This study aimed to examine how financial education and financial inclusion contribute to strengthening the economic and decision-making empowerment of women engaged in informal cross border trade. These women traders continue to face numerous constraints, particularly limited financial management skills and restricted access to formal financial services. In this context, the need for financial education appears both substantial and urgent for small cross-border traders. The study adopted a quantitative approach based on a survey conducted among 320 women involved in small cross-border trade operating at the Ruzizi 1 and Ruzizi 2 border posts in South Kivu, as well as at Petite Barrière and Grande Barrière in North Kivu. Data were collected using validated multi-item scales and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS version 24 in order to test the causal relationships among the study variables. The findings reveal that financial education and financial inclusion have a positive and significant effect on the economic empowerment of women cross-border traders. Women with stronger financial knowledge demonstrate greater capacities in income management, savings, and investment practices. Furthermore, they allocate part of the profits generated from their small trading activities to supporting household income, thereby enhancing their participation and decision-making power in economic and social matters within the household.