Abuja, 20^th February 2018. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Spanish Fund is set to kick off the first phase of its business incubator program to support women in rural communities in the West Africa.

The project seeks to address some of the major challenges faced by women involved in small and medium-scaled enterprises in agriculture sectors by providing business support services, developing women’s entrepreneurial skills, access to market and finance as well as awareness of women empowerment and gender equality.

Hence, a pilot business incubator center for agricultural entrepreneurship will be opened during a launching ceremony scheduled to hold on 22^nd February 2018 in Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso.

It will be equipped to support 300 women entrepreneurs from rural areas in order to modernize and professionalize their economic activities in the areas of cassava, cereal and fish processing.

The pilot project will cost 245,000 Euros and is estimated to last for 15 months. If successful the programme will be replicated in other countries in West Africa and also in other Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa.

The opening ceremony of the center will be attended by the Minister in charge of Women Affairs, Agriculture, Industry and Trade of Burkina Faso, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Gender and Social Affairs, Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow and representatives from NEPAD and the Spanish Fund.