Experts from West Africa are gathering in Abidjan for final consultations organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This five-day event will conclude with the formal ministerial adoption of the Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa (2024–2050) on November 28-29.
"West Africa, with an estimated population of 446 million, is marred by the persistent deterioration of livelihoods, pushing our citizens into chronic poverty, degraded health, and widespread food insecurity amidst climatic disasters," stated H.E. Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire. Speaking on behalf of the President of the Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, she added that "the Strategy underscores our commitment to creating lasting solutions to West Africa’s vulnerability to crises."
The meeting includes 90 technical representatives from ECOWAS Member States, regional organizations, and development partners. The aim is to finalize a strategy serving as a roadmap to address pressing challenges in the region.
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and financially backed by Sweden and Denmark, this strategy provides a comprehensive framework for resilience-building at various levels.
"This Strategy is bold, comprehensive, and integrated. It brings together governance, economic stability, social inclusion, and environmental resilience into a unified approach," said Gatkuoth Kai from UNDP's Resilience Hub in Nairobi. He emphasized that it "provides the foundation for a regional response that ensures resilience is embedded across all sectors of society."
During three days of discussions, experts will review six thematic pillars: Good Governance; Peace and Security; Macroeconomic Resilience; Sustainable Livelihoods; Social Protection and Resilience; Gender Sensitivity and Social Inclusion; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. These discussions aim to refine priorities aligning with West African countries' unique needs.
"Contribute your insights, experiences, and recommendations to create an integrated strategy that addresses social inequalities," urged Valentine Ezulu from Nigeria.
The opening session highlighted addressing West Africa’s exposure to shocks like climatic disasters and governance challenges through extensive consultations.
"The challenges facing West Africa—climate change, governance, and security—are deeply interconnected," said Joachim Beijmo from the Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa. He expressed pride in contributing to this process.
Gaël Ollivier from UNDP Côte d’Ivoire stressed unity in building resilience against multifaceted challenges.
This week marks over two years of coordinated efforts beginning with an inception meeting in 2023. The Strategy aligns regional efforts with ECOWAS’s Vision 2050 among other frameworks.
"The adoption of the Strategy on 28–29 November will be a defining moment for West Africa," concluded Parfait Kouadio from Côte d’Ivoire's Ministry of Environment.
The Experts Meeting prepares for Ministerial adoption later this week where ministers will review recommendations reflecting a unified commitment towards sustainable future-building for West Africa.
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