Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Swedish government agency responsible for peace, security and development, recently held a gender mainstreaming workshop in Abuja, Nigeria for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Held from October 16-17, the workshop, according to facilitator Sara Lindvall, was intended to add a gender perspective to the work of ECOWAS, a regional organization made of West African countries in order to strength their implementation of UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in West Africa.

The workshop was the first step in collaboration between ECOWAS and FBA as part of the Swedish Government’s regional strategy for sub-Saharan Africa. She added that another session will be held at the end of the month (October 30-31) in Abuja.

Lindvall noted that FBA works with regional structures on the continent to support several programs, adding that this workshop focused on the Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the regional organization.

Sweden’s strategic cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa is focused mainly in the areas of democracy, equality, human rights, environment and climate, security, economic development and trade.