Empowering Women to Bridge Opportunities and Break Barriers to International Trade in Lesotho

Women in Lesotho face significant barriers to participating fully in trade, including limited access to finance, gender-based inequalities, and inadequate support structures. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for women to expand their roles in trade, particularly through regional trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) amongst others. This policy brief outlines critical challenges faced by women in trade in Lesotho and presents targeted policy recommendations to empower women, foster economic growth, and improve overall national trade performance.