The third edition of Benin's National Women's Leaders Forum kicked off on September 29, 2026, at the Azalai Hotel in Cotonou. The two-day event brings together participants to discuss obstacles to women's empowerment and potential solutions to enhance their access to financing, markets, and decision-making spaces. The forum's theme, "Inclusive Economic Governance and Positive Masculinities: Levers for Accelerating Women's Financial and Economic Inclusion in Benin," sets the tone for discussions and communications.
Awaou Baco, Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Promotion of Employment in charge of Vocational Training, emphasized the crucial role women play in Benin's economy. She stated that women are the backbone of the economy, producing and creating value in all sectors. However, she noted that it is essential to work towards revealing their identity and potential in decision-making processes. The minister highlighted the need to address conditions that enable women to exercise their economic potential, including access to financing, skills, and decision-making spaces.
Minister Awaou Baco called on women to join forces to transition from economic survival to sustainable value creation. She encouraged men to be allies, recognizing that women's empowerment benefits the entire economy. The minister also emphasized the need for concrete and measurable commitments from stakeholders, citing initiatives such as financing, the ZEP, ZLCAF, and DINORUM. Her remarks underscored the importance of collective action to promote women's economic inclusion.
Huguette AKPLOGAN, President of AWLN Benin, noted that the forum aims to shed light on the challenges limiting women's full participation in economic life. These challenges include difficulties in accessing financing, digital tools, accompaniment services, markets, and decision-making spaces. Her comments highlighted the need for a nuanced understanding of the obstacles women face in their quest for economic empowerment.
Sandrine AHOUANYE, Coordinator of the FNFL 2026 Organizing Committee, emphasized that women's empowerment is a powerful lever for social, economic, and peace transformation. She stressed that investing in women is not only a matter of justice and equality but also a smart choice for a society's future. AHOUANYE's remarks underscored the significance of women's empowerment for Benin's sustainable development.
The forum provides a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions and share experiences on women's economic inclusion. Participants are expected to explore strategies to address the challenges women face in accessing financing, markets, and decision-making spaces. The event aims to promote collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to accelerate women's economic empowerment in Benin.
The third edition of the National Women's Leaders Forum demonstrates the government's commitment to promoting women's empowerment and economic inclusion. The event is expected to yield concrete outcomes, including recommendations and commitments from stakeholders to support women's economic empowerment. Key outcomes from the forum will likely inform future initiatives aimed at promoting women's economic inclusion in Benin.
Key points
- The forum's theme highlights the importance of inclusive economic governance and positive masculinities in accelerating women's financial and economic inclusion in Benin.
