Latest news with #ECOWASCommission
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) road engineers and transport experts conduct working field visit to Dakar-Diamniadio-Thies highway & Dakar Ter
The ECOWAS Commission, as part of the final technical review workshop for the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Corridor Technical Studies, conducted Regional Road Engineers and Transport Experts drawn from ECOWAS Member States to a day's field visit to the financing, operations and maintenance of major road and rail infrastructure projects in Senegal on the 28th of June,2025. The visits to ' Train Express Régional ' TER Dakar Railway Service, and the Dakar-Diamniadio-Thies Highway forms part of efforts by the ECOWAS Commission to tap on home-grown expertise and solutions as it works with Member States to implement major regional corridor highway and railway projects. It also to ensure a critical mass of like-minded professionals to support the uniform development of Transport Infrastructure in the region, through experience sharing from regional models in infrastructure financing and operations as successfully implemented by the Senegalese Government. The 36km TER Dakar urban railway service has 13 stations with 15 dual-mode 4-car trains has gradually become a key complementary mode for peri-urban commuters from urban settlements around Dakar for their daily trips. Experts boarded the train for firsthand experience of the service and discussed key areas in operations, signalization, scheduling, maintenance and deliberate policies to encourage local skill and capacity development in rail operations railway services. Other areas visited were the railway operations room, maintenance center, terminals and related facilities. Experiences gathered also covered design of systems, revenue collection and management and general operations of modern urban railway service. Participants also visited the Dakar-Diamniadio concession highway, and the Diamniadio-Thies Highways which presents similar design and operational specifications for the key regional supra-national corridor highways such as the Dakar-Abidjan and Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highways. The visit covered sections of the Highway, toll stations and traffic monitoring centers and the offices of the Concessionaires. Discussions centered on design principles, elements and financing models. Valuable lessons were learnt on local expertise development, traffic surveillance, operations of the Highway, road safety, tolling and revenue management. Particular notice was made of the predominance of local experts, local content and the use of home-grown project finance arrangements, using Public-Private financing options. These major infrastructure projects highlighted the potential of regional, the home-grown initiatives adopted to address the financing gap in infrastructure development and the local expertise development to sustain operations. The railway service and highways connecting the city of Dakar and inland destinations provide very options for urban mobility, job opportunities for the youth and contribute immensely to economic development. The visits formed part of the validation workshop of the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Projects Corridor and presented several hands-on experiences to be considered for major regional transport infrastructure projects, as well as similar national peri-urban mass transportation initiatives. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) holds sensitization session on procurement standard documents to strengthen compliance and operational coherence across institutions
The Directorate of Administration and General Services is currently holding a three-day sensitization meeting on ECOWAS Procurement Standard Documents (the Procurement Code / Manual; Grant Code / Manual, and various Annexes thereof), which are strategic documents intended to ensure consistent interpretation of the documents and their proper application in alignment with international and donor-compliant procurement practices. The Sensitization exercise is to engender clear, uniform understanding and application of the procurement standard documents during procurement processes whilst promoting clarity of Roles, Responsibilities, and Standard Timelines throughout the procurement standard document cycle. For enhanced synergy in the ECOWAS procurement chain across all ECOWAS Institutions, and Offices, participants in this important session include officers/stakeholders from the ECOWAS Commission (Directorates of Finance – B&T / FR&G – ITS, Legal Affairs, Human Resources, Infrastructure); Office of the Auditor-General, Parliament, Court of Justice, WAHO, GIABA); Agencies (ARAA, RCDC, PPDU, ECREEE, Gender Center, Water Resources). The meeting was declared open by the Commissioner for Internal Services (CIS) and moderated by the Director of Administration and General Services (DAGS). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Daily News Egypt
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
ECOWAS will deploy a pre-election fact-finding mission to Côte d'Ivoire from 29 June to 5 July 2025
In accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, Article 53(C) of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, and the decision of the Conference of Heads of State and Government to send pre-election missions in a timely manner to Member States holding elections, the ECOWAS Commission will deploy a pre-election fact-finding mission to Côte d'Ivoire from 29 June to 5 July 2025. This mission will be led by Professor Theodore HOLO, former president of the Constitutional Court of Benin. It consists of ten members, including Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH Phd, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Ms. Adjovi Yekpe, Ambassador of Benin to ECOWAS, representing the Committee of Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS Member States. The mission will be assisted by electoral experts from the sub-region and a technical team from ECOWAS led by H.E. Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d'Ivoire. The programme for the pre-election mission to Côte d'Ivoire includes meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), leaders of political parties from the presidential camp and the opposition, and civil society organisations. The various activities to be carried out during this mission will enable the Head of Mission and the experts to (i) collect all the legal texts governing the holding of the 2025 presidential election in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire; (ii) meet with the electoral management body (EMB), the administration, the leaders of coalitions and political parties, civil society and all other stakeholders in the electoral process; (iii) collect all information relating to the conditions under which the presidential election will be held; Collect all relevant information concerning the competing political coalitions and parties; (iv) gather any other information useful for a proper assessment of the political atmosphere; and finally (v) assess the state of preparations for the holding of the presidential election under proper conditions. The information obtained by the ECOWAS pre-election mission at the end of its stay in Abidjan, will be subject to objective analysis and will be recorded in a report accompanied by recommendations to the management of the ECOWAS Commission. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level holds 54th ordinary session in Nigeria
