By Bertha Badu-Agyei
Accra, Sept. 9, GNA – ECOWAS has unveiled a Gender Observatory (ECOGO) digital platform, the first of its kind in Africa, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment among member states.
The ECOGO is a digital platform developed by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) for collection, analysis, storage, and provision of statistical data on the state of gender equality in the ECOWAS region to promote empowerment of women and girls.
The ECOGO or Observatory has captured data from 1960-2023 on issues of gender in the sub region with 1,700 indicators including women, peace and security, health, women’s economic rights and political engagements, and children.
Already, a three-day capacity building workshop on the operationalisation of the Observatory has been held for Focal points and other stakeholders on Gender from the member states.
Professor Fatou Sou Sarr, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, described the ECOGO as a crucial tool in the quest for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She reminded member states that it was a collective response to ensure that the data collected, and studies were translated into tangible actions and positive changes on the ground.
“The equipment and financial support that ECOWAS member states will receive will enable you to play an active role and make significant contributions to the ECOWAS vision 2050”, she said
The USAID West Africa office has made available 17 laptops and printers for the Gender Focal points and Civil Society Organizations for operationalization of the ECOGO and a financial package of USD 25,200 for Internet and coordination expenses.
Ms Sandra Oulate Fattoh, Director of the EGDC, said studies had shown that the promotion of gender equality and women and girls empowerment hinged on strong monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms and a robust database system.
A robust gender database system would also provide the gender statistics necessary for decision making and policy formulation on issues which impact on gender equality and sustainable development.
She said the EGDC since 2021, had partnered with the UNDP Regional Service Centre in Africa, to develop a framework that would equip ECOWAS region to collect data and generate viable reports on implementation and performance of ECOWAS Gender programmes and projects in the member states.
Madam Prudence Ngwenya, Director of Women, Gender, and Youth African Union (AU) Commission, said the ECOGO was not only a repository of data, but would identify trends and opportunities to fast rack implementation of gender-related commitments by member states.
She reiterated the AU’s commitment to replicate the establishment of the Observatory within all Regional blocs on the continent to create a robust database network.
Madam Cleopathra Ngongo, a representative of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa said the ECOGO was first of its kind in Africa and the AU would be aggressive in scaling it up and commended ECOWAS for taking the lead in that direction.
On her part madam Faustina Acheampong, Director of Gender at the Gender ministry who represented the Gender Minister, said Ghana was committed to Gender equality and had proved that through the passage of the Affirmative Action and Gender equality Bill.
GNA