The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) organized a Regional Training Workshop on Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) for legal and judicial actors from ECOWAS Member States, in Lome, Togo, from June 24 to 28, 2024. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Ford Foundation and USAID. Read More »

St Helena Government joins the global effort to raise awareness about alcohol's effects during Alcohol Awareness Week, scheduled from July 1 to July 7, 2024. This year's campaign theme is "Understanding alcohol harm." The Health Promotion team encourages public participation by discussing how alcohol impacts health and the lives of those around us. Read More »

The Trade Hub Learning Event showcases insights from financial institutions and advisors on blended finance mechanisms Read More »

The ECOWAS Commission is conducting a four-day validation workshop on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for grants management from June 25 to 28, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The primary objective of the workshop is to refine the Commission’s institutional processes and procedures concerning grant management to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is conducting a significant training session for women leaders from June 27 to June 29, 2024, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. The event has gathered women leaders from member states who are engaged in community development and peace-building initiatives. Read More »

Members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), comprising water resources experts from Member States and West African basin organizations, are meeting in Abuja from June 25-27, 2024, for the 11th ordinary session of the technical expert committee of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa. Read More »

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., of Liberia received a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program on Monday. The delegation was led by Mission Chief Mr. Daehaeng Kim and included Mr. Aidar Abdychev, IMF Resident Representative, Mr. Giuseppe Cipollone, Senior Economist for Fiscal, and Tamsir Cham, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director. Read More »

The Head of the ECOWAS Commission Lagos Liaison Office, Mr. O. Okunola, conducted official visits to the Seme–Krake Joint Border Post on June 26, 2024, and the Hilacondji Joint Border Post on June 27, 2024. These visits aimed to engage with key officers at the joint border posts and reaffirm the Commission’s support for their crucial role in economic and social integration, security, and other significant areas. Read More »

At the invitation of Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission of the European Union, Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, participated in the second edition of the Schuman Forum on Security and Defence. The forum took place in Brussels, Belgium, from May 28 to 29, 2024, under the theme “Acting together for peace, defence and security.” It aimed to bring together high-level players to discuss contemporary security challenges and find lasting... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) concluded its 28th Technical Meeting on Early Warning Systems today in Abuja, Nigeria. Held from June 24-26, the event gathered representatives from the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and various stakeholders to enhance regional collaboration in early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms. Read More »

ECOWAS has officially launched the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, aimed at enhancing soil health and agricultural productivity across the region. The initiative builds on efforts since the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer in 2006 and follows the May 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya. Read More »

The ECOWAS Commission will host the 35th Meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) from Friday, June 28 to Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Read More »

The ECOWAS Commission hosted the second meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS Member States on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was officially opened by H.E. Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Ambassador Musa Sanu Nuhu, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ECOWAS. Read More »

Pursuant to the decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in 2014 to adopt the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as an official travel document to replace the hand-written ECOWAS Travel Certificate, the ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration embarked on an advocacy and sensitization campaign in Member States to popularize the ENBIC. Read More »

A delegation of European Union ambassadors visited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission on June 20, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. This visit underscores the growing importance of the partnership between the two institutions. Read More »

The ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations and the ECOWAS Group at the United Nations organized a series of high-level events to commemorate the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS. The first event, a High-Level Dialogue on 'Regionalism, Democracy and Development in West Africa: Building Blocks to Strengthening Multilateralism,' was held on June 7, 2024, at the UN Headquarters. Read More »

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio held a bilateral meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, June 24, 2024. During the meeting, President Bio expressed optimism about utilizing nuclear techniques to accelerate development results in Sierra Leone. Read More »

The Maritime Authority is proposing steps to implement new registry and licensing of local vessels to cover necessary safety standards. To facilitate this, all boat owners are invited to attend an information session on the topic: Local Vessel Registry, Licensing and Safety Standards Policy. Read More »

Since May 2023, the St Helena Government (SHG) Economic Development Team has been collaborating with Ryft Pay, a UK-based payment services provider, to facilitate Visa and MasterCard payments on the island. The Ryft Pay system is now being used by several businesses, enhancing convenience for both tourists and residents of St Helena who wish to use their credit cards. Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched its Pilot Project on Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) in West Africa with Ghana as the pioneer Member State. The project was inaugurated during a five-day workshop from June 3 to June 7, 2024, in Accra, Ghana. The event was held in partnership with Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organized Crime (ENACT Africa) and the Ghana Narcotics Control Commission (NCC), attracting multi-sectoral stakeholders. Read More »