Public Health Crisis and Mobility Restrictions: What Impact Did the Ebola Epidemic Have on Women Engaged in Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade in Goma and Bukavu?

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Abstract: This study examines the effects of restrictive measures implemented during the Ebola outbreak on the activities of women engaged in informal cross-border trade between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda within the African Great Lakes region. A survey was conducted among 338 women cross-border traders in Goma and Bukavu. The findings reveal that 59.8% of the respondents managed to continue their business activities under difficult conditions, while 66% experienced a significant decline in their monthly profits, as confirmed by a Chi-square test (p < 0.001). Border closures also disrupted supply chains, increased purchase prices, and raised transaction costs. To sustain their businesses, 66.3% of the women adopted a collective procurement (group purchasing) system, thereby confirming the hypothesis that collective action constitutes an effective resilience strategy. Despite this adaptive response, the traders faced delivery delays, reduced control over their goods, and limited institutional support. The study concludes that regional mechanisms capable of balancing public health protection with the continuity of cross-border trade are essential to strengthening the economic resilience of women traders in the African Great Lakes region.