Message from the President of EBID on International Women’s Day 2026
This year’s International Women’s Day, celebrated under the theme “Give to Gain,” reminds us that meaningful investment in women is not just a moral imperative but a proven pathway to inclusive growth, resilient communities, and sustainable development. Women are agents of social change and engines of economic resilience, accounting for some of the highest rates of entrepreneurial activity in the world.
Yet opportunities remain largely unrealised due to persistent gaps. Women-led enterprises in Africa face a financing gap estimated at roughly USD 40–42 billion, capital that, if unlocked, would expand businesses, create jobs and multiply social returns across our communities. Globally, women remain underrepresented in senior management and in critical public sector leadership positions in key areas such as health and education.
At the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), we take the “Give to Gain” message seriously, and we are already translating it into programmes and institutional reforms. As we prepare to roll out our new GRO Strategy (2026–2030), gender parity and youth empowerment are core priorities. Our upcoming GRO Strategy will expand targeted financing windows for women-led and youth-led enterprises, scale technical assistance and capacity building, and strengthen blended-finance instruments to reduce risk and attract private capital for women entrepreneurs.
The Bank is also committed to policies that mainstream gender across our operations, such as the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES-PI), an initiative being implemented in partnership with UNDP and the ECOWAS Commission. The goal is to embed gender-responsive appraisal criteria and impact assessments for relevant projects and strengthen data collection to ensure that resources and technical assistance reach the women and communities who need it most.
But EBID cannot do this alone. Governments must reform laws and policies that exclude women from work and markets, while private sector partners must redesign procurement practices and value chains to be gender inclusive. Development partners should also back catalytic instruments that de-risk private investment into women-led enterprises, such as Social bonds, while adopting gender-related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for other sustainability instruments.
On this International Women’s Day, let us be clear: giving is not charity when it is strategic. When we provide women with capital, tailored business skills and market access, the returns are multiplied across households and communities.
To the women entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders and change-makers across ECOWAS, EBID believes in your potential and will continue to forge partnerships that enable you to scale and sustain your impact. To our partners, join us in bridging the financing and capacity gaps, because the evidence and moral case for action are clear.
Let us celebrate the progress we have made, while committing to building a future where women can contribute fully to economic growth, development and better outcomes for their communities.
Happy International Women’s Day!
