ECOWAS Commission Champions Gender Equity, Establishes Women in Rice Platform.
By Raymond Enoch
In a bold move to elevate gender equity within West Africa’s rice sector, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) has successfully concluded a high-level consultative meeting held on the 18th and 19th of March, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The two-day meeting gathered key stakeholders from across the region to explore and address the unique challenges faced by women in the rice industry—challenges that, until now, have hindered the full potential of this crucial sector.
The meeting marked a watershed moment for the region as participants validated a comprehensive Gender Equity Study, an essential step toward identifying gender disparities and proposing actionable solutions.
This study has become the cornerstone of a forward-thinking framework that promises to reshape the future of the rice industry by integrating gender-responsive strategies that benefit women and youth.
A key highlight of the meeting was the unanimous call from stakeholders to establish an ECOWAS Women in Rice Platform. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide women a unified voice and a critical mechanism to ensure their participation in every aspect of the rice value chain—from production to marketing. By creating such a platform, ECOWAS seeks not only to empower women but to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous rice sector that benefits all.
The meeting’s outcome is a resounding affirmation of the pivotal role women play in ensuring the sustainability and success of the rice industry. ECOWAS is now positioned at the forefront of a gender-inclusive agricultural revolution, setting a precedent for future development across other sectors in the region.
This outstanding regional women agenda is expected to drive growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure that gender equity becomes a cornerstone of agricultural policy and practice across West Africa. Through the concerted efforts of ECOWAS and its stakeholders, the path toward a more equitable, productive, and prosperous rice sector is clearer than ever.
