Ivory Coast has reached a historic milestone in terms of gender equality. According to the 2024 Gender Equality Index , the country ranks first in the ECOWAS region with a score of 0.708 , significantly exceeding the regional average (0.640).

This performance, praised by the Ministry of Women, Family and Children (MFFE), demonstrates President Alassane Ouattara's political will to place inclusion at the heart of national development.

Major advances by sector

Ivory Coast's success is based on concrete reforms and targeted investments in several key areas:

1. Education: Towards total parity

With a score of 0.95 , Côte d'Ivoire is close to achieving perfect equality between girls and boys in schools. Several factors contributed to this result:

1. Compulsory schooling and free education.
2. The mass distribution of school kits and support for canteens.
3. A fierce fight against social ills (early marriages, pregnancies in schools).

2. Economy: The rise of empowerment

The government has focused on financial inclusion to transform the daily lives of women, particularly in rural areas:

1. The success of FAFCI (Support Fund for Women of Ivory Coast) and FNFD .
2. The expansion of mobile money , facilitating access to financial services.
3. Direct support for women's entrepreneurship.

3. Institutional and legal reforms

The recognition of equality is not limited to statistics; it is enshrined in law:

1. 2016 Constitution : Enshrining gender equality.
2. Combating GBV : Strengthening the legal framework against gender-based violence.
3. Gender-responsive budgeting : Public financial management that integrates the specific needs of women.

The challenges to be met

Despite this regional leadership, the Ministry of Women, headed by Nassénéba Touré, points out that there is still a long way to go. The main remaining challenges concern:

1. Female representation in decision-making bodies.
2. Equitable access to economic resources .
3. The sustainable reduction of income disparities .

Looking to the future: New programs

To consolidate these achievements, the government is deploying new strategic initiatives:

1. DICEFA : Development of economic capacities.
2. AFECT : Empowerment through technological skills.
3. Women Power Lab : An incubator dedicated to female leadership.

"This first place is an encouragement to continue efforts to make gender equality an engine of sustainable growth for the entire nation." — MFFE Information Note.