The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is holding its fourth Regional Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, from May 15 to 16, 2025. The event, organized by the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), focuses on the theme “Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Sustainable PPPs.” The forum aims to provide a platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities related to PPP legal and regulatory frameworks in ECOWAS Member States.
The forum seeks to identify key factors necessary for effective PPP regulations in emerging markets with limited capital access. This initiative supports ECOWAS and its regional partners, such as the World Bank and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), in enhancing regional PPP infrastructure projects like the Lagos – Abidjan Highway Corridor Project.
Mr. Keba Fye, Acting Director of the PPDU, delivered remarks on behalf of Mr. Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation of the ECOWAS Commission. He emphasized that the forum aligns with PPDU’s mandate to promote PPP development within the region. Despite ongoing efforts to build capacity among Project Units of ECOWAS Member States, Mr. Fye acknowledged existing challenges such as fragmented national regulatory frameworks and technical capacity gaps among experts.
Additionally, he pointed out that financing PPPs remains difficult due to low investor commitment arising from issues related to enabling environments and risks associated with regional investments.
Participants at the forum include representatives from various organizations: PPP Units of ECOWAS Member States, National PPP Regulators, specialized agencies of ECOWAS Commission, UEMOA Commission, World Bank, EBID, BOAD, AECID, ADB, IsDB, GIZ and private sector entities.
Key discussions will cover regulatory experiences in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal regarding their policy frameworks for PPPs. Furthermore, a new regional screening tool for prioritizing PPP projects will be showcased.
By the end of this eventful gathering participants aim to adopt actionable recommendations to harmonize regional policies surrounding PPPs. They also plan on exploring financing mechanisms alongside risk mitigation strategies aimed at attracting private investment towards these crucial infrastructure endeavors.