ECOWAS Targets Women-Led Trade Growth, Launches Regional Fortnight in Lomé

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a major regional initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening small-scale cross-border trade as part of efforts to deepen economic integration and inclusive growth across West Africa.

The programme, titled Regional Fortnight on Women’s Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade, will hold in Lomé, Togo, from June 18 to 28, 2026, bringing together women traders, policymakers, financial institutions, border management agencies, private-sector actors, and development partners from across the region.

Organised by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, the initiative is a key component of the implementation of the ECOWAS Gender and Trade Action Plan and forms part of activities marking the conclusion of the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

According to ECOWAS, the programme seeks to address longstanding barriers confronting women engaged in informal and small-scale cross-border trade, including limited access to finance, inadequate market information, bureaucratic border procedures, and weak institutional support.

Women account for a significant share of cross-border commerce in West Africa and play a critical role in food distribution, household income generation, and regional economic activity. Despite their contributions, many continue to face obstacles that hinder business expansion and profitability.

The 10-day event is expected to provide a platform for policy dialogue, networking, capacity building, and strategic engagement aimed at improving the operating environment for women traders.

One of the major highlights will be a regional awareness caravan along key trade corridors to showcase the contribution of women to regional commerce and advocate for more supportive trade policies and border practices.

Participants will also exhibit products at a regional trade fair featuring agricultural commodities, fisheries products, and artisanal goods, creating opportunities for market access, business partnerships, and investment promotion.

The programme will further include training sessions on regional and continental trade frameworks, particularly ECOWAS trade instruments and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a focus on enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of women-owned enterprises.

ECOWAS officials said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to placing women at the centre of regional economic development and integration efforts.

Development experts have described the programme as timely, noting that empowering women traders could significantly boost regional trade volumes, strengthen food security, and create employment opportunities across West Africa.

The gathering is also expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at improving access to finance, simplifying border procedures, and strengthening collaboration among governments, financial institutions, and development partners in support of women-led businesses.

As ECOWAS celebrates 50 years of regional cooperation, the Regional Fortnight on Women’s Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade is being positioned as a flagship intervention to unlock the economic potential of women entrepreneurs and accelerate sustainable development across the sub-region.

The initiative underscores growing recognition that empowering women in trade is not only a gender issue but also a strategic economic imperative for the future of West Africa.