The crossing English Version - International Alert

The Crossing17of Gisenyi. 22 A further reason, however, might be the size of the city of Goma, and the greateropportunities it offers.The study revealed that, for the traders from both countries, men have a capital that is three timesas large as that enjoyed by the women who practice the trade (see table 8 below).Table 8: Estimated capital of small-scale cross-border traders at time of surveySex Nationality No. Averagecurrentcapital in USDET inUSDMediancurrentcapital in USDMinimumcurrentcapital in USDF Congolese 263 27.67 28.46 20 0.53 250Rwandan 597 20.13 18.53 13 1.00 150Total 860 22.44 22.30 15 0.53 250M Congolese 57 69.76 61.89 50 6.00 300Rwandan 88 48.81 41.59 40 3.00 300Total 145 57.04 51.38 50 3.00 300T Congolese 320 35.17 39.97 25 0.53 300Rwandan 685 23.81 24.73 15 1.00 300Total 1,005 27.43 30.86 18 0.53 300Maximumcurrent capital inUSDThe fact that women use less capital than men was confirmed by the focus group discussionsorganised with the female members of the COFENOKI (Women’s Cooperative of North Kivu)and AVEHUPA. In one discussion, a female trader declared: ‘Men don’t like practicing this kindof commerce with low capital because it doesn’t allow them to get hold of much beer, but womendeal with this easily.’ 23A comparison of the difference between average current capital and average start-up capital for alltraders shows a rise of 75 percent over an average ‘business life’ of two years, 24 an increase that ismarkedly higher for Congolese (133 percent) than Rwandan traders (67 percent). Moreover, men’saverage capital significantly increased by 150 percent, compared with women’s capital (50 percent).Table 9:Comparison of start-up capital and current capitalSex Nationality No. Averagestart-upcapital inUSDAveragecurrentcapital inUSD% changecurrent/start-upMedianstart-upcapital inUSDMediancurrentcapital inUSDF Congolese 263 16.50 27.67 68 10 20 100Rwandan 597 13.00 20.13 55 9 13 44Total 860 14.07 22.44 59 10 15 50M Congolese 57 33.57 69.76 108 23 50 115Rwandan 88 19.75 48.81 147 15 40 174Total 145 25.19 57.04 126 20 50 150T Congolese 320 19.54 35.17 80 11 25 133Rwandan 685 13.87 23.81 72 9 15 67Total 1005 15.68 27.43 75 10 18 78% changecurrent/start-up22 Interview with the Vice-Mayor of Gisenyi,, 7th February 201023 In the absence of accounts from male traders, this comment’s validity cannot be verified.24 The average duration of traders’ activity in the small-scale cross-border commerce is estimated at four years.