The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a pilot project in partnership with the Benue State Government to support economic empowerment and digital peacebuilding for women in Benue State, Nigeria. The initiative is being carried out through ECOWAS’s Directorate of Trade and Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs.
The project began with a five-day capacity-building program from February 9 to 13, which included a Training of Trainers (ToT) for 12 participants selected from community-based organizations, civil society groups, and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. These trainers will then deliver sessions to 60 women and girls from IDP camps and host communities.
This effort is designed as a response to ongoing humanitarian challenges and displacement issues in Benue State. It aligns with the Benue State Durable Solutions Action Plan, aiming to promote sustainable reintegration for IDPs by improving livelihoods, fostering peacebuilding efforts, and building community resilience.
Community-based organizations focused on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) play an important role in mobilizing women and girls within conflict-affected areas. The pilot aims to strengthen their technical skills while providing practical economic and digital training for affected women and girls.
The project follows ECOWAS Vision 2050, the Trade and Gender Action Plan, as well as the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy adopted in 2023. It uses a cascade approach where trained WPS organizations provide further step-down trainings within IDP camps and local communities.
At the launch event, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director at ECOWAS, stated: “The pilot is a strategic platform for empowering women-led organizations to implement and advocate for durable solutions, while leveraging digital technologies for inclusion, resilience, and peace.”
Barrister Aber Serumum Deborah, Secretary to the Benue State Government, expressed appreciation: “It will strengthen grassroots peacebuilding, enhance women’s participation in implementing the State’s Durable Solutions Action Plan, and support livelihood recovery for conflict-affected women and girls.”
Implementation will span two months with initial preparation phases followed by training delivery, monitoring activities, and documentation. Organizers expect that this model can be replicated across other ECOWAS Member States.
This initiative demonstrates ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting women’s roles in durable solutions processes throughout West Africa. By strengthening local organizations led by women through digital innovation initiatives like this one in Benue State—and laying groundwork for future regional projects—ECOWAS addresses immediate recovery needs while aiming for broader impact.
Representatives from state government agencies, humanitarian groups responding to displacement crises, civil society organizations, NGOs working with IDPs as well as officials from ECOWAS and IOM attended the launch ceremony.
ECOWAS works toward cooperation among its member states through harmonized policies on trade, transport infrastructure development,social programs, agriculture policy alignment,and legal frameworks. Its commission operates under presidential leadership supported by vice presidents.In recent years, ECOWAS has sought greater transparency through initiatives such as launching a multilingual website.Its programs cover twelve West African countries but aim for broader regional influence.