The ECOWAS Commission has launched the Sub-Saharan Africa Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus (SWEDD+) project, in Abuja.
The Launch is a build up on the successes of its predecessor, SWEDD, which has empowered over two million girls since 2015.
The initiative, presided over by the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Madame Damtien Tchintchibidja, is aim to further address gender inequality and foster the economic and social empowerment of women and girls across the region.
The 365 million dollar SWEDD+ project, funded by the World Bank with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), initially targets five countries—Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, Senegal, and Togo—while engaging regional institutions such as ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS.
Highlighting its importance, Madame Tchintchibidja stated, “SWEDD+ is a call to action for countries to invest in reducing the vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and young women, enabling them to become active contributors to the economic and social development of their nations.
“The program will expand interventions that have already made significant impacts in Education with over 1 million girls have stayed in school, supported by scholarships, meals, and transportation.”
The event, attended by key stakeholders including ministers, development partners, and regional leaders, also served as a platform to assess SWEDD’s achievements and outline the roadmap for SWEDD+ implementation.
