West African Women’s Association (WAWA)

From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations

West African Women’s Association (WAWA)
BP. 5802
Dakar-Fann, Senegal

Tel/Fax: +221 864 64 91

Email: afao@ecowasmail.net
Website: http://www.afao.org (under construction)

Description

The West African Women’s Association (WAWA) was established in July 1987, following a decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. WAWA was originally conceived of during the 1983 ECOWAS Summit in Conakry, Guinea at which point West Africa’s leaders recognized the role of women in regional integration and development. Thus, WAWA was accorded the status of a specialized institution within ECOWAS. At the sub-regional level, WAWA’s activities focus on involvement of women in all aspects of the development process.

At the January 2003 Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dakar, the Authority approved the establishment of a Gender Technical Commission, a Gender Division within the Executive Secretariat, and the transformation of the West African Women's Association (WAWA) into the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre.