Ecobank Foundation reinforces its commitment at the West Africa Regional Conference on Sustainable Philanthropy and Remittances for Gender Equality.
In June 2025, at the West Africa Regional Conference on Sustainable Philanthropy and Remittances for Gender Equality, co-hosted by UN Women and the Ford Foundation in Dakar, Senegal, Elisa Desbordes, CEO of the Ecobank Foundation, delivered a powerful keynote calling for shared responsibility to advance gender equality across the continent.
During her address, Elisa reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to integrating gender equality into every project and programme. As she explained:
“When we lead an activity, a project or a programme, we make sure to apply a gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment lens.”
She also highlighted the importance of visibility and inspiration, stressing the need to provide women and girls with examples they can relate to and aspire to.
In her words: “We actively work to give women and girls a place, to inspire them, and to present role models they can follow.”
Her message underlined a core belief: empowering women is not just a moral imperative. It is a force for development.
Watch her interview (from 08:13) : TV5 MONDE: Regional Conference on Sustainable Philanthropy & Remittances for Gender Equality