ECOWAS compiles projects for EU funding

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is compiling a list of projects for funding under the European Union’s (EU) new corporation instrument designed for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), for the next seven years.

Under the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Corporation Instrument (NDCI 2021-2027), which replaces the European Development Fund, there would be a single regional programme for the entire SSA.

Only projects/programmes and initiatives that have a clear added value to address an issue from a regional perspective would be supported under this new regional programme.

This came to light yesterday, in Accra,at a three-day regional workshop opened for officers from ECOWAS member states and other experts to discuss, identify and harmonise suitable regional projects/programmes.

Organised by the ECOWAS Commission and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), it was attended by about 60 participants drawn from various ECOWAS institutions.

The acting Director of External Relations at the ECOWAS Commission, Jerome Boa,told journalists that, 40 per cent, representing 11.6 billion Euros of the entire fund under the new corporation instrument had been allotted to West Africa.

He said the priority areas being considered by ECOWAS member states were peace and security, health, especially COVID-19 and pandemics, digital economy, infrastructure, energy and sustainable development projects.

“Forty per cent of the funds would come to West Africa so we need to make sure we have programmes that align with our regional development goals and that of member states,”Mr Boa said.

He said stakeholders would work to ensure that the needs of the larger populace were considered in the selection of programmes during the series of workshops that started last year.

Asked about when the selected projects would be rolled out, Mr Boa said a clear roadmap with timeline, processes and responsibilities towards design and financing would be known after the workshop.

He commended the EU for supporting development projects on the continent, and pledged that the commission would ensure equitable development under the new corporation instrument.

BY JONATHAN DONKOR