THE EGDC AND THE AFDB OPEN NEW HORIZONS FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, CLIMATE ACTION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA

THE EGDC AND THE AFDB OPEN NEW HORIZONS FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, CLIMATE ACTION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA

The ECOWAS Center for Gender Development (EGDC), led by its Director, Ms. Sandra OULATÉ FATTOH, conducted a technical working visit to the African Development Bank (AfDB) on September 15, 2026, in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. This high-level meeting brought together officials from the Bank’s Regional Integration, Climate Change, and Gender Departments. The main objective of this mission was to present the EGDC’s new flagship projects and to explore opportunities for technical, financial, and institutional cooperation that could support their implementation at the regional level.

This initiative comes at a time when ECOWAS is strengthening its strategic priorities in support of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, climate resilience, and regional integration. Faced with growing challenges related to climate change, persistent economic inequalities, and the financing needs of women-led initiatives, the EGDC has undertaken to develop innovative regional programs that require enhanced support from technical and financial partners.