ECOWAS Gender Focal Points Chart Future Course at Strategic Summit in Senegal”

By Raymond Enoch

In a defining move toward gender equality and institutional effectiveness, the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) convened its Annual Information and Sharing Meeting with Gender Focal Points.

The gathering, held in the serene coastal city of Saly – Mbour 15th to 17th May 2025, marked a pivotal moment not just for the EGDC, but also for the wider ECOWAS community as it celebrates its golden jubilee.

The summit brought together gender focal points from across ECOWAS Member States with a clear mission: to strengthen their role in implementing EGDC programmes and to explore fresh strategies for more impactful gender advocacy across the region. The meeting served as a critical checkpoint for the Centre to assess its achievements and recalibrate its direction under the 2023–2027 strategic plan, focusing on seven key priority areas.

“This year’s meeting was not just a tradition—it was a transformation,” said an EGDC representative. “We are entering the next 50 years with stronger tools, clearer strategies, and more connected focal points.”

Central to the event were technical training and information-sharing sessions designed to enhance capacity in key operational areas. Participants were introduced to the EGDC’s evolving digital ecosystem, along with hands-on modules on data collection and monitoring tools—ECOGO and ECOGEB—as well as critical insights into healthcare economics.

As the region looks ahead to a future defined by resilience and inclusion, the 2025 summit stands as a powerful reminder that gender equity is not a sidebar—but a central pillar of ECOWAS’ development vision.