The capital of Togo, played host on July 4 to the third edition of a regional information and awareness campaign aimed at supporting small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with a special focus on empowering women.
The official ceremony was presided over by Professor Kossiwa Zinsou-Klasso, Togo’s Minister of Social Action, Solidarity and the Promotion of Women. The initiative builds on the successes of similar campaigns held in 2023 and 2024 along the Tema–Paga and Dakar–Banjul–Bissau trade corridors.
This year’s campaign seeks to deepen awareness among traders—particularly women—about regional trade regulations and key ECOWAS initiatives designed to enhance economic integration.
Organisers also used the platform to promote the Regional Programme for the Integration of Agricultural Markets (PRIMA), which runs from 2021 to 2026 and directly involves Togo and neighbouring Benin.
As part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, the campaign in Lomé underscored the critical role women play in cross-border commerce and the pressing need to address the specific challenges they face.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) showcased a range of support tools tailored to the needs of women traders.
These include resources for improving border transparency and mechanisms to combat gender-based violence, which remains a barrier for many women operating in cross-border environments.
The event brought together a wide array of stakeholders, including representatives from Togolese government ministries, the ECOWAS Resident Representation, the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA), the Togolese Chamber of Commerce, cross-border trade associations, and various technical and financial partners.
This latest campaign reinforces the commitment of ECOWAS and its partners to make regional trade more inclusive and accessible, especially for women who are vital to the economic fabric of West Africa.
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