A three-day workshop held from January 27 to 29, 2026, brought together the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stakeholders, and partners to review the results of the Innovative Regional Fruit Fly Control System in West Africa (SyRIMAO) project. The participants reached consensus on several conclusions and recommendations for future action.
The SyRIMAO Project has been recognized as a significant step toward regional phytosanitary governance. It has moved beyond technical objectives to serve as an institutional innovation that connects research, surveillance, public policy, and private sector actors. The creation and operation of national committees supported by a regional surveillance system have contributed to fewer phytosanitary interceptions and improved compliance in the mango value chain. However, the continued effectiveness of this framework depends on stronger support from member states.
The transition of the National Center of Specialization – Fruits and Vegetables into a Regional Centre of Excellence and harmonized research protocols has improved coordination and produced tangible results such as approved technologies and pilot orchards. Despite these gains, some countries still face challenges due to uneven institutional engagement and incomplete adoption by national systems.
Socio-economic benefits have been observed in terms of increased incomes, employment opportunities—especially for women—and better organization within the value chain. Interprofessional organizations noted gradual acceptance of new technologies and surveillance practices. Nevertheless, widespread access to these technologies remains limited by costs and dissemination barriers.
Participants made several key recommendations:
– Formally integrate SyRIMAO mechanisms into both national regulations and ECOWAS policies on agriculture and plant protection.
– Strengthen internal financing through broader stakeholder contributions and transparent accountability.
– Speed up approval processes for new technologies while clarifying intellectual property issues; establish strong marketing strategies with private sector partnerships.
– Continue developing the regional surveillance system with dedicated resources, improved data use, standardized thresholds for economic injury, and regular policy briefs.
– Enhance communication about project outcomes using various media channels tailored to different audiences including policymakers, producers, technical services, professional organizations, and the private sector.
– Expand successful methods from SyRIMAO to other important crops or pests through coordinated efforts among states, research centers, technical agencies, and financial partners.
ECOWAS will oversee implementation of these recommendations through its Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF).
The ECOWAS Commission is led by a president with support from a vice president and commissioners according to its official website: https://www.ecowas.int/category/news/. ECOWAS works to promote cooperation among member states via unified policies in sectors such as trade, transport, agriculture, infrastructure development, legal systems alignment—including common external tariffs—and social programs that aim to raise living standards across West Africa (https://www.ecowas.int/category/news/). Since 2022 it has operated a multilingual website for greater transparency about its activities (https://www.ecowas.int/category/news/). Programs like SyRIMAO form part of ECOWAS’s broader efforts spanning at least 12 West African countries with plans for wider regional impact (https://www.ecowas.int/category/news/).