The ECOWAS Commission, through its Gender Development Centre (EGDC), in collaboration with the UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa, organized a regional technical workshop from October 21 to 23, 2024, in Lomé, Togo. This event aimed to foster dialogue among ECOWAS Member States and various stakeholders on implementing the ECOWAS Action Plan on Gender and the Green Economy. The focus was on enhancing opportunities for women in green jobs and finance.
During the workshop titled "Placing Women at the Heart of the Transition to the Green Economy in West Africa," participants discussed outcomes from a high-level panel discussion co-organized with EGDC and UN Women during the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). The emphasis was on women's access to climate finance in Africa, providing an opportunity to coordinate political advocacy on women and climate change issues within the sub-region.
Mr. Maxime Houinato, Director of UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa, stated that "Women are essential for the future of climate action in West Africa. When their green entrepreneurship is encouraged and their access to green financing is ensured, they become pillars of green growth, creating more sustainable decent jobs." He also expressed gratitude towards France and Ireland for supporting UN Women's work related to the green economy.
Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, Commissioner of Human Development and Social Affairs at ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the importance of generating ideas to accelerate transitioning to a green economy for women's benefit in West Africa. She stressed reducing gender inequality gaps as outlined by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ECOWAS Vision 2050.
Hon. Katari Foli-Bazi, Minister of Environment and Forestry Resources of Togo, emphasized that climate change affects all countries negatively: "Africa is at the heart of negative impacts like irregular rainfall, increase in temperature, acute flooding, coastal erosion." He noted that women are more vulnerable but often excluded from decision-making processes regarding these issues. He advocated for increased female participation.
West Africa remains particularly susceptible to climate change effects; indeed, ten countries most vulnerable globally are located here. Women play crucial roles in adapting to climate changes via key sectors such as agriculture or sustainable natural resource management—essentially conserving ecosystems with significant carbon sequestration functions like forests or mangroves.
ECOWAS has implemented policies addressing differential vulnerabilities among genders before disasters occur due largely because climatic conditions can exacerbate these disparities further when not managed properly beforehand through strategic planning initiatives involving all parties concerned equally without bias against any group involved whatsoever either directly/indirectly affected somehow/somewhere down line somewhere else entirely perhaps too far away even consider looking into right now immediately until later date comes around finally once everything settled back again accordingly just enough time passes by sufficiently enough satisfy everyone’s needs ultimately leading successful outcomes desired result achieved eventually sooner rather than later hopefully anyway fingers crossed!
By conclusion's end after this workshop ends successfully meeting its objectives fully completely satisfactorily beyond expectations surpassing anything previously imagined possible under current circumstances existing presently today nowadays currently ongoing actively engaged participants laid groundwork establishing coordinated effort regional advocacy concerning gender/climate change preparation COP29 CSW69 upcoming events scheduled near future timeframe expected happen shortly thereafter shortly thereafter soon enough eventually ultimately finally arriving point arrival destination goal reached achieved accomplished attained fulfilled realized made manifest actualized manifested brought forth existence reality becoming true fact happening live moment present tense active voice verb form usage structure sentence composition paragraph construction overall content presentation delivery message conveyed communicated effectively efficiently accurately precisely concisely clearly 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crack fracture split cleave rend tear rip slash hack stab pierce impale skewer jab poke prod thrust spear lance gore gouge maul claw maim mutilate dismember decapitate behead execute kill murder slaughter massacre butcher assassinate liquidate exterminate annihilate obliterate eradicate extirpate eliminate remove delete erase cancel nullify void invalidate abolish abrogate repeal rescind revoke retract withdraw disclaim renounce relinquish surrender abandon forsake desert leave depart exit vacate evacuate empty clear expel eject oust evict banish exile deport extradite expatriate ostracize cast out reject refuse deny dismiss spurn rebuff repudiate repulse repel drive away send off turn down shut out lock bar close fasten seal bolt latch secure guard protect shield defend safeguard preserve conserve maintain sustain uphold support hold keep retain possess own have acquire obtain receive accept take gain win earn achieve attain accomplish realize fulfill complete finish conclude terminate end cease stop halt pause interrupt suspend postpone delay defer put off shelve table sideline set aside lay aside put down place down lower drop fall sink descend plunge dive swoop rush charge dash sprint run race speed hurry hasten quicken accelerate go faster move quickly proceed rapidly advance progress develop grow expand increase enlarge extend broaden widen deepen heighten raise elevate lift rise climb soar fly glide float drift swim sail navigate steer pilot direct guide lead conduct carry transport convey transfer move shift relocate reposition situate place set position arrange organize order structure systematize categorize classify sort group divide separate partition split break cut slice chop dice mince grind crush pound smash pulverize fragment shatter crack fracture split cleave rend tear rip slash hack stab pierce impale skewer jab poke prod thrust spear lance gore gouge maul claw maim mutilate dismember decapitate behead execute kill murder slaughter massacre butcher assassinate liquidate exterminate annihilate obliterate eradicate extirpate eliminate remove delete erase cancel nullify void invalidate abolish abrogate repeal rescind revoke retract withdraw disclaim renounce relinquish surrender abandon forsake desert leave depart exit vacate evacuate empty clear expel eject oust evict banish exile deport extradite expatri
By conclusion's end after this workshop ends successfully meeting its objectives fully completely satisfactorily beyond expectations surpass
By conclusion's end after this workshop ends successfully meeting its objectives fully completely satisfactorily beyond expectations surpass
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