ECOWAS Development Bank Rolls Out Gender Equality Framework GES-PI

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Wednesday, 17 December 2025 18:59

ECOWAS Development Bank Rolls Out Gender Equality Framework GES-PI

(Togo First) - The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) on Wednesday launched the rollout of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES-PI), an initiative aimed at strengthening inclusive governance and equity within regional institutions.

The launch was held at the bank’s headquarters in Lomé, Togo, during a coordination meeting of ECOWAS institutions on the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal.

The meeting was convened by the ECOWAS Commission and chaired by its Vice President, Damtien Larbli Tchintchibidja. Participants included EBID senior management, led by the bank’s president, George Agyekum Donkor, as well as representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In her opening remarks, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission said gender equality was not merely a social objective but a strategic requirement for governance and sustainable development, in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050. The framework places people at the center of development and aims to build a stable, prosperous, and inclusive region.

She said the vision could not be achieved if women remained underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles.

According to her, the introduction of the Gender Equality Seal at EBID sends a strong governance signal, given the bank’s central role in financing regional integration, sustainable growth, and economic empowerment. The seal provides a structured framework to translate political commitments into concrete institutional reforms.

Binta Sanneh, UNDP resident representative in Togo, described the initiative as timely and transformative, noting that significant gaps persist despite progress made in West Africa.

She said that in 2023 women accounted for around 18% of seats in national parliaments across the sub-region, compared with a continental average of 26.5%, while their representation in governments and local authorities remained below 15%.

UNDP stressed that the GES-PI is an operational tool rather than a symbolic label, relying on data-driven assessments and measurable evaluation mechanisms to drive institutional change.

So far, 17 public institutions in nine African countries, including four in West Africa, have committed to the process, delivering measurable improvements in organisational culture, performance, and innovation.

By joining the initiative, EBID aims to strengthen its internal governance and enhance its appeal to international donors and investors, who are increasingly attentive to inclusion and equal-opportunity standards. The bank also seeks to align its practices with international frameworks, including the UN 2030 Agenda, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and ECOWAS Vision 2050.

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REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

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GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.