, formally recognizing her as the sole legal holder. The certification allowed her to use the land as collateral to secure a microloan, which she invested in higher-yield teff and wheat production.
Her farm has since expanded into a small commercial operation, employing 30 women from the surrounding area. Her produce is now distributed beyond her immediate locality.
Chaltu’s experience reflects broader changes in land registration practices across Ethiopia. According to government figures, a significant majority of land certificates now include women’s names, either individually or jointly.
“For years, I was a guest on my own farm,” she said in an interview. “Now I have legal recognition.”
Her story comes as policymakers and regional officials gather in Addis Ababa to address gender disparities in economic participation.
On April 14, 2026, the Skylight Hotel hosted the 15th Meeting of the COMESA Technical Committee on Gender and Women’s Affairs, bringing together representatives from across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Held under the theme “Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” the meeting focuses on expanding women’s participation in regional economies and addressing structural barriers.
The forum, organized by the COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the Ethiopian government, runs through April 16 and includes officials from member states, technical experts and ministers responsible for gender and social affairs.
Discussions have centered on policy coordination, digital inclusion and strategies to improve women’s access to economic opportunities. Participants have also reviewed ongoing programs and shared national experiences in implementing gender-focused reforms.
The technical meeting will be followed by the 13th Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs, where delegates are expected to assess progress and consider new policy frameworks to guide future regional initiatives.
Since its founding, COMESA has identified inclusive economic growth as a central objective, with an emphasis on integrating women into regional trade and development. In 2016, the bloc adopted a gender policy aimed at addressing structural inequalities that limit women’s participation in economic activity.
The policy is supported by a Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy, which focuses on expanding financial inclusion, addressing barriers faced by women in cross-border trade and improving access to markets and professional networks.
Tsige Tadele, a senior gender mainstreaming officer at the COMESA Secretariat, said the strategy is designed to translate policy commitments into practical interventions. She noted that the initiative aims to strengthen financial literacy and support women in scaling small enterprises into more sustainable businesses.
A significant focus, she said, is on cross-border trade, where women account for an estimated 70 percent of small-scale traders in the region. Numerous individuals encounter various risks, such as harassment, fraudulent activities, and restricted access to regulatory information.
To address these challenges, COMESA has established “trade information desks” at selected border points. The centers provide guidance on customs procedures, simplified trade regimes and legal protections available to traders.
“These desks are intended to help women better understand their rights and operate more securely,” Tsige said. “Our goal remains to ensure that gender equality is not just a policy on paper, but a reality for all citizens in the COMESA region.”
She also pointed to measures that facilitate mobility across the region, including visa policies adopted by member states, as part of broader efforts to support trade and economic integration.
In opening remarks at the meeting, Hikima Keyeradin, Ethiopia’s state minister for women and social affairs, said the country’s national policies are being aligned with regional frameworks, including a revision of its gender policy.
She highlighted the role of digital systems in expanding access to services and economic opportunities. The government’s Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, she said, aims to reduce long-standing barriers by improving access to financial services, identification systems and markets.
Among the initiatives cited was the national digital identification program, known as Fayda, which provides formal identification required for accessing credit, land registration and public services. She also referenced the Mesob digital platform, which is designed to streamline administrative processes for businesses.
Officials say improvements in infrastructure, including expanded access to electricity, are also contributing to lower operating costs for small and medium-size enterprises, including those led by women.
According to the ministry, more than 53,000 users in Ethiopia have engaged with the 50 Million African Women Speak platform, a regional initiative that provides information on business registration, financing and cross-border trade opportunities.
While acknowledging continuing challenges in sectors such as health, education and governance, she called for stronger regional coordination and alignment of national strategies to accelerate progress across member states. She pointed to digital systems as a key tool in expanding access to markets and financial services.
Addressing the meeting, Mohamed Kadah, assistant secretary general of COMESA, said gender equality and women’s economic participation remain central to the bloc’s integration agenda. Citing a 2022 World Bank study, he noted that reducing gender disparities could increase gross domestic product in developing regions by an estimated two percent.
Kadah said more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs across member states have received training and technical support in sectors including agriculture and manufacturing. He also highlighted the reach of the 50 Million African Women Speak platform, which has connected hundreds of thousands of users to information on trade, finance and business development.
The initiatives, he said, have been supported by development partners including the African Development Bank and the European Union.
Despite these efforts, Kadah noted persistent gaps in access to finance, digital skills and participation in decision-making processes. He called on the technical committee to assess progress in gender mainstreaming and to consider emerging priorities, including the role of digital systems and the expansion of women’s participation in sectors such as pharmaceuticals.
He said the committee’s recommendations would be critical in shaping future programs aimed at expanding economic inclusion across the region.
In a separate interview, Maureen Miruka, director of gender equity, youth and social inclusion at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), said gender equality has direct implications for economic productivity and innovation.
She emphasized the role of education in expanding opportunities and noted that broader social change requires the involvement of both women and men.
“If you educate a woman, you educate the village,” she said. Beyond social shifts, she appealed to governments and international donors to move past mere awareness and toward the rigorous mechanics of policy implementation, particularly in translating commitments into measurable outcomes.
Recent initiatives linked to Ethiopia’s engagement with regional frameworks have included efforts to expand market access for women entrepreneurs. In May 2025, Addis Ababa hosted the sixth COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Trade Fair, bringing together participants from across the region and facilitating business connections in sectors such as agriculture and textiles.
Officials say additional efforts in early 2026 supported the integration of women-led enterprises into regional digital marketplaces, enabling participation in cross-border trade through online platforms.