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level is holding its 54th Ordinary Session today,18th of June 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria. During the meeting, Ministers will consider the report of the 42nd Session of the MSC at the Ambassadorial Level, along with memoranda on the political, security, and humanitarian situations in the Region. Key updates will include the transition process in the Republic of Guinea, negotiations with Burkina Faso, Republics of Mali, and Niger, as well as maritime security, counterterrorism and organised crime, among other pressing matters. In his welcome address, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted that the 54th Ordinary Session of MSC convenes at a defining moment as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary. President Touray commended Member States for their unwavering commitment to peace, security and regional stability, noting that despite persistent challenges, the Community remains resilient and unified. He emphasised the Council's enduring contribution to maintaining security over the past 25 years and reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to strengthening the regional peace and security architecture, improving communication to counter misinformation, and preserving the achievements of the Community amidst growing geopolitical complexities. 'For over 25 years, the Mediation and Security Council has contributed immensely to the security and stability of our region, through its numerous sessions. Therefore, in celebrating the Golden Jubilee, we must recognise the contribution of this august body to the Community,' President Touray added. H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, welcomed delegates to Abuja and acknowledged their continued dedication to strengthening peace, security, and democratic governance in West Africa. He outlined the Council's focus on key regional priorities, including political transitions, upcoming elections, maritime security, terrorism, organised crime and financial transparency. Ambassador Tuggar also highlighted progress on the Early Warning and Response Centres, the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy, and the completion of the Lungi Military Logistics Depot, a milestone in operationalising the ECOWAS Standby Force. He further underscored the need for collective ownership of regional initiatives and cautioned against restrictive policies that could hinder trade and investment opportunities vital to the region's prosperity. 'In these challenging times, our ability to come together to consult, collaborate and take decisive action remains vital to advancing peace, security and good governance across our region,' he added. A report will be adopted by the Ministers at the end of the MSC Session and presented to the Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, scheduled to take place in Abuja from the 19th to 20th of June 2025. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission Holds Pre-Validation Consultation on Labour Migration Strategy Ahead of Accra Session
The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, convened a high-level virtual consultation with Member States, regional social partners, and development stakeholders on 6 May 2025 to review and enrich the Draft ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035). The pre-validation meeting represents a crucial step towards finalising the Strategy, which is designed to strengthen the governance of labour migration across the ECOWAS region. Anchored in the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Strategy is being developed through a participatory and inclusive approach involving Member States, the African Union Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), under the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), with support from the European Union and the, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Commission reaffirmed that the Labour Migration Strategy constitutes a strategic response to current migration dynamics in West Africa, and reflects ECOWAS' commitment to advancing human mobility as a driver of regional integration, economic development, and social inclusion. It further emphasised the importance of aligning the Strategy with the AU-Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The consultation focused on five strategic pillars of the Strategy: promotion of regular migration and labour mobility; protection of migrant workers' rights; maximisation of migration's developmental impact; gender and social inclusion; and enhanced regional cooperation and institutional capacity. The document, which consolidates regional legal frameworks and emerging priorities, was presented in detail by the lead consultant, with statistical insights highlighting that West Africa hosts over 8.2 million international migrants, nearly half of whom are women. Representatives of Member States welcomed the Draft and provided constructive input, particularly on the harmonisation of labour migration data, ethical recruitment practices, diaspora engagement, and the facilitation of remittance flows. Several Member States called for greater investment in national capacity-building and alignment of national policies with the regional framework. Speaking during the session, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, highlighted ECOWAS' continued advocacy efforts and technical work with national immigration services. He noted the importance of being 'ambassadors of the ECOWAS vision,' calling for collective responsibility in raising awareness of regional rights and obligations. Social partners, including representatives from trade unions and employers' organisations, emphasised the need for gender-responsive budgeting, reintegration pathways for returnees, and protection for low-skilled and informal sector migrant workers. The Action Plan—comprising over 130 activities mapped to specific outcomes and implementation responsibilities—was praised as a robust and actionable roadmap. The results of the virtual consultation will inform the revised draft of the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan to be tabled at the in-person validation workshop scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, from 13 to 15 May 2025. The ECOWAS Commission reiterated its gratitude to all partners and participants for their continued collaboration and reaffirmed its dedication to promoting safe, regular, and rights-based labour migration for the benefit of all ECOWAS citizens. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
