Women in Trade and Development

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Women in Trade and Development

A not-for-profit registered in Eswatini in terms of Section 17 of the Companies Act No.8 of 2009.

01/06/2026

Accelerating the participation of women in cross-border trade is becoming a central priority for the local economic growth.
To advance this national agenda, Women in Trade and Development (WITAD) participated in the Gender Mainstreaming Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting held this past Wednesday.

The high-level session, hosted at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Headquarters in Ezulwini, brought together critical public and private sector trade actors to review institutional reforms and align the country’s border operations with inclusive, gender-responsive frameworks.

Read more:
https://pressreader.com/article/282020448962064

28/05/2026

Yesterday, our team members Thembela Msibi and Ezrah Mkhabela represented WITAD at the Gender Mainstreaming Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, hosted at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) in Ezulwini.

Operating as a core structure within the Eswatini National Trade Facilitation Committee (ENTFC) framework, WITAD joined forces with cross-sector stakeholders to review the national Gender Study Recommendations.

At WITAD, we believe true trade facilitation is impossible without the inclusive, safe and equitable participation of women traders and vulnerable groups. We are excited to continue collaborating to see these strategic actions fully implemented!

13/05/2026

Women farmers deserve equitable access to resources, information, and markets — that’s the mission! Agriculture is a key driver of Eswatini’s economy, yet women farmers face persistent barriers that limit their access to resources, services, and market opportunities.

Women In Trade and Development (WITAD) joined the launch of a new toolkit, “Gender-Responsive Services in Agriculture: Bridging the Gap for Women Farmers in Eswatini.” The toolkit provides best practices and recommendations to ensure that agricultural services effectively meet the needs of women farmers — from access to resources and information, to market opportunities and beyond.

08/05/2026

Eswatini's international partners contribute significantly to the country's development. WITAD’s Founder, Sebenzile Dlamini, joined the EU, Eswatini Government, other partners and embassies, civil society and the media at the EU Day 2026 and 50th Anniversary today. European Union in Eswatini

22/04/2026

Missed this week’s article?

As documented in the organization’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, WITAD has adopted a goal of at least 20% participation of persons with disabilities in every empowerment initiative.

Read more here: https://pressreader.com/article/282535844952773

14/04/2026

Members of WITAD’s sewing cluster have received their first order from Australia.

The income from this deal will be reinvested to establish formal business compliance, including registration, tax compliance and quality control protocols, as well as working capital for materials.

Read more here: https://pressreader.com/article/282716233565621

20/03/2026

On 11 – 12 March 2026, WITAD was invited by the U.S. Embassy Eswatini to participate in the 2026 Global Cooperation & Training Framework (GCTF) workshop at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini. It served as a pivotal moment to align local grassroots efforts with international standards of digital excellence.

WITAD being at the table allows the organization to refine its training curricula, ensuring that the digital skills taught to grassroots women are compatible with the expectations of global trade partners. This alignment is what transforms a local craft or service into an exportable product.

The women of WITAD are doing more than just running businesses; they are securing Eswatini’s position in a competitive, tech-enabled global landscape.

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! ✨ May this day be beautiful honour to the powerful, bold and real women that live amongst us.

06/03/2026

Meet Thembelihle Siphilile Mdluli, founder of Lihle’s Garments and Co.✨

Through the recent Digital Skills Training, she has amassed enough knowledge to better manage her business finances. Onwards and upwards🚀, Lihle!

Canada in Mozambique, Angola and Eswatini MTN Eswatini

27/02/2026

Eliminating vulnerability and breaking poverty cycles WITAD is proud to celebrate its successful partnership with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (Canada in Mozambique, Angola and Eswatini). From 2025 to 2026, this collaboration directly impacted 122 beneficiaries, providing them with the tools to fight poverty, mitigate climate change, and promote gender equality.

This holistic approach of combining economic skills with social advocacy is the key to reducing gender-based violence and fostering long-term financial independence for women in rural Eswatini.

Key Achievements Included:
1. Food processing - women gained skills in food drying, grinding, packaging, condiments-making and standards and quality.

2. Digital Skills Training - young women equipped with financial management, AI and digital marketing skills.

3. Organic Farming - women trained in regenerative farming and managing high-value crops and vegetables.

4. Sewing and Design - women empowered through specialized sewing and design training.

5. Community-Led GBV Prevention - 25 traditional leaders trained in safeguarding, GBV-prevention and resource control at KaNdinda Royal Kraal.

Thank you, CFLI, for believing in the power of local action!

Address

Mbabane

Telephone

+26876530737

Website

http://www.witad.org.sz/

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