ECOWAS launches Gender Observatory to advance equality and empowerment in West Africa

To promote gender equality and women's empowerment across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the ECOWAS Gender Observatory (ECOGO) at a ceremony held in Accra on September 6, 2024.

This initiative aims to enhance the region's capacity to monitor and address gender disparities, paving the way for data-driven decision-making and fostering accountability across ECOWAS member states.

Key figures from the ECOWAS Commission, the African Union (AU), and several international development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and USAID, gathered to celebrate this milestone.

Speakers emphasized the Observatory's role in advancing gender equality and its importance for regional development.

Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Director of the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission, while addressing the gathering called the launch of ECOGO a "significant step forward" in Africa's collective journey toward gender equality.

"The ECOWAS Gender Observatory is not just a repository of data; it is a dynamic platform that will enable us to collect, analyze, and disseminate gender-disaggregated data across the region," she remarked.

Ngwenya highlighted the observatory’s role in providing insights into gender disparities and its potential to facilitate targeted interventions that address the needs of women and youth.

The observatory is designed to support evidence-based decision-making by enabling policymakers to better understand issues of gender inequality in sectors such as education, healthcare, economic participation, and political representation.

This will, in turn, help ECOWAS member states develop policies that promote greater gender equity and inclusion.

Dr. Mathias Naab, Director of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, underscored the Observatory’s ability to foster empowerment for women and youth across the region.

"The creation and launch of the ECOWAS Gender Observatory represent a crucial and timely endeavor," Naab said, acknowledging the collaboration between ECOWAS, UNDP, USAID, and other partners.

Naab reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to expanding this initiative beyond ECOWAS to include other regional economic communities, such as COMESA, ECCAS, and IGAD.

The ECOWAS Gender Observatory aligns with regional and continental frameworks such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Maputo Protocol, both of which emphasize gender equality as a fundamental driver of sustainable development.

One of the key goals of the Observatory is to create a coordinated network of gender observatories across Africa.

This integration will allow ECOWAS and other regional communities to share best practices and innovative solutions for advancing gender equality and youth empowerment.

Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, expressed her pride in the launch of ECOGO.

"The ECOWAS Gender Observatory represents a crucial tool in our quest for gender equality and women's empowerment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the data collected are translated into tangible actions," Sarr stated.

USAID West Africa also played a pivotal role in supporting the initiative by providing essential resources, including 17 laptops and printers, financial support for internet access, and a consultant to assist in the platform's implementation.



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