Informal Cross-Border Trade, Gendered Livelihoods and Regional Governance in the ECOWAS Space: A Ugandan Perspective

{ "background": "Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a critical livelihood strategy across West Africa, yet its integration within formal regional governance frameworks, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), remains problematic. The gendered dimensions of this trade, particularly from the perspective of women traders from non-ECOWAS member states operating within the region, are under-researched.", "purpose and objectives": "This working paper examines the interplay between gendered ICBT livelihoods and regional governance protocols in the ECOWAS space from the vantage point of Ugandan women traders. It aims to analyse how formal regional integration mechanisms interact with informal, gendered trading practices and to assess the implications for livelihood security and policy coherence.", "methodology": "The analysis employs a qualitative case study design, drawing on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with Ugandan women engaged in ICBT across selected ECOWAS borders. Policy document analysis of relevant ECOWAS trade and free movement protocols supplements the primary data.", "findings": "A key finding is that formal ECOWAS free movement and trade protocols are systematically undermined at national borders by non-tariff barriers and gendered harassment, which disproportionately affect women traders. A prominent theme was the strategic use of social networks to navigate these hostile bureaucratic environments, rendering regional policy aspirations largely ineffective on the ground.", "conclusion": "The paper concludes that a significant disconnect exists between the regional governance architecture of ECOWAS and the lived realities of women engaged in ICBT. This governance gap perpetuates livelihood insecurity and highlights the limitations of top-down regional integration models that fail to account for informal, gendered economies.", "recommendations": "ECOWAS institutions should develop and implement gender-sensitive border management guidelines in collaboration with trader associations. Member states must harmonise the application of free movement protocols at national borders and establish accessible, gender-responsive dispute resolution mechanisms for cross-border traders.", "key words": "informal cross-border trade, regional integration, ECOWAS, gender, livelihoods, governance, non