General Information
The WiST Initiative is an effort that aims to enhance meaningful participation of women in strategic trade management (STM) and promote their representation in leadership roles. The Initiative focuses on three pillars: Empowerment, Capacity Building, and Community Engagement.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program launched the Women in Strategic Trade (WiST) Initiative, which is now a joint venture with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Export Controls (ONEC). The Initiative was launched in Singapore in 2022 through an inaugural annual forum in the Southeast Asian region to cultivate gender parity, highlight the roles and contributions of women in STM, and provide a forum to share experiences, best practices, and lessons learned to advance in the STM field.
The WiST Initiative is managed by the WiST Secretariat, which is responsible for WiST’s strategic direction, governance, planning and executing WiST activities, and managing and developing outreach and communication activities. The WiST Secretariat is largely made up of U.S. government representatives with hopes of expanding to include representatives from other governments around the world.
The WiST Initiative is managed by the United States and is geared towards national and international audiences. The Initiative was originally piloted in the Southeast Asian region in September 2022. The goal is to expand WiST globally.
The Initiative encourages other governments around the globe to incorporate the WiST mission and principles into their own programming and activities to enhance meaningful participation of women in strategic trade management (STM) and promote their representation in leadership roles.
The WiST Initiative is currently funded by the United States Departments of State and Energy (DOS and DOE, respectively). The WiST Initiative is administered by DOS’ Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program and DOE’s Office of Nuclear Export Controls (ONEC). Governments and international organizations are encouraged to reach out to the WiST Secretariat to discuss how to integrate WiST’s mission and principles into existing programming.
The WiST Initiative is different because it is specifically focused on enhancing meaningful participation of women specifically in strategic trade management(STM) and promote their representation in leadership roles in the STM field.
Underrepresentation in Strategic Trade Management
Women are underrepresented in strategic trade management (STM), particularly in scientific, enforcement, and leadership roles. Higher engagement of women in strategic trade management (STM) results in holistic solutions to manage strategic trade and prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation. The WiST Initiative exists to mitigate the representation challenge by enhancing meaningful participation of women in STM and promote their representation in leadership roles.
Yes, representation problems for women do exist. First, there is a lack of meaningful participation. Giving a woman a seat at the table is not the same as giving them a voice to speak. Second, there is a lack of representation in leadership positions. For example, based on a study conducted by LinkedIn of members’ job profiles from 163 countries, data shows that women account for 41.9% of the global workforce in 2023, yet the share of women in senior leadership positions (Director, Vice President, C-suite positions) is at 32.2%, nearly 10 percentage points lower. Women’s representation in the Customs field is also worthy of note. There are fewer than 15 women acting as heads of Customs across the globe.
Studies have consistently shown that gender parity within teams leads to greater innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Innovation is strongly dependent on collaboration, and evidence reveals that the presence of women enhances group processes. Gender equity enhances innovation in strategic trade management and results in countries that are more secure, with the ultimate result being holistic solutions to prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and manage strategic trade.
Involvement in the WiST Initiative
There are many opportunities to be involved with the WiST Initiative. For individuals, this includes serving as a mentor or mentee as part of the WiST Mentorship Initiative, acting as a speaker at WiST engagements, attending WiST engagements as a participant, and advocating for WiST principles in your own activities!
Guidance on this is forthcoming; stay tuned!
Being involved with the WiST Initiative offers opportunities to receive information on the Initiative’s events and to participate in WiST programming efforts, as administered by the WiST Secretariat. Supporting the WiST Secretariat offers opportunities to contribute to the planning, development, and management of the Initiative’s events and network of practitioners. In general, governments and organizations may support the Secretariat.
The WiST Initiative is open to all genders, professional sectors, and regions. Men and women, students, and mid-career and leadership professionals can be involved! Both individuals and governments can contribute in personal and professional capacities and can contribute in monetary and non-monetary ways. Individuals can contribute their time and expertise through serving as mentors, speakers, and trainers. Governments may contribute funds or cost-share by hosting events or other programming efforts.
Yes! Men play a pivotal role by promoting the WiST Initiative and implementing its principles because they occupy key leadership and management positions within the strategic trade management (STM) field. Men have an opportunity to: contribute to adopting policies and strategies to foster meaningful participation in the STM field, increase allyship with women leadership, and champion women to advance professionally by not only sharing but creating opportunities for women to contribute to the STM field.
WiST Activities & Events
The Initiative is excited to hear from you! Please contact the Initiative via email using this email address: [email protected].
The Initiative would love to hear from you! Please contact the Initiative via email using this email address: [email protected].
Other Gender Equity Efforts & WiST Initiative
Yes! The WiST Initiative’s mission and objectives support and complement the United Nations goals for women in the international peace and security field, specifically United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and UNSCR 2663 on Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Though the WiST Initiative has not yet conducted any coordinated events with other gender equity-focused entities, the Initiative absolutely can and is interested in such collaboration. If your organization wants to collaborate, please contact the Initiative using this email address: [email protected].