By Rakiya A.Muhammad
Historically, women in West Africa have faced many cultural, social, and economic barriers. These include limited access to education due to early marriage and cultural norms, systemic political disenfranchisement, lack of economic opportunities such as access to credit and land ownership, and societal norms that often relegate women to subordinate roles. These challenges have stifled women’s potential for generations.
However, in a rapidly evolving region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making significant strides in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equity, offering a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and optimistic future. These strides, though not without challenges, are a testament to the potential for change and progress in the region.
Established in 1975, ECOWAS has evolved into a key player in advocating for gender equality, proving that it’s not just about borders but about balance, too! With ingenious strategies and a dash of focused efforts, it aims to uplift women across its 15 member states.
ECOWAS President Dr Omar Touray is all in on promoting women’s inclusivity, pledging to lead the charge with some great strategies under the grand umbrella of the ECOWAS Vision 2050, a comprehensive plan that envisions a West Africa where gender equality is not just a goal, but a reality by 2050.
Beacons of Inclusivity
The commission’s Gender Development Centre, a beacon of inclusivity, orchestrates programs encouraging collaboration and rallying for women’s empowerment throughout West Africa. Its mission? To sculpt a West African society where justice and security are the norm, gender participation and control in development activities must be front and centre.
Mrs Sandra Oulaté Fattoh is the Director of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), which has established National Gender Focal Points across the ECOWAS Member States. Since 2010, it has been rolling out a technical and financial support program for women engaged in agriculture, fishery, and craft product processing, complete with grants, equipment, and capacity building.
The EGDC director says the program is about tackling poverty and improving living conditions for women’s groups. It boosts women’s economic prowess and enlightens them on the art of networking with fellow African women entrepreneurs. The program has broadened its horizons to embrace young women entrepreneurs in agro-industry, incubation centres, startups, digital jobs, plastic recycling, and green jobs.
Fattah emphasizes the unwavering determination and dedication of the ECOWAS leadership to keep championing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This steadfast commitment is not just inspiring, but also a powerful motivator for all those involved in the fight for gender equity.
“The gender equality agenda will continue to be sustained, supported and prioritised to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the ideals of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 in the ECOWAS region,” she assures.
Several initiatives act as templates for transformation, such as the ECOWAS Programme on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOW-GEN), launched in 2013. Its goal? To champion equality in energy development by ensuring equal access to resources and equal say in the decision-making processes that mould and impact energy growth in West Africa.
Yet another initiative striding towards gender parity is the 50 Million African Women Project, which focuses on establishing a network of women entrepreneurs, fostering sustainable development, and offering financial support to women in business.
The ongoing efforts to promote women’s economic inclusivity include the ECOWAS Trade and Gender Action Plan, the ECOWAS Regional Strategy for Implementing AfCFTA, and the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy, which are designed to empower women entrepreneurs and address their challenges.
“In ECOWAS, MSMEs make up a significant portion of our economy, with women leading many of these businesses, especially in Small Scale Cross-Border Trade (SSCBT),” highlights Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.
However, she notes that women-led businesses face persistent challenges in accessing finance and expanding into new markets, underscoring the commission’s promotion of women’s economic inclusivity.
Since 2010, the Scholarship Program has been on a mission to tackle gender inequalities and disparities in the technical and professional realms, all while rolling out the red carpet for girls from less fortunate backgrounds to access top-notch training.
One of the shining stars in public institutions is the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES-PI), an initiative to boost their ability to incorporate gender equality into their policies and practices.
In describing the GES—PI, Dr Mathias Naab, Director of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, notes that it represents a powerful tool that can transform the gender landscape across West Africa, instilling a sense of hope in the audience.
Two flagship organisations in the subregion—the Women’s Peace and Security Network in the ECOWAS space (REPSFECO) and the West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF)—are prominent in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and consolidation, mediation, the promotion of female leadership, support for good governance, and citizenship issues, among other things. REPSFECO and ROAJELF play a crucial role in advocating for women’s rights and participation in peace and security initiatives, thereby contributing to the overall development and stability of the region.
“Sustainable peace can only be achieved when peace process platforms create space for women’s full and pivotal participation,” notes Resident Ambassador Josephine Nkruman at ECOWAS.
The transformative impact of these initiatives across ECOWAS member states is genuinely inspiring. Women are stepping into leadership roles, starting businesses, and changing the narrative, offering a hopeful vision for the future.
“Before the programme, we used traditional methods in drying our products, “recalls Mme Aokia Dounbla, Trained Women Leader in Mali, speaking on the ECOWAS Programme on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOW-GEN),
“The project helped us improve our processes with solar equipment, which makes our work easier and faster.”
The ECOWAS prize, which acknowledges exemplary agricultural innovations by women in West Africa’s agricultural research sector, is widely regarded as a significant enhancement of women’s contributions.
Their recognition provides a momentous source of encouragement for Mrs Sambou Nadine, Mrs Ndeye Amy Kebe, and Mrs Mounjouenpou Pauline, who clinched the awards in the categories of innovations to stem low agricultural production, innovations to mitigate the increase in climatic risks, and innovations in pest control, respectively.
Another exciting venture is the ECOWAS Gender Observatory, which Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, describes as a crucial and inspiring tool in their quest for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Think of the ECOWAS Gender Observatory as a treasure trove of stats, providing reliable and trustworthy information on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ECOWAS region.
The digital hub monitors gender programs, projects, and activities across member states.
Room for Improvement
Yet, the journey to gender equality is not a walk in the park.
“We’re making strides, but societies need to shift their perspectives. Empowering women is essential, yet we find ourselves up against some stubborn cultural roadblocks that won’t budge,” says Ayo Ade, a women’s rights advocate.
Veronica Sesay, the president of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, ECOFEPA, underscores the need for women to be recognised more for their contributions to the progress and development of the West African region.
She advocates for more appointive and elective positions for women in government by Affirmative Action.
“For us to give real meaning to the commitment of our leaders to eliminate gender inequalities and disparities in our region, ECOWAS Institutions, Departments, and Agencies must begin with ourselves, “acknowledges the EGDC Director.
“We must first take the necessary steps to mainstream gender in our strategies and programmes and ensure that the internal structures and processes within ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies are all gender sensitive.”
She highlights the EGDC’s vision to foster the development of a West African society characterised by justice and security, where women and men are empowered to participate, make decisions, exert control, and reap the benefits of all development activities.
