Zambia Moves to unlock AfCFTA Opportunities for women and youths.

Permanent Secretary for Trade and Commerce Lillian Bwalya said the process would help address barriers limiting women and youth from accessing opportunities created by the continental trade agreement.

She was speaking during the opening of a three day technical workshop on the domestication of the Protocol, which runs from September 21 to 23, 2026.

Ms Bwalya said Zambia needed evidence-based interventions to enable women and youth to participate meaningfully in trade and contribute to economic diversification.

She cited that 82 percent of SMEs lacked awareness of relevant trade agreements, while 90 percent had never used AfCFTA provisions.

“These figures present a picture that demands proactiveness from all stakeholders to ensure our women and youth rise above the many barriers they continue to experience and transform into key economic actors in Zambia’s economic diversification and development pathway,” she said.

Meanwhile, first Project Team Leader Nadira Bayat said expanding markets would not be enough if women and youth could not access them because of barriers affecting their participation.

She said the domestication process should also consider disability inclusion under the broader Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion approach adopted by the Facilitating Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Trade (FIRST) Project.

“Ultimately, this work is about moving from commitment to implementation, ensuring that the Protocol translates into concrete measures that strengthen the participation of women and young people in trade,” Ms Bayat said.