An ECOWAS Regional Technical Dialogue to strengthen the role of women in conflict resolution in West Africa takes place in Senegal

The ECOWAS Center for the Development of Women organized from December 19 to 21, 2023 a regional technical dialogue with the objective to strengthen the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts in West Africa. This meeting is part of the ECOWAS-Spain project for which the foundation is the main partner. The project’s aim is to include a gender perspective in prevention, mediation, maintenance and post-conflict economic reconstruction and is part of the implementation of the memorandum of agreement signed between ECOWAS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain in February 2021 on “Women, Peace and Security”.

The meeting was attended by prominent women who have impacted the recent history of conflicts in the West African sub-region and even in Central Africa. This technical dialogue provided a forum for consultation and exchange of experiences on a range of issues that should lead to concrete actions based on ongoing dialogue. The technical workshop also brought together field experts and researchers to generate knowledge and produce data on the various conflicts, the forms of women’s participation and the solutions found. The purpose of this meeting was to generate knowledge to develop a roadmap and lead to the design and implementation of a platform of federative structures, networks of experts and resource persons with proven experience in the field of peace and security.

Our CEO, Teresa Langle, participated to share the experience of the foundation, as a pioneer in the implementation of projects linked to this agenda. Through the Women’s Alliance for Peace, an initiative in collaboration with the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the foundation works in countries such as Mali, DRC, Central African Republic and Mozambique to encourage women to take part in the peace processes in their respective countries. African leaders, collaborators and friends of the foundation such as Hibaaq Osman, Oumou Sall Seck and Caddy Adzuba also participated in this dialogue.

As ECOWAS’ operational body for gender equality, the ECOWAS Centre for the Development of Women (ECGD) supports the formulation and implementation of ECOWAS policies on Women, Peace and Security, in collaboration with the 15 member states and civil society organizations. Initiatives such as this are undoubtedly necessary if we are to ensure the participation of women in decision-making processes and the promotion of a culture of peace on the continent.