The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) organized a three-day training session for EGDC Gender Focal Points from Member States and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from September 4 to 6, 2024. The event was held in Accra, Ghana, with support from USAID’s Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) in West Africa Programme, UNDP, and GIZ.
The Regional Training Workshop is part of ECOWAS’ effort to build capacity across the region for the effective operationalization of the ECOWAS Gender Observatory. The training aimed to equip Focal Points of the ECOWAS Gender Centre and civil society stakeholders from ECOWAS Member States with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage the ECOWAS Gender Observatory.
The ECOWAS Gender Observatory is a regional digital platform designed for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on gender programmes, projects, and activities in member states. It also serves as a gender statistics database on the state of gender equality and women’s empowerment within ECOWAS member states.
Mrs. Sandra Oulaté Fattoh, Director of the EGDC, welcomed participants to the training session. She emphasized “the strong political will and commitment of the ECOWAS leadership to continue to support the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through initiatives such as the ECOWAS Gender Observatory.” She further stated that “the gender equality agenda will continue to be sustained, supported and prioritized” in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 aspirations, and ideals of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
Ms. Cleopatra Phiri-Hurungo, speaking on behalf of Dr. Mathias Saab, Director UNDP-Regional Service Centre for Africa, highlighted that “the ECOWAS region has made remarkable strides in promoting gender equality.”
