The Management Committee of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve convened its third annual meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on March 18, 2025. The two-day session aims to review past activities and strategize interventions for 2025 amidst an escalating food crisis in West Africa.
Food security in West Africa and the Sahel is worsening due to ongoing conflict, economic instability, and climate change. In December 2024, nearly 34.7 million people required immediate food assistance—a number projected to rise to 47 million by mid-2025 if urgent actions are not taken. Malnutrition remains a significant issue across several countries.
In response, ECOWAS collaborates with Member States, Chad, and Mauritania to enhance rapid response mechanisms through the Regional Food Security Reserve. This initiative seeks to support Member States in providing timely food aid, promoting regional solidarity, and contributing to food sovereignty and economic integration.
The Management Committee's role is central to the Reserve’s governance, overseeing operations such as purchases, storage, technical rotations, and crisis interventions. The current meeting focuses on presenting a detailed report of operations since March 2023 and planning for 2025 activities. Members will also discuss resource mobilization plans for addressing food crises.
Additionally, the committee will evaluate ten years of implementing the regional food storage strategy by comparing theoretical frameworks with practical applications. This evaluation aims to revise strategies and operating rules for better coordination against socio-political challenges at both regional and international levels.
Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi opened the meeting on behalf of Senator Abubakar Kyari CON., emphasizing "the growing need for sovereign financing of West African agriculture" tailored to member states' realities. Mr Mohamed Zongo highlighted that since its inception, the Food Reserve has accumulated over 74,000 tonnes of food stored regionally for rapid deployment during crises.
Participants include representatives from ECOWAS Member States, Chad, Mauritania; regional institutions like UEMOA and CILSS; producer organizations; civil society; private sector entities; and technical partners. This gathering aligns with ECOWAS's efforts toward a resilient regional food system capable of effectively responding to future shocks.
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