The ECOWAS Commission, together with the NGO Women in Law and Development in Africa (West Africa chapter), held a training workshop for women traders and entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector from November 24 to 27, 2025, in Dakar. The event focused on Community texts related to trade and the free movement of persons.
In his opening speech, the ECOWAS representative said that the workshop was part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS. He highlighted “the importance of the social and economic inclusion of women and young people, which is one of the pillars of Vision 2050 and the Strategic Objectives of the ECOWAS Commission.” He also mentioned instruments adopted by ECOWAS aimed at empowering women traders, such as the ECOWAS Gender and Trade Action Plan, strategies for implementing AfCFTA and e-commerce, and an action plan within the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee’s Women in Trade Sub-Committee. According to him, “the objective of the workshop is to strengthen the competitiveness of women traders so that they can better integrate into regional trade and contribute to reducing unemployment and poverty.”
A representative from Senegal’s Ministry of Industry and Trade welcomed this initiative by ECOWAS and WILDAF. He noted that despite their significance in West Africa’s economy, SMEs and women traders face many structural challenges. He called for improvements in access to finance, infrastructure, digitalisation, and regional markets. Addressing participants directly he said: “He stressed the need to improve access to finance, infrastructure, digitalisation and regional markets, while calling on participants to seize this opportunity to strengthen their role in cross-border trade.” He concluded with encouragements about gender equality promotion and development for micro-, small- ,and medium-sized enterprises.
The representative from Senegal’s Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity referred to findings from an awareness campaign conducted by ECOWAS along major trading corridors. She pointed out that administrative burdens as well as harassment at borders are frequent obstacles faced by women traders. She encouraged participants “to make the workshop a space for learning and solidarity,” reaffirmed her ministry’s support for these actors in regional integration efforts.
The WiLDAF–West Africa Coordinator’s representative reiterated similar challenges faced by women traders—such as difficulties accessing information or security risks—and outlined aims for strengthening understanding among participants regarding rights protection mechanisms: “She indicated that the workshop aims to strengthen women’s capacities to better understand their rights, master legal instruments and trade facilitation mechanisms, improve compliance … develop safe business practices.” She emphasized WiLDAF-AO’s ongoing commitment toward women’s economic empowerment.
Over four days attendees received training on fundamental principles regarding human rights issues relevant specifically for female cross-border traders—including violations experienced or inequalities encountered—as well as practical information about procedures involved with residence status or establishment under community rules. The program included skill-building sessions on communication strategies; advocacy techniques; leadership; community mobilisation; policy influence; all intended so participants could defend their interests more effectively within both national contexts or broader West African trade governance frameworks.