The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has initiated a capacity-building workshop in Lagos, Nigeria, focused on enhancing the control and vetting processes for contracts. The event, organized by the Department of Internal Services under the Directorate of Administration and General Services (DAGS), is taking place from February 10th to 12th, 2025.
The workshop aims to address delays in signing contracts related to donor and community-funded activities within ECOWAS institutions, agencies, and offices. By identifying these hindrances, ECOWAS seeks to streamline its contract review processes. According to the organizers, “at the conclusion of the workshop, it is expected that clearly defined and developed Control Checklists will be in use to facilitate the Review and Vetting functions on ECOWAS Contracts with acceptable Timelines to guide all officers in such functions.”
Participants include key personnel from various directorates within the ECOWAS Commission such as Legal Affairs, Administration & General Services, Social Affairs, Information Technology Services, and External Relations. Representatives from the Office of the Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions, as well as members from the ECOWAS Parliament and Court of Justice are also attending. This diverse participation ensures a collaborative approach towards improving contract management processes.
“This capacity-building effort reflects ECOWAS’s ongoing commitment to efficiency, transparency, and good governance in contract management,” further reinforcing its dedication towards effectively executing projects funded by donors and communities.
