The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a new pilot programme in Benue State aimed at advancing economic empowerment and digital peacebuilding for women-led community groups.

The initiative is being delivered through ECOWAS’ Directorate of Trade and Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, in partnership with the Benue State Government. It targets Women, Peace and Security (WPS) community-based organizations operating in North-Central Nigeria.

The launch coincides with a five-day capacity-building programme running from 9–13 February. The programme begins with a Training of Trainers (ToT) involving 12 participants drawn from community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Those trained will subsequently conduct step-down sessions expected to reach 60 women and girls from selected IDP camps and host communities.

According to organisers, the pilot responds to ongoing humanitarian and displacement pressures in Benue State. It aligns with the Benue State Durable Solutions Action Plan, which focuses on supporting the sustainable reintegration of IDPs through improved livelihoods, peacebuilding efforts and stronger community resilience.

WPS community-based organizations are seen as central to mobilising women and girls in conflict-affected areas, while promoting peace and social cohesion. The programme aims to strengthen both their institutional and technical capacity, while equipping women and girls affected by conflict with practical economic and digital skills.

The project is anchored in the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Trade and Gender Action Plan, alongside the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy (2023). It combines economic empowerment, digital literacy and digital peacebuilding using a cascade ToT model, enabling trained WPS organizations to deliver further sessions within IDP camps and surrounding communities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ECOWAS Director Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe described the pilot as a strategic platform for empowering women-led organizations to implement and advocate for durable solutions, while leveraging digital technologies for inclusion, resilience, and peace.

In her remarks, the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Barrister Aber Serumum Deborah, commended ECOWAS for the initiative, noting that it will strengthen grassroots peacebuilding, enhance women’s participation in implementing the State’s Durable Solutions Action Plan, and support livelihood recovery for conflict-affected women and girls.

The two-month pilot will begin with preparation and adaptation of training modules, followed by delivery, monitoring and documentation. ECOWAS expects it to provide a scalable framework that can be replicated across Member States.

The launch event was attended by representatives from the Benue State Government, humanitarian and displacement-response agencies, civil society organizations, NGOs, IDPs, as well as officials from ECOWAS and IOM.