The ECOWAS Commission, through the West African Health Organization (WAHO), has just formalized its support for vulnerable women in Côte d'Ivoire. Funding of 25,913,782 CFA francs was granted to the Ministry of Women, Family and Children (MFFE) during an official ceremony held on Monday, June 15, 2026, in Abidjan-Cocody.

This major financial support is directly aimed at the empowerment and reintegration of survivors of obstetric fistula, a serious condition linked to childbirth complications that often leads to social exclusion and psychological distress.

What will this funding be used for?

Under the supervision of the National Program to Combat Gender-Based Violence (PNLVBG), this funding will enable the implementation of several key actions:

1. Economic support: Strengthen the monitoring of women engaged in income-generating activities (IGAs).
2. Awareness and inclusion: Actively combat the community stigmatization these women face.
3. Screening: Identify new cases of fistulas requiring urgent medical attention.

“This support will directly contribute to improving the living conditions of these often marginalized women,” said Moussa Diarassouba, Chief of Staff and representative of Minister Nassénéba Touré. He also guaranteed rigorous and transparent management of these funds.

A human-centered regional vision

For Fathmah Diarré Mahan, ECOWAS's acting resident representative in Côte d'Ivoire, this gesture aligns perfectly with the institution's Vision 2050 , which prioritizes the health and well-being of West African populations. She reiterated the organization's commitment to maintaining long-term cooperation with the Ivorian government on issues of women's empowerment.

As a reminder, ECOWAS's commitment on this front is not new: in 2025, a similar partnership with the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development (CCDG) and the NGO GMF3 had already enabled 60 women to benefit from free surgical intervention and comprehensive care.