The capital of Togo has been hosting a regional conference focused on girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment since Tuesday, February 25. This event, co-organized by the World Bank Group and the Brazzaville Foundation, convenes civil society organizations (CSOs) from 22 countries in West and Central Africa.
The aim is to create a strategic platform where stakeholders can enhance their commitment and expedite actions for achieving gender equality and alleviating extreme poverty. Additionally, the forum seeks to explore improved collaboration with the Bretton Woods institution, which is actively involved in addressing these issues through its initiatives in various countries.
“Achieving gender equality is primarily a matter of justice, and it serves as a crucial driver for development. Removing gender barriers boosts economic productivity, alleviates poverty, and reinforces social cohesion. Nevertheless, advancements in this domain have been disappointingly slow, necessitating immediate action,” remarked Ousmane Diagana, the Bank’s regional vice-president, to an audience of officials, CSO representatives, and women’s associations.
Togo was selected to host the conference due to “its commitment to education and the empowerment of women.” These discussions aim to facilitate significant progress: “It is vital to devise constructive, effective, and pragmatic solutions by building upon existing achievements and fostering an inclusive development approach,” emphasized the head of government, Victoire Dogbé, at the opening of the event.
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In Togo, various initiatives and actions undertaken by public authorities, with support from national and international partners, have yielded notable results in both girls’ education (improvements in enrollment and completion rates, as well as gender parity) and women’s empowerment (through financial inclusion programs like FNFI).
The forum, which includes discussion panels and presentation sessions, will conclude on Wednesday, February 26.
