CDE Rwanda Launches New Project to Address Women’s Non-Tariff Barriers and Informal Cross-Border Trade

By Elias Hakizimana.

The Center for Development and Enterprises (CDE-Rwanda) has launched a new project titled ‘Working in Darkness for Women,’ aimed at reducing the challenges faced by women who engage in informal cross-border trade through illegal means.

A previous survey by CDE Rwanda revealed that these women encounter significant difficulties, including sexual violence, deprivation of belongings such as commodities and money, and even death.

Speaking at the project launch on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Kigali, Réné Goscinny Bigirimana, Executive Director and Founder of CDE-Rwanda, stated that the project will assist women cross-border traders in embracing formal trade through advocacy and local authority support.

“We will collaborate with local government authorities, especially in districts adjacent to borders where informal trade frequently occurs. We aim to advocate for these women and believe that the impact will extend to benefit men involved in similar activities. We want them to understand the importance of formal trade for building their country through paying taxes,” Bigirimana said.

“We request the government to facilitate and reduce taxes for them, motivating them to adopt formal cross-border trade. The key districts identified in our research include Rubavu, Nyagatare, Gicumbi, and Nyaruguru,” he added.

Emmy Nsanzabaganwa, Project Coordinator at CDE-Rwanda, reiterated that informal trade will be reduced through the successful implementation of this project. He highlighted the barriers these women face in their illegal cross-border trade.

“Our research showed that some women are sexually violated, deprived of their belongings, which often leads to family conflicts,” Nsanzabaganwa noted.

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