Trade & Inclusive Economic Development

Efficient and transparent customs systems are essential for unlocking trade potential. Cowater has extensive experience modernizing customs operations, harmonizing legislation with international standards, and supporting digitalization to reduce costs and delays. We work with governments to improve border management, simplify procedures, and ensure compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) standards.

Our support also extends to exporters and small-scale cross-border traders, with a focus on women and youth, helping them navigate standards and regulations to access new markets. From implementing electronic customs management systems to supporting WTO and regional trade agreement accessions, our work enhances competitiveness and contributes to inclusive growth.

A strong and predictable investment climate is critical for attracting private sector investment and fostering sustainable economic development. Cowater partners with governments to improve business environments through regulatory reform, policy dialogue, and institutional strengthening. We support alignment with international standards, public-private partnerships, and sustainable investment strategies that encourage job creation and innovation.

Our work bridges national priorities with international commitments, helping countries prepare for transitions such as WTO accession or graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. By supporting inclusive, gender-responsive investment frameworks, we ensure that private sector growth translates into broader social and economic benefits.

Economic empowerment is a cornerstone of gender equality. Cowater delivers women’s economic empowerment (WEE) programming across diverse sectors, providing women with access to skills, finance, markets, and decision-making opportunities. We address structural barriers through training, entrepreneurship support, and leadership development, while also working to transform social norms that restrict women’s participation.

From enabling women entrepreneurs in the West Bank to thrive in agribusiness, to equipping ethnic minority women in Vietnam with green growth opportunities, our WEE initiatives strengthen voice, agency, and financial independence. We collaborate with governments, civil society, and the private sector to ensure women’s contributions are recognized and rewarded across value chains.

Strengthening livelihoods and agriculture systems is central to building food security and resilience. Cowater supports farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to adopt climate-smart practices, improve productivity, and access new markets. We design value chain interventions that enhance competitiveness, while promoting inclusive participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Our projects combine technical assistance, skills development, and institutional reform to foster sustainable agriculture. From forestry and horticulture value chains in Tanzania to irrigation and market access in Niger, we link producers to markets, strengthen cooperatives, and improve governance of natural resources. This approach ensures agriculture contributes not only to economic growth, but also to nutrition, climate resilience, and poverty reduction.

Cowater invests in people by strengthening labour markets and expanding employment opportunities. We partner with governments, training institutions, and the private sector to align skills with market demand and to modernize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems. Our programming equips youth and women with relevant skills, supports apprenticeships, and fosters entrepreneurship in emerging and green sectors.

We also advance labour rights and inclusion by supporting reforms that protect vulnerable workers and improve access to decent jobs. From energy sector training in Jordan to tourism and agriculture in Vietnam, our initiatives help people secure employment, build resilience, and participate fully in their economies.

Local development is most sustainable when driven by communities themselves. Cowater strengthens local governance, supports municipal planning, and facilitates partnerships between local authorities, civil society, and private sector actors. Our work promotes place-based economic growth that reflects local priorities, resources, and capacities.

By fostering inclusive planning processes, strengthening local institutions, and supporting community enterprises, we create pathways for people to access economic opportunities close to home. Our projects in fragile and conflict-affected settings demonstrate how locally led solutions can reduce inequalities, promote resilience, and contribute to national prosperity.