The ECOWAS Commission, in partnership with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, has made progress in improving the living conditions of residents in São Domingos and Tendinto. These efforts are part of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP) for 2023–2027.
Key projects include providing fenced farmlands with twelve boreholes to aid women in agriculture and delivering 134 desk chairs to schools in the Quinara region to enhance education access.
During a five-day Monitoring and Evaluation mission from January 13 to 17, 2025, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, expressed satisfaction with the project's quality and impact. On behalf of Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, he stated: “These initiatives foster integration among countries sharing borders while empowering women to improve their livelihoods and support their families. The income generated will help mothers afford school fees, ensuring better opportunities for the next generation.”
He noted that fencing eight hectares of farmland in São Domingos and 4.5 hectares in Tendinto protects crops from livestock damage. "In total, one thousand fifty-six (1,056) women, that is one hundred and fifty (150) from São Domingos and nine hundred and six (906) from Tendinto have directly benefited from this project and have also received farming equipment and seeds for production," he added.
Mr. Siaw-Boateng praised registering farmlands under the Lâmpada do Campo Agricultural Cooperative for safeguarding women's land rights.
Mrs. Cristina da Silva Pedreira, Director General of Planning, Economy, and Regional Integration as well as Head of the ECOWAS National Office of Guinea-Bissau recognized ECOWAS's contributions: “Addressing other challenges faced by Community citizens in border areas remains a priority,” she remarked.
The M&E mission included Mr. Abasse Embaló, Secretary of State for Planning and Regional Integration; Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje; ECOWAS Resident Representative to Guinea-Bissau.
The ECBCSP is a Multi-Sectoral Development Programme working with local communities in border regions to promote social cohesion, regional construction, sustainable development. As part of this program framework $100K was disbursed by ECOWAS Commission towards implementing identified cross-border projects.
Alerts Sign-up