Banyan Global implemented the global Women’s Economic Empowerment and Equality Technical Assistance (WE3 TA) task order, awarded through the Advancing the Agenda of Gender Equality (ADVANTAGE) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. With the direction of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (E3/GenDev), Banyan Global provided advisory services to stakeholders to better analyze, design, implement, and monitor interventions addressing women’s economic empowerment and equality constraints and opportunities in support of USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy.

In today’s interconnected global economy, USAID is concerned with the movement of people, goods, and services across borders. As an emerging economic force, women face particular barriers in participating in the global economy and engaging with customs and border agencies. Under WE3 TA, Banyan Global conducted a desk review and remote interviews focused on three questions: 1) To what extent is women’s economic empowerment and gender equality (WEEGE) integrated into customs and border agency services, operations, and personnel management, across various functions? 2) How do WEEGE gaps in services affect women participating in trade? 3) What changes may be needed in processes, procedures, infrastructure, and systems, to achieve more equitable access, treatment, and opportunities for women in trade? The report and related fact sheet present findings and recommendations on promoting WEEGE in customs and border agency services, operations, and personnel management to support women in trade.