Joint workshop validates new features for "50 Million African Women Speak" platform

A three-day workshop, held from May 15 to 17, 2024, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was organized by the ECOWAS Centre for Gender and Development (ECGD). The event brought together experts from ECOWAS, COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), EAC (East African Community), women users of the 50 Million African Women Speak Platform (50MAWSP), and partners such as the Spanish Cooperation, the African Development Bank (AfDB), USAID West Africa, and the UN Women Office for West and Central Africa.

The workshop was officially opened by the Director of Cabinet of the Minister in charge of Regional Integration and Ivorians Living Abroad. The keynote address was delivered by the Director of ECGD on behalf of Professor Fatou SOW SARR, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs. Other speakers at the opening ceremony included representatives from various organizations including ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador of Spain to Côte d’Ivoire, AfDB Representative, COMESA Gender Director, and Director of Cabinet of Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for Social Affairs, Women and Children.

The primary aim was to validate new functionalities proposed to enhance the 50MAWSP platform. These improvements include enhancing user interface and experience, content promotion, networking functions, and analytical capabilities. Additionally, discussions focused on terms of reference for recruiting a firm to evaluate the first phase of the project and exploring ways to make the platform autonomous and self-financing during its second phase.

At the conclusion of the workshop, representatives from ECOWAS, COMESA, and EAC signed a Workshop Outcome Declaration summarizing agreements on next steps for project implementation.

Launched in November 2019 across 38 African countries, 50MAWSP aims to support economic empowerment among women entrepreneurs in Africa by providing essential financial and non-financial information to facilitate business growth.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the outcomes. The closing ceremony featured remarks from representatives including USAID's representative who reiterated ongoing support for women's development across Africa. Additional speakers included UN-WOMEN Representative, EAC Senior Gender Programme Officer, COMESA Director of Gender and Social Affairs, and ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire.

The workshop was officially closed by Ms Sandra OULATE FATTOH on behalf of Commissioner Fatou SOW SARR.