FSD UgandaBridging the Financing Gap for Women in Informal Cross-Border Trade
Women informal cross-border traders play a critical role in regional trade, food security, and household livelihoods, yet they remain among the most financially underserved entrepreneurs. This technical brief explores the experiences of women trading through the Goli border and examines the barriers that continue to limit their access to appropriate financial services. Drawing on insights from the Goli Cross Border Women Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the brief identifies practical opportunities for financial service providers, policymakers, and development partners to design solutions that better meet the needs of this often-overlooked segment.
I sincerely appreciate this well researched article on the Women in Informal Cross Border Trade. It really speaks to the problems that bedevil informal women entrepreneurs in general and cross border traders in particular. I would like to add my voice on the supply side constraint. The Informal Women Cross Border Traders are perceived by lenders to be very risk in terms of location. The same community exists across the border and at times some of the borrowers disappear in the neighboring country at the time of default. That is total another legal jurisdiction where the lender cannot expect justice. This suspicion of likelihood of running away to the unknown side adds another layer of risk to lending to women in cross border trade, therefore reinforcing the risk of demanding reliable collateral security.