By Joseph Kiggundu
Zanzibar
The Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting digital trade and empowering women and youth through its participation in the Digital Governance Workshop for the East and Southern Africa Fisheries Digital Ecosystem, held at Tembo Kiwengwa, Zanzibar, from 5th to 6th June 2026.
The workshop, organized by TradeMark Africa under the Women and Youth Economic Empowerment through Inclusive Market Access Programme, brought together Chambers of Commerce, fisheries sector associations, financial institutions, development partners, and government stakeholders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Zambia.
The meeting focused on strengthening governance, operational readiness, sustainability, and adoption frameworks necessary for the successful rollout of the iSOKO V2 Digital Platform within the fisheries sector.
Speaking during the workshop, UNCCI Secretary General George Inholo emphasized the enormous potential of the fisheries sector to create employment opportunities for women and youth across the region.
“The fisheries sector is worth millions of dollars and has the potential to create more than 250,000 jobs for women and youth. That is why we must embrace digital platforms such as iSOKO to increase market access, improve trade efficiency, and empower our entrepreneurs,” Inholo said.
Participants noted that women traders continue to face numerous challenges, including limited access to market information, financing constraints, complex export procedures, fragmented border management systems, and exploitation by middlemen. These barriers, they observed, reduce competitiveness and limit participation in regional trade.
TradeMark Africa Digital Trade Programme Officer Brian Omondi highlighted the importance of digital trade systems in addressing these challenges. He explained that through the iSOKO platform, women and youth traders will gain access to business management tools, logistics and supply chain services, market intelligence, and digital trade information that can enhance their participation in local, regional, and international markets.
According to TradeMark Africa, the Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries through Inclusive Market Access Programme aims to create approximately 242,000 jobs for young people while increasing the adoption of digital solutions within the fisheries sector. The programme is being implemented in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Mastercard Foundation.
Current utilization of digital platforms among fisheries stakeholders remains low, estimated at around 10 percent, with programme partners targeting an increase to at least 40 percent in the coming years.
Representatives from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared their experience in promoting the iSOKO platform, noting that they have successfully encouraged members to become Digital Champions who advocate for technology adoption within their communities.
The workshop also featured presentations from Lovin Kobusingye, President of the Africa Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) and a prominent Ugandan fish entrepreneur. She noted that AWFISHNET operates in 44 African countries and represents more than 72 million women involved in fisheries-related activities. The organization highlighted its efforts in training women and youth, promoting legal and sustainable fishing practices, and enhancing market access across the continent.
Financial inclusion emerged as another key theme during the discussions. Representatives from financial institutions and development organizations emphasized the importance of expanding access to affordable financing through partnerships with commercial banks and microfinance institutions. Such initiatives, they noted, are critical in enabling women- and youth-led enterprises to withstand economic shocks and grow their businesses.
Participants also discussed the programme’s implementation strategy, which includes the recruitment and training of Digital Ambassadors aged between 24 and 35 years. The ambassadors will receive training in digital literacy, social media management, personal branding, digital safety, WhatsApp Business, mobile money services, and advanced utilization of the iSOKO platform. They will subsequently transfer these skills to communities across participating countries.
Pilot activities are expected to commence in selected locations in Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, and Zambia.
The workshop concluded with a commitment from participating Chambers of Commerce, fisheries organizations, development partners, and TradeMark Africa to continue working together to promote digital transformation, improve market access, facilitate regional trade, and create sustainable economic opportunities for women and youth across East and Southern Africa’s fisheries sector.