ECOWAS PLAN OF ACTION ON GENDER AND TRADE
Over the years the links between gender and trade have received little attention and the gendered effects of trade were initially ignored because of the assumed gender neutrality of economic policies. Gender sensitivity is vital to economic growth, trade
and development. However, most national trade policies have been formulated without due consideration to their gendered impacts. This situation undervalues women’s work and obscures their roles as economic actors, since women play many keys roles in the trading process, as producers, employees, consumers, in addition to reproducing and caring for the labour force. ECOWAS has a keen commitment to promoting inclusive and gender-responsive trade facilitation across the region.
Events
ECOWAS ORGANISES INTERACTIVE SESSION TO SHARE RESULTS OF THE GENDER EQUALITY INDEX AND GENDER BAROMETER ON THE MARGINS OF CSW70
In collaboration with the Consortium for Economic and Social Research (CRES) and with financial support from the Ford Foundation, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Departmentof Human Development and Social Affairs and the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development (CCDG), organised an interactive session to present the results of the ECOWAS Gender Equality Index and the Gender Barometer during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held on 13 March 2026 in New York.
The session aimed to disseminate the findings of the ECOWAS Gender Equality Index and advocate with public authorities, civil society organisations and technical and financial partners for evidence-based public policies that promote gender equality. Presentations delivered during the session covered the ECOGEB methodological framework, the results of its Phase II, country rankings, as well as the challenges and prospects associated with the tool. These insights contribute to a better understanding of gender inequalities across the ECOWAS region and support the formulation of strategies to address identified gaps.
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