ECOWAS Champions Human Development at World Bank Forum in Togo, Focuses on Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment
By Raymond Enoch
In a landmark event highlighting the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission to human development, Professor Fatou SOW SARR, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, presented key initiatives at the World Bank’s Regional Civil Society Forum.
The forum, held in Lomé, Togo, brought together stakeholders from across West and Central Africa to discuss pressing social issues under the theme: “Girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment as a lever for development in West and Central Africa.”
Professor SOW SARR, invited by the World Bank to deliver a crucial message, emphasized the progress and strategies being implemented by ECOWAS in partnership with its Member States to foster human development, with particular focus on education and women’s empowerment.
During her presentation, she engaged with key figures like Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for West and Central Africa at the World Bank, fostering discussions on strengthening collaboration between ECOWAS and international partners to achieve these vital objectives.
The two-day event, co-organized by the World Bank Group and the Brazzaville Foundation, was officially opened by Togo’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mrs. Victoire DOGBÉ. With representatives from 22 countries, the forum underlined the indispensable role of civil society organizations in driving forward the agenda of girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment. These efforts, discussed passionately by leaders and participants alike, are seen as essential tools for economic development and sustainable growth in the region.
The forum not only served as a platform for sharing innovative solutions and best practices but also as a call to action for continued collaboration and support from all sectors of society. ECOWAS, through its Human Development and Social Affairs Commission, remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for girls and empowering women economically, crucial pillars for achieving broader development goals in West and Central Africa.
The event concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, as participants agreed on the importance of strengthening partnerships, mobilizing resources, and advocating for policies that prioritize the empowerment of women and girls in the region.
