The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened a Joint Strategic Consultation Meeting with relevant partners and stakeholders to discuss the future implementation and management of the ECOWAS Peace Fund (EPF).
Established under Article 36 of the ECOWAS 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Security, the EPF supports ECOWAS activities in human security, conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping, and security. The Fund was created to finance peace, security, and humanitarian activities within ECOWAS.
During the three-day Strategic Consultation Meeting held from August 27-29 in Abuja, Nigeria, participants discussed various aspects of the EPF mandate. Topics included its achievements, challenges and lessons learned; peace funding mechanisms and modalities; EPF’s five-year strategic plan; objectives and priorities; and the European Union’s peace funding mechanisms.
Participants also addressed challenges facing the implementation and management of the ECOWAS Peace Fund. They shared innovative ideas on enhancing operational efficiency to achieve overall objectives.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Cyriaque PAWOUMOTOM, Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security who spoke on behalf of Dr. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security said: “Despite numerous challenges, the Commission has continued to make progress in supporting the consolidation of peace within the subregion.”
Leila Ben Amor MATHIEU from the Delegation of the European Union in Nigeria highlighted EU mechanisms available for ECOWAS such as INDICI, Africa Peace Facility/Early Response Mechanism, and EU Peace Facility. She expressed EU’s commitment towards supporting the ECOWAS Peace Fund initiative.
Dieudonne Nikiema presented EPF’s five-year strategic plan as a basis for full operationalization within ECOWAS. He emphasized that bringing stakeholders together was crucial for exploring optimal structures for fulfilling EPF’s mandate.
“The three-day Strategic Consultative Meeting has provided a good opportunity for ECOWAS and its partners to reflect together,” Nikiema stated.
In closing remarks on behalf of Dr. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, Dr. Cyriaque PAWOUMOTOM thanked participants for their engagement during this productive meeting: “The objective is to make the fund more effective in supporting peace and security needs of our member states.”
ECOWAS was first among Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to establish a Peace Fund. Since its operationalization in 2006, it has contributed significantly to programs supporting ECOWAS’s peace and security agenda.
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