In a collaborative effort to combat the growing food crisis in West Africa, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined forces, signing a financing agreement worth €20 million. This strategic partnership aims to support the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and drive agricultural development in the region.
Two Key Strategies for Agricultural Development
The agreement comprises two significant components: the “Local Milk Regional Strategy” and the “West African Food Security Storage Strategy.” With a budget of €11 million, the former aims to strengthen local dairy value chains in West Africa. Simultaneously, the latter, with a budget of €9 million, focuses on enhancing the region’s food security storage strategy. This new agreement bolsters the total French support for these crucial projects to €17 million.
Subhead: Collaborative Efforts for Regional Progress
The signing ceremony, held in Abuja, brought together key representatives including Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Mr. Xavier Muron, Director of the French Development Agency in Nigeria. The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships, as well as Ms. Emmanuelle Blatmann, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS.
Dr. Touray expressed gratitude for France’s extensive technical and financial support through the AFD, which has contributed to various areas of ECOWAS’s development. These include successful ECOWAP implementation, the establishment of the regional energy market, advancements in the health sector, and the growth of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).
Addressing Food Security Challenges
Ms. Zacharopoulou emphasized that the AFD’s support reflects collective efforts to tackle food security and nutrition challenges in the region while promoting economic and social development. Stability and development were highlighted as interdependent, essential factors for sustainable progress. France and the EU remain fully committed to supporting regional institutions, particularly ECOWAS.
Urgency and Project Implementation
The situation demands immediate attention, with approximately 13 million people in urgent need of food and nutrition assistance to avert a crisis. Without significant interventions, this number could escalate to 42 million within the next two months. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the partnership between AFD and ECOWAS aims to address these challenges head-on.
The project’s implementation will be overseen by the ECOWAS Commission, specifically through its Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF). Activities will span across the ECOWAS region, encompassing Chad, Mauritania, Cameroon, and other nations in West Africa.
