BI-BEST Project Success: Market Systems Assessment Identifies Key Opportunities for Women Cross-Border Traders
The Mano River Union (MRU), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), successfully conducted a Market Systems Assessment (MSA) under the Building Inclusive Business Ecosystems for Stabilization and Transformation (BI-BEST) project. This significant achievement marks a crucial step towards empowering women cross-border traders (WCBTs) in Sierra Leone and Liberia by identifying key market opportunities and challenges in the palm oil, cassava, and vegetable value chains.
The MSA, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), offers an in-depth analysis of the three core value chains, focusing on two border points: Koindu-Foya and Gendema-Bo Waterside. These areas, critical to cross-border trade, were evaluated to understand the specific barriers faced by women traders and to propose targeted interventions aimed at improving market accessibility, safety, and economic resilience.
The study revealed that despite similar challenges in both locations, trade dynamics vary significantly. Gendema-Bo Waterside is bustling with trade activity, serving as a major link between Sierra Leone and Liberia, while the Koindu-Foya crossing has seen a significant decline in trade, prompting traders to seek opportunities in Guinea instead. Among the key challenges identified are poor infrastructure, high transport costs, and limited access to finance, all of which disproportionately affect women traders.
Based on the assessment, the BI-BEST project has outlined several strategic interventions aimed at addressing these challenges. These include enhancing business knowledge and financial literacy for WCBTs, supporting the creation of women-specific financial products, promoting safer border crossings through GBV awareness campaigns, and improving transparency in trading processes. Furthermore, the report highlighted the need for capacity-building initiatives in farming and processing practices to improve the quality and volume of goods traded, directly benefiting the livelihoods of women traders.
The findings of the MSA lay a solid foundation for the next phase of the BI-BEST project, which will focus on implementing these evidence-based solutions to foster a more inclusive and resilient business environment for women cross-border traders. By addressing the structural barriers within the palm oil, cassava, and vegetable value chains, the BI-BEST project is poised to create sustainable economic growth and strengthen social cohesion in the region.
This assessment underscores the commitment of the MRU, AfDB, and ILO to improving the livelihoods of women traders, ensuring that they can fully participate in and benefit from cross-border trade. The BI-BEST project remains a key driver of economic empowerment and regional integration in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
