Floods and Conflicts: ECOWAS Parliament Called to Champion Gender-Based Initiatives
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Following devastating floods and ongoing conflicts in parts of West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliament has been urged to ramp up its support for women and girls in the region.
These calls for gender-focused projects were re-echoed at a meeting of the Committee of Conference, as the 2024 third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar commenced in Lomé, Togo.
Nigerian parliamentarian, Hon. Blessing Onu, raised this pressing issue on Monday, highlighting the urgent need to address the vulnerabilities of women and girls in the face of natural disasters and conflict.
Speaking before the Speaker ECOWASParliament, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima and other lawmakers, Onu emphasised that women bear the brunt of these crises, and stronger efforts are needed to allocate resources for gender-based initiatives.
The recent floods in Borno State, Nigeria, underscore the gravity of the situation. On September 10, the Alau Dam overflowed, triggering widespread flooding that devastated Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
The flooding, worsened by heavy rainfall, affected over one million people, displacing more than 414,000, and destroying homes, crops, and livelihoods in a region already struggling with food insecurity. In neighbouring Niger Republic, floods have similarly wreaked havoc, with authorities reporting over one million people affected and more than 300 fatalities.
Hon. Onu expressed deep concern on behalf of the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Gender, noting that the civilian population—particularly women—are disproportionately impacted by both the floods and the ongoing regional conflicts.
She called for increased budgetary provisions to support gender-based projects that address these vulnerabilities.
Looking ahead, there is hope that initiatives like the upcoming symposium organised by the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), tagged “Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion”, will offer a pathway to economic empowerment for women.
The symposium, set for October 1, 2024, aims to tackle the barriers women face in accessing financial services and boost their role in driving regional development.
ECOFEPA’s efforts to unlock the potential of women have long been a cornerstone of their mission, and the October event promises to further enhance women’s status across the region.
As part of the broader ECOWAS agenda, the Parliament will also host capacity-building programmes for the Sixth Legislature, including an orientation seminar to ensure that new members are well-prepared to represent their constituents effectively. “This seminar will equip our new Members with the knowledge to hit the ground running and make informed decisions for the benefit of our citizens,” Speaker Ibrahima had stated.
In addition to these initiatives, the Parliament will review its 2023 budget implementation and the mid-term budget for 2024 to ensure alignment with the region’s development goals. The session will culminate in the adoption of the 2025 draft budget, as the Parliament looks to strategically plan for economic growth and regional progress.
“We must prioritise strategic planning to drive sustainable development in our region,” a statement from the ECOWAS communications division affirmed.
With floods, conflicts, and socio-economic challenges looming large, the ECOWAS Parliament faces a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the region—especially for the women and girls most affected.
