SheTrades Knowledge
Insights and resources for women entrepreneurs, corporates, agricultural stakeholders & policymakers
July 21, 2025
Making trade promotion services work for women entrepreneurs – A practical guide
This guidebook is designed for trade promotion organizations (TPOs) seeking to make their services more inclusive for women entrepreneurs. It outlines concrete steps to mainstream gender in strategy, governance, operations, and service delivery. Drawing from ITC’s experience with partners worldwide, the guidebook presents practical examples, institutional case studies, and actionable tools.
It is accompanied by a Resource Pack, which provides templates, checklists and activity guides to support implementation. Together, the two documents offer a roadmap for trade institutions to identify gender gaps, strengthen internal systems, and improve the reach and impact of their support services.
It is accompanied by a Resource Pack, which provides templates, checklists and activity guides to support implementation. Together, the two documents offer a roadmap for trade institutions to identify gender gaps, strengthen internal systems, and improve the reach and impact of their support services.
Pages: | 76
Size |
About ITC SheTrades
The ITC SheTrades Initiative targets stakeholders across the trade and business ecosystem to create the right conditions for every woman, everywhere to realize her full economic potential. The Initiative provides women entrepreneurs and producers with access to key knowledge, resources, and networks, supports policymakers on inclusive policy reforms, and leverages public and private partnerships to amplify the impact of its work.
About ITC Institutions and Ecosystems
ITC Institutions and Ecosystems works directly with business support organizations (BSOs) to strengthen how they serve small businesses and foster environments where these enterprises can grow, adapt and compete. Drawing on in-house expertise, digital tools and proven methodologies, we equip BSOs to deliver practical, tailored solutions for small businesses navigating the evolving trade landscape.
About EU-EAC MARKUP II
The European Union (EU)- East African Community (EAC) MARKUP II funded by the EU, aims to enhance economic development in the EAC through sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade.
Focused on improving livelihoods, employment, and export competitiveness for MSMEs, the programme supports the development of key export-oriented value chains as well institutional support in the six MARKUP II EAC recipient partner countries. EU-EAC MARKUP II is promoting exports and investment through addressing trade barriers, value addition, quality compliance, trade facilitation and technology transfer.
MARKUP II is also supporting the establishment and operationalization of a network of EAC Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) that have a crucial role to play in developing and promoting exports, thereby enhancing SME competitiveness. Through regional cooperation, as exemplified by the EAC TPO Technical Working Group, strategic trade development efforts are significantly strengthened. This cooperation facilitates a range of activities including information exchange about business opportunities, organizing joint trade missions, exhibitions, and optimizing limited resources for greater impact.
EU-EAC MARKUP II is implemented by the International Trade Centre in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and national partners in the recipient countries.
Focused on improving livelihoods, employment, and export competitiveness for MSMEs, the programme supports the development of key export-oriented value chains as well institutional support in the six MARKUP II EAC recipient partner countries. EU-EAC MARKUP II is promoting exports and investment through addressing trade barriers, value addition, quality compliance, trade facilitation and technology transfer.
MARKUP II is also supporting the establishment and operationalization of a network of EAC Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) that have a crucial role to play in developing and promoting exports, thereby enhancing SME competitiveness. Through regional cooperation, as exemplified by the EAC TPO Technical Working Group, strategic trade development efforts are significantly strengthened. This cooperation facilitates a range of activities including information exchange about business opportunities, organizing joint trade missions, exhibitions, and optimizing limited resources for greater impact.
EU-EAC MARKUP II is implemented by the International Trade Centre in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and national partners in the recipient countries.