ECOWAS, Folke Bernadotte Academy Deepen Peace Security and Gender-Focused Partnership in West Africa. By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a decisive step toward reinforcing its regional peace and security framework, placing gender-responsive approaches at the heart of conflict prevention and peacebuilding across West Africa.
At a high-level meeting held on 10 December 2025 in Abuja, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs (DHAS), received Ms Lena Kjellberg, Head of the Regional Africa Programme at the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), marking what both sides described as a new and strategic stage in their institutional partnership.
The engagement, facilitated through the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), signals a renewed commitment to integrating gender-sensitive processes into ECOWAS’ peace and security architecture at a time when the region continues to grapple with political instability, insecurity, and humanitarian pressures.
Speaking through the outcomes of the meeting, ECOWAS officials underscored that the partnership goes beyond symbolic cooperation, offering a structured platform for joint reflection, policy dialogue, and practical initiatives aimed at strengthening inclusive peacebuilding mechanisms. Central to the collaboration is the recognition that sustainable peace in West Africa cannot be achieved without the meaningful inclusion of women and gender perspectives in mediation, early warning, conflict prevention, and post-conflict recovery efforts.
The partnership between EGDC and the Sweden-based Folke Bernadotte Academy is also designed to foster mutual learning, enabling both institutions to exchange experiences on institutional frameworks, operational tools, and best practices in advancing gender equality and peacebuilding. This exchange is expected to enhance capacity within ECOWAS structures while aligning regional efforts with global standards in gender-responsive peace and security programming.
While the immediate focus remains on peace and security, both parties affirmed that the collaboration will remain flexible and open to broader gender and development issues affecting the West African sub-region. These include women’s leadership, social inclusion, and the protection of vulnerable populations in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Observers note that the renewed partnership comes at a critical juncture, as ECOWAS seeks innovative and inclusive approaches to address emerging security challenges. By deepening collaboration with the Folke Bernadotte Academy, ECOWAS is positioning gender equality not as a peripheral concern, but as a strategic pillar in building lasting peace and stability across West Africa.
