Northern Corridor Secretariat Empowers Women and Youth in Cross-Border Trade

Malaba, Uganda – The Northern Corridor Secretariat, through its private sector promotion program, has launched a comprehensive initiative to support women and youth in cross-border trade. This program focuses on three key areas: information sharing and access, capacity building, and financial support for business resilience.

To enhance access to market data, the Secretariat developed the Northern Corridor Business Information Portal (NCBIP), including a mobile application that provides real-time agricultural commodity prices and volumes. The app also facilitates data collection by border market enumerators, improving trade transparency and efficiency.

In partnership with IFAD, the Secretariat has provided equipment and financial support to small-scale businesses, including farmers and cross-border traders in Rwanda, Kenya, and Burundi, strengthening their economic stability.

As part of capacity-building efforts, a three-day workshop was held from March 10-12, 2025, at Greystone Hotel, Malaba, Uganda. Forty women and youth from eight cross-border associations participated, benefiting from business training facilitated by Equity Bank, North Star Alliance, and AGRA. Key topics covered included Business Formation and Registration, Operations and Management, Access to Finance, and Business Growth Strategies.

Additional sessions were led by industry experts such as Mr. Milton Danda, who provided insights on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agribusiness, and Madam Eva Mwai, Executive Director of North Star Alliance, who addressed Health & Wellness Along Transport Corridors. AGRA’s representative, Miss Barbara Mbabazi, shared expertise on partnerships, implementation strategies, and the Green Revolution efforts in the region.

Prior to the workshop, the Secretariat, through its PSIP experts, engaged with border market associations to identify enumerators for the NCBIP mobile app data collection. Agreements were reached with eight associations across Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda to facilitate app operationalization.

This initiative underscores the Northern Corridor Secretariat’s commitment to empowering women and youth in cross-border trade, fostering economic resilience, and strengthening regional integration.