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The Conference Hall of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) hosted, on Wednesday 17 December 2025 in Lomé, Republic of Togo, a coordination and evaluation meeting on the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions within ECOWAS. The consultation aimed to introduce the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES-PI) within ECOWAS institutions, with particular focus on the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), with a view to positioning it as a regional reference institution for inclusive governance.
Initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES-PI) is a global certification framework designed to support and recognize the efforts of public institutions to achieve substantive gender equality between women and men, thereby accelerating the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Organised by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) and presided over by H.E. Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, the technical meeting brought together H.E. Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of EBID; Mrs. Binta Sanneh, UNDP Resident Representative in Togo; and H.E. Mrs. Emily Grey, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Togo. Also in attendance were Technical Directors of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, EBID, as well as representatives of partner institutions.
The meeting provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of, and review, the global state of implementation of the United Nations-led GES-PI initiative. It also served as a platform for ECOWAS institutions, notably the ECOWAS Commission and EBID, to present internal measures and ongoing efforts aimed at promoting gender equity within their respective institutions.
In her official opening address, Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja underscored that the meeting went beyond a routine activity, describing it as a strategic turning point and a call to action that places EBID at the forefront of African financial institutions committed to inclusive governance. “EBID is taking a decisive step in its commitment to gender equality and inclusion by officially integrating the GES-PI into its internal structures,” stated the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission.
For his part, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor reaffirmed EBID’s commitment to making gender equality a tangible reality within the institution in the coming years through the implementation of key strategic actions. These include the establishment of an EBID GES-PI Committee and the conduct of a baseline self-assessment, which will inform the development and validation of an institutional action plan for the 2026-2027 period. This roadmap will support the progressive implementation of the Seal and preparation for certification. “The Bank’s ultimate objective is to attain Gold certification under the Gender Equality Seal in the first half of 2027,” concluded the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
As a reminder, the GES-PI supports public institutions in integrating gender equality principles and practices into their structures, organisational culture, and policies, with the aim of strengthening their approaches and enhancing their potential impact on women’s lives, empowerment, and gender equality. The framework is built around five key domains and provides for progressive recognition of achievements through Bronze, Silver, and Gold certification levels.
The initiative is being implemented within the ECOWAS Commission by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), which successfully launched the programme on 9 September 2024 and has since overseen its deployment across various ECOWAS departments and specialised institutions.