The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the ECOWAS Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Programme (EYWEP), a regional initiative aimed at strengthening the economic empowerment of young people and women through entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development.
The programme was launched in Dakar, Senegal, on the sidelines of the Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Youth and Sports of ECOWAS Member States, convened to validate and adopt new regional policies on youth, sports and volunteerism.
According to information published on the ECOWAS website, the EYWEP programme is being implemented by the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS) with technical and financial support from the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
READ ALSO: ECOWAS Promotes Women Inclusion in Regional Governance
ECOWAS said the programme aims to create an enabling environment for the development of innovative and sustainable businesses capable of generating decent jobs and stimulating economic growth across the region.
The regional body explained that the initiative will support young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs through an integrated package of services, including capacity building, mentoring, access to business networks, technical support and financing mechanisms tailored to the needs of high-potential enterprises.
According to ECOWAS, “The approach is designed to strengthen the competitiveness of beneficiaries and promote the emergence of a more dynamic and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in West Africa.”
The Commission noted that the launch ceremony also featured the symbolic presentation of the first round of support to selected beneficiaries in the pilot countries.
ECOWAS said the gesture demonstrates its commitment to translating regional policies into concrete actions that directly benefit citizens of member states.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive growth driven by innovation, job creation, private sector development and the empowerment of youth and women.
According to ECOWAS, “The programme will contribute to strengthening the economic resilience of member states and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”
The Commission added that EYWEP will serve as a regional platform for cooperation, innovation and investment in the entrepreneurial potential of West African youth and women, with the objective of making entrepreneurship a driver of prosperity, stability and regional integration.
