ECONEC AND INTERNATIONAL IDEA ORGANISE A REGIONAL DIALOGUE OF EXPERTS ON GENDER AND INCLUSION IN ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT BODIES (EMBS) IN THE ECOWAS REGION.

The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), in partnership with International IDEA. is organising a regional dialogue of experts on gender and inclusion within Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in the ECOWAS region from 14 to 15 July 2025 in Dakar, Senegal.

The aim of the meeting is to facilitate the sharing of experiences, raise awareness and build the capacity of EMB staff by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to develop and implement gender-sensitive policies and practices.

This expert dialogue brings together senior managers and technical staff in charge of gender inclusion and mainstreaming within the various ECOWAS EMBs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on gender and inclusion in the ECOWAS region, EMBs from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, RESAO staff, and International IDEA.

The two-day meeting will use participative and interactive approaches, including presentations, group discussions, practical exercises and case study presentations.

The Electoral management bodies will be encouraged to share their experiences and the challenges they face in developing or implementing a gender equality policy in electoral processes.

The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC)  is the umbrella organization for electoral management bodies (EMBs) in West Africa. Founded in February 2008 to promote free, fair and credible elections, the Network draws on the 1991 ECOWAS Declaration of Political Principles on Freedom, Peoples' Rights and Democratization to strengthen electoral processes in West Africa