Guinea-Bissau has strengthened its national commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda through a three-day capacity-building workshop held from July 22 to 24, 2025, in Bissau. The workshop, organized by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, in collaboration with national stakeholders and supported by the ECOWAS Women, Peace and Security Regional Steering Group (WPS-RSG), focused on enhancing the country’s ability to implement and monitor the WPS Agenda using the African Union’s Continental Results Framework (CRC).
The event, backed by the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project (EPSG), with funding from the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ, brought together more than 35 participants. Attendees included representatives from government ministries, security institutions, civil society, academia, and the media.
Her Excellency Maria Inácia Có Mendes Sanhá, Minister of Women, Family and Social Solidarity, opened the workshop by highlighting Guinea-Bissau’s efforts to mainstream gender in peacebuilding. She reaffirmed the government’s support for the WPS Agenda through national frameworks such as the Gender Equality Policy (PNIEG), the Parity Law, and legislation on gender-based violence and human trafficking.
Cristina da Silva Pedreira, Director General of Regional Integration and Head of the ECOWAS National Unit at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, noted that the workshop offered a valuable opportunity to localize continental frameworks and promote women’s roles in peace and development.
Representing the ECOWAS Resident Representative, Dr. Aishatu Morido Yanet emphasized that the CRC is not only a technical tool but a vital accountability mechanism for showcasing women’s contributions to peacebuilding. She encouraged participants to use the training to address data and coordination gaps identified in the 2024 ECOWAS WPS report.
Mr. Olatunde Olayemi, Programme Manager for the Social Dimensions of Human Trafficking, speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, noted that this was the ninth CRC workshop conducted in the region. He stressed that women and girls must be recognized as active contributors to peace and governance.
Germany’s commitment to inclusive peacebuilding was reaffirmed by Mr. Carsten Wille, Head of the Liaison Office of the German Embassy in Dakar and Guinea-Bissau. He commended Guinea-Bissau for its active participation, calling the workshop a step toward institutionalizing gender-sensitive responses in national peacebuilding efforts.
Facilitated by Ms. Tamwakat Elizabeth Golit of the ECOWAS Commission and Ms. Edineusa Lopes José da Cruz Figueiredo, President of the Institute for Women and Children, the workshop combined group exercises and technical sessions to build participants’ capacity to use the CRC tool and questionnaire for effective monitoring of WPS indicators.
At the end of the workshop, five gender assessment reports were formally presented to the ECOWAS Resident Representative’s Office and the ECOWAS National Office. Ms. Golit summarized key findings and practical recommendations aimed at improving national coordination and policy implementation. The reports are now publicly available on the ECOWAS website to aid advocacy, research, and evidence-based decision-making.
Participants described the workshop as timely and called for continuous training, integration of the CRC into national monitoring systems, and stronger collaboration across institutions. The event concluded with a call to translate political commitments on women, peace, and security into measurable actions and lasting impacts for women and girls in Guinea-Bissau and across West Africa.
