EGCD AND FBA COMMIT TO ADVANCING THE WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY AGENDA WITHIN THE ECOWAS COMMISSION AND ITS MEMBER STATES

From 12 to 16 January 2026, the ECOWAS Gender Development Center (EGDC) conducted a working visit to the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Swedish government agency for peace and security, in the Republic of Sweden.

Led by Ms. Sandra Oulaté Fattoh, Director of the EGDC, the delegation was welcomed by the highest authorities of FBA, notably Mr. Per Olsson Fridh, Chief Executive Officer of FBA, and Mr. Tobias Petrelius, Head of FBA’s Africa Unit, along with their colleagues.

One of the objectives was to examine the mandates of the two institutions in order to strengthen and better coordinate the FPS Agenda within the ECOWAS structures responsible for this area.

The various discussions between the two delegations identified opportunities to improve coordination, streamline processes and strengthen gender-sensitive approaches in regional peace and security efforts.

Other avenues for collaboration were discussed in relation to women’s leadership, including support for the EGDC’s Legacy Project on women’s political participation and leadership in ECOWAS and support for the ECOWAS Pre-Summit on ‘Women in Governance, Peace, Security and Regional Integration’; two topics that are among the key themes for discussion on the future of the Community, alongside the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS.

The mission was called upon to meet with the Head of the West Africa Division of the Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sweden, Mr. Dario Jovic, and his team.

A Memorandum of Understanding is currently being drafted to formalise the partnership between EGDC and FBA.