Prior to the 39th International Women's Rights Day, a discussion session was held on March 7, 2024, in Lomé, targeting women from various associations working in the maritime sector in Togo. Additionally, 100 stoves were donated to support, alongside the government, women involved in fish processing who lost their workspaces due to coastal erosion.

This meeting, initiated by WIMAFRICA (Women in Maritime Africa) in collaboration with the Togolese government, received support from the Permanent Representation of ECOWAS in Togo. On this occasion, the theme of the year 2024, "Investing in Women: Accelerating Progress," was extensively discussed during a conference-debate. This platform highlighted both the progress made and the shortcomings regarding the inclusion of women in the development process in West Africa in general, and Togo in particular. Madame Flore DOSSEH CAPO CHICHI, representing ECOWAS on the panel, presented the legal and institutional framework, as well as the actions taken by ECOWAS in support of women.

During the opening session, the Resident Representative of ECOWAS to the Togolese Republic, H.E.M Barros Bacar BANJAI, commended the initiatives undertaken by the Togolese government in favor of women. He highlighted Togo's efforts in achieving the strategic objectives of ECOWAS, such as promoting female education, establishing the National Inclusive Finance Fund in 2014, reducing bail fees by half for female candidates in the upcoming legislative and regional elections. He praised the commitment of the Head of State, H.E.M Faure GNASSINGBE, to the promotion of Togolese women and reiterated ECOWAS's dedication to female entrepreneurship, leadership, and social inclusion, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar ALIEU TOURAY. It was in this context that the Permanent Representation of ECOWAS in Togo donated 100 stoves to women fish processors from the coastal zone of Katanga, a few kilometers from Lomé, whose preferred historical workspace had vanished due to coastal erosion.

In their introductory remarks, the Country Representative for WIMAFRICA, Mrs. AKATA Chantal, and the Continental President of WIMAFRICA, Mrs. Akuélé Yevona ADANLETE LAWSON, expressed their gratitude and warm thanks to the Resident Representative for this contribution, reflecting ECOWAS's commitment to supporting women's financial empowerment.

In launching the activities, the Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries, and Coastal Protection, Mr. Edem Kokou TENGUE, after thanking ECOWAS for the stove donation to women, expressed his desire to receive "strong proposals to translate into concrete actions" for better inclusion of women in the development of the blue economy.

The subsequent activities included the distribution of 100 stoves to the resilient women fish processors on the site of Katanga, who were victims of coastal erosion, and whose income-generating activities had ceased due to the loss of their preferred historical workspace.