The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the Sub-Saharan Africa Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus (SWEDD+) project, a $365 million initiative aimed at advancing gender equality, healthcare, and economic empowerment in West Africa.
The project, unveiled on Monday in Abuja, is set to benefit five countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, Senegal, and Togo, according to BusinessDay.
Speaking at the event, Damtien Tchintchibidja, ECOWAS vice-president, described the initiative as a transformative step toward addressing gender disparities and harnessing the potential of women and girls for regional development.
“This project represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to unlock the full potential of women and girls in our region. Women and girls are the backbone of our societies, and their empowerment is crucial for achieving sustainable development, economic growth, and social progress,” Tchintchibidja stated.
Funded by the World Bank, the SWEDD+ project seeks to build on the successes of the Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) initiative, which has positively impacted over two million women and girls in the past decade.
During the launch, Mohammed Pate, Nigeria’s coordinating minister of health and social welfare, emphasised the critical role of the health sector in achieving the project’s goals.
Represented by Kamil Shoretire, director of health planning, research, and statistics, Pate highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
