Day II
Tuesday 24 January 2006
The morning began with the summing-up of Monday’s work by Faith Williams of the Jamaica team.
I. Gender and trade case studies
The first activity was a discussion and analysis of case studies of gender and trade: Shea Butter in Burkina Faso and Cocoa in Ghana. Participants worked in four groups to discuss the international trade context for the case studies, policy impacts, responses by the players to the international trading environment and the national response, role of fair trade, gender issues in the context or partial liberalisation and lessons learned and to be shared. Finally they discussed the respective roles of international, regional and national trade policies.
II. Fair Trade
Jacqui Macdonald gave an introduction to Fair Trade – its origins and the two meaning attached to the term: the strict meaning implied by labelling, and other more informal traditions.
Learning outcomes:
Understand the concept of Fair Trade
Place case studies in the wider frame of Fair Trade
Humanise the case studies.
(Case studies continued)
The four groups reported on their discussions of the case studies and the problems they had in tackling the task with incomplete information.
The course team commented on the following points arising from the case study activity:
Mariama Williams: the slow pace of liberalization and attention to sequencing, time case etc now seen as a good thing
Jacqui MacDonald: need for market information about competition, commodity prices etc.
Sarojini Thakur: need for locally produced, relevant case studies
Dorienne Rowan Campbell: case studies offer opportunities to practise thinking
Learning outcomes :
Apply wider knowledge from workshop or own experience to interpretation of case studies.
Show understanding by answering questions on the case study
Identify information gaps in case studies and own learning, and needs for future work (eg information about trade agreements).
III. Setting the context : Gender, Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System.
Mariama Williams delivered this session. Key issues:
• Why RTAs in a global market place?
• Are RTAs consistent with the WTO?
• The pros and cons of RTAs
• Do RTAs post more entry points for gender?
• Whither the CSME, EPA and FTAA
In the discussion which followed, participants shared information and experiences especially about research, impacts, winners and losers, and local concerns. In summing up Mariama Williams concluded that ‘Doing nothing is not an option. Do we take control of our destiny and take the risk of trying to shape it?’
Learning outcomes :
Get overview of the context for RTAs
Apply the information to the Caribbean and their own knowledge and experience
IV. Panel: Gender and Trade
The day ended with a panel of participants making short presentations about integrating gender into trade.
Alison Stone, Jamaica: Currently trade policy is reactive to gender, but needs to become proactive. Sees an opportunity for consultation with women’s groups to build knowledge base.
Anne-Marie Kirton, Barbados: Barbados plans to become a fully service economy. Can now include issue of gender in policy papers.
Michelle Roberts, Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Barbados: A newcomer to the post. Interested now in incorporating gender issues.
Maura Felix, St Lucia: Attending workshop will encourage her ministry to interact with Div of Gender Relations and Min of Health. Reminder that there are impacts on men as well as women.
Damian Biscette, St Lucia: Gender never discussed at Chamber of Commerce, but workshop will help him bring up this topic
Learning outcomes :
For presenters: summarise and present
Process own experience in light of learning so far
Plan practical action to implement
