ECOWAS Ministers Adopt Landmark Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa

November 29, 2024

ECOWAS Ministers in Abidjan — ECOWAS Ministers of Environment and designates at the Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa Validation Meeting in Abidjan on 28 November 2024

© ECOWAS

In a groundbreaking decision to address vulnerabilities and enhance regional resilience, ECOWAS Ministers officially adopted the 2024-2050 Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa during a high-level ministerial meeting held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on 28-29 November 2024. Recognized as the first of its kind on the African continent, the strategy provides a unified framework to tackle vulnerabilities, foster sustainable development, and promote long-term stability across the region.

The strategy targets six critical areas: Good Governance, Peace and Security, Macroeconomic Resilience, Sustainable Livelihoods, Social Protection and Resilience, Gender Sensitivity and Social Inclusion, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. It emphasizes a collaborative approach, combining national and regional initiatives to create an inclusive and sustainable future for West Africa.

Opening the ministerial meeting, H.E. Hon. Jacques Konan Assahoré, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition, lauded the collective achievement. He highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts to manage risks, address climate change, and implement sustainable resource management and infrastructure development. In his closing remarks, Daadier Aranoma, Principal Technical Adviser to the Minister, noted that country experts had worked intensively over three days to refine and adopt the document.

The implementation of the strategy will focus on four pathways: inclusive governance, economic stability, social inclusion, and environmental resilience, which will guide the region in addressing shared challenges while strengthening institutional and community capacities.

H.E. Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, outlined the next steps for implementation, which include developing an operational coordination plan, mobilizing resources, and adapting continental initiatives such as the Africa Urban Resilience Programme and the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action System to the region's needs.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the ECOWAS Commission and Member States in implementing the strategy.

Gaël Ollivier, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, described the strategy as ambitious and timely, emphasizing the integration of climate action into development plans, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and mobilizing climate financing. Reshmi Theckethil, Sahel Resilience Project Manager at UNDP, announced that, with the support of the Swedish government, UNDP would contribute to developing the implementation plan. She highlighted UNDP’s commitment to aligning national approaches with the strategy’s goals through its country offices.

H.E. Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Chairperson of the ministerial meeting, represented by Abel O. Enitan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized the urgency of addressing pressing regional challenges. In his opening remarks, he cited climate change, food security, and the lingering impacts of conflicts and epidemics as critical priorities. “This strategy reflects our shared vision of a resilient West Africa and underscores the urgency to protect lives, livelihoods, and decades of progress,” he stated.

The adoption of the 2024-2050 Regional Resilience Strategy marks a milestone for West Africa, setting the stage for coordinated and concrete actions to tackle vulnerabilities, build regional unity, and create opportunities for future generations. ECOWAS Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a brighter and more resilient future for all citizens in the region.