ECOWAS Gender Centre and Swedish Academy Forge Partnership to Bolster West African Peace and Security
ABUJA, Nigeria – In a significant move to fortify regional stability, the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) and Sweden’s Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) have concluded a high-level training initiative aimed at embedding gender expertise deeper into West Africa’s peace and security architecture.
The intensive workshop, held from November 4th to 6th, 2025, brought together EGDC staff in Nigeria’s capital to sharpen their capabilities as senior gender advisors within the ECOWAS Commission. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in addressing the complex challenges of conflict and security through a gendered lens.
Building Institutional Capacity for Inclusive Security
The three-day session served as a strategic platform to dissect the persistent hurdles in mainstreaming gender perspectives across ECOWAS’s diverse structures. Participants engaged with cutting-edge research and practical frameworks, including strategic gender advisory services and SWOT analysis tools, to diagnose institutional strengths and vulnerabilities.
Central to the dialogue was an assessment of the EGDC’s tangible progress in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda—a global framework that recognizes the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and their critical role in peacebuilding. How can regional bodies effectively translate this agenda from policy into practice? The workshop sought to answer this very question.
A Forward-Looking Commitment to Collaboration
In a region where instability often threatens development gains, the partnership between the EGDC and FBA has emerged as a cornerstone for sustainable change. Both institutions have pledged to continue this series of capacity-building exercises, with a sharp focus on improving coordination both within ECOWAS and with external partners.
The future roadmap involves harmonizing institutional mandates, reinforcing gender-sensitive approaches to conflict prevention, and amplifying ECOWAS’s overall contribution to peace and security. This isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about weaving inclusivity into the very fabric of regional security initiatives. By aligning their efforts, the EGDC and FBA aim to ensure that peacebuilding in West Africa is not only stronger but also more representative.
Source: ECOWAS Gender Development Centre