Commerce thrives when barriers are lifted, and opportunities are shared. Unfortunately, history shows that progress in trade has often excluded half the population from its full benefits. 

To learn more about gender issues in trade, treasury, and payments, Mahika Ravi Shankar of Trade Finance Global (TFG) spoke with Gwen Mwaba, Afreximbank’s Managing Director of Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking, at TFG’s annual Women in Trade Treasury and Payments event in London. 

Women, particularly those in emerging markets, often face unique struggles that hinder their ability to participate fully in the global economy, such as limited access to education, outdated legal systems, and restrictive inheritance laws. 

Without the right to own property in some regions, securing financing becomes nearly impossible shackling many organisations to their small business status. When businesses remain small because they cannot finance the growth waiting for them, the entire economy suffers.

Mwaba said, “A woman in trade can be a leader of a big organisation, but that’s the minority. The majority of ‘women in trade’ in emerging markets would be the women selling goods in a marketplace or the women carrying cash across the border from one country to another to buy goods that are required in their country.”

Many of these African women engage in commerce as street vendors or cross-border traders, but see their contributions go underrecognised. Many are becoming farmers, turning to agriculture as a viable and promising career. Yet, systemic obstacles persist that the financial sector will have a role in overcoming.

Institutions have begun focusing on the economic inclusion of women through targeted programs. Liquidity solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provide a lifeline. When credit becomes accessible, business owners can expand operations, hire more workers, and bolster their communities in the process. 

Beyond funding, visibility matters. Placing women in leadership allows young girls to see someone like them in charge, encouraging them to dream big. It also ensures decision-making reflects diverse perspectives and does what is best for the organisation and economy as a whole, rather than just a gender-biased subset.

Mwaba said, “There are a number of unique challenges that are very specific to a continent like Africa. Some of those include things like a lack of access to education for young girls. Boys still tend to be favoured, and many families would rather pay for the male child to go to school than the female children.”

These issues demand attention. Collective advocacy strengthens the case for practical solutions that allow women to thrive in both business and family life.

Trade, treasury, and payments have historically been male-dominated but that reality is beginning to shift as more women enter the sector, find success, and push for broader representation. A big step also comes from recognising that no two ‘women in trade’ are alike, that unique circumstances demand unique solutions.

The next step involves dismantling outdated norms, promoting financial inclusion, and ensuring women are positioned as leaders, not just contributors. The momentum exists. What happens next depends on those willing to drive change.