ECOWAS and the Kingdom of Spain Strengthen their Cooperation through a Review of Joint Priority Programs for the 2024-2027 Period

As part of the strengthening of cooperation and monitoring of the 2024-2027 joint priority programs between ECOWAS and the Kingdom of Spain, the ECOWAS External Relations Directorate and the Spanish Cooperation Office held a technical working session on Tuesday November 05, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Also taking part in this hybrid session were the heads of ECOWAS Commission technical agencies such as the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Centre for Gender Development (CCDG), the ECOWAS Project and Infrastructure Preparation Unit (PPDU), the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA), as well as the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate for Education, Science and Culture.

During the meeting, participants reviewed actions and activities related to the 2024-2027 programs in priority areas linked to Rural Development, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Food Security, Access to Clean Energy, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls, Connectivity and Infrastructure, Inclusive Economic Development, and Institutional Strengthening.

In her opening speech, Mrs. Laura M. Garcia, Regional Cooperation Advisor at the Department of Cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed her gratitude for the cooperation actions carried out to date, in particular the visit made by the Spanish delegation to the ECOWAS gender center in Dakar. She also expressed Spain’s willingness to continue supporting ECOWAS in its development efforts in the region, based on the priority projects and programs identified by ECOWAS and Spain.

Mr Jérôme BOA, Director of External Relations of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the full solidarity of ECOWAS with Spain in the face of the tragic events linked to the floods. He also thanked Spain for its continued support for the region’s development efforts. He then encouraged all parties to participate actively in this review exercise, in order to finalize the framework document on priority projects to be implemented by ECOWAS through its agencies.