ECOWAS Marks IWD 2025 with Groundbreaking Partnership in Senegal
By Raymond Enoch
In a remarkable demonstration of its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development (CCDG) is set to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 5, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.
This year’s event promises to be a milestone in the region’s ongoing efforts to elevate women’s rights, with a key focus on improving access to essential health products.
The annual celebration, which aligns with the United Nations’ global theme for IWD – ‘For all women and girls: rights, equality, and empowerment’ – aims to highlight the pivotal roles that women in the ECOWAS region play within their communities. It is also a call to action for continued advocacy for their rights and equal access to opportunities. Through this celebration, ECOWAS emphasizes the need for tangible steps towards gender equality in both the public and private spheres.
The centerpiece of this year’s celebration will be the signing of a historic Partnership Agreement between ECOWAS and Senegal’s Ministry for the Family and Solidarity.
This landmark agreement signifies a step forward in empowering women across the region through a collaborative initiative to establish a local production unit for sanitary pads in Senegal.
This move is seen as an essential step in addressing the barriers that women and girls face regarding menstrual health management, a key aspect of their overall well-being.
By producing sanitary pads locally, the partnership aims to ensure that women in Senegal and the broader ECOWAS region have more consistent and affordable access to this critical health product. This initiative will not only have a direct impact on women’s health but will also create job opportunities, especially for women, and support the local economy.
As the celebration unfolds in Dakar, dignitaries, gender advocates, and community leaders will come together to mark the occasion with speeches, discussions, and a renewed commitment to women’s rights. The signing of the partnership is expected to attract attention from local and international media, further amplifying the importance of such initiatives in advancing gender equality across West Africa.
The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre’s celebration of IWD 2025 promises to be more than just a ceremony – it is a testament to the region’s dedication to achieving lasting change for women.
By continuing to build on these partnerships and initiatives, ECOWAS is taking meaningful strides toward a future where all women and girls have the rights, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
This year’s International Women’s Day is not just a reflection of progress but a call to action for continued advocacy and tangible change. As ECOWAS strengthens its efforts to empower women, the path forward looks brighter for the women and girls of West Africa.
