About CWD

The Committee on Women and Development (CWD) is one of the eight statutory subsidiary organs of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) It sits once every two years to deliberate on women's and gender issues and submits their reports and recommendations to the ECA's Council of Ministers 

Mandate of the CWD

The mandate of CWD have been revised by the Council of Ministers during its twenty-third meeting held in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5 to 8 May 1997, as following:

  •  Review periodically the progress in the Implementation of the Global and Regional Platforms for Action
  •  Review and evaluate the activities carried out in the region in the framework of the relevant programmes for the advancement of women
  •  Harmonize and coordinate the subregional programmes on women in development approved within the subregions
  •  Report to the Conference of African Ministers responsible for Economic and Social Development and Planning (the Commission) on the activities and programmes on women in development covered at the subregional and regional levels
  •  Mobilize resources for the implementation of the programmes of action agreed at the subregional and regional levels
  •  Participate in the activities and meetings of the United Nations and other relevant bodies ; and
  •  Organize the exchange of information and experiences on policies regarding the advancement of women in member States.