The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has started a four-day regional workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, to review its draft Civil-Military Coordination Strategy for Humanitarian Action. The event, running from August 5 to 8, 2025, gathers technical experts from ECOWAS Member States, Centres of Excellence, civil society organizations, media outlets, and humanitarian partners across the region.
Participants are examining and refining the draft strategy to ensure it aligns with international standards. Once completed, ECOWAS plans to adopt the document as a regional policy framework guiding how civilian and military actors interact during humanitarian operations.
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, Head of the Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Division at ECOWAS and representative of Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, addressed attendees on the first day. He discussed the increasing complexity of humanitarian challenges in West Africa since ECOWAS adopted its Humanitarian Policy in 2012.
“Disasters, internal displacement, refugee crises, food insecurity, pandemics — these are all scenarios that often require cooperation between humanitarian actors and security personnel. Unfortunately, we’ve also witnessed instances of misunderstanding between both parties during such operations. This strategy aims to resolve that,” Dr. Ibrahim stated.
The workshop supports Strategic Objective 7 of the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy Plan of Action. This objective directs ECOWAS and its member states to establish standards for using military assets during emergencies. It is further supported by the Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management, Peacekeeping, and Security adopted in 1999 by ECOWAS members. That protocol stresses the importance of missions involving civilians as well as military and police forces.
The new Civil-Military Coordination Strategy will provide a framework for cooperation between civilian humanitarians and military or security personnel in emergency situations within West Africa. It acknowledges an increased role for militaries in responding to humanitarian needs while emphasizing coordination that respects humanitarian principles.
At the end of the workshop series, participants are expected to produce a comprehensive strategy document aligned with global best practices for civil-military coordination in emergencies throughout West Africa. ECOWAS expects recommendations from this process will help strengthen regional mechanisms and promote effective humanitarian response through improved cooperation between civil and military actors.