ECOWAS, WACSI Sign Five-Year Pact to Deepen Civil Society Engagement in West Africa
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) to strengthen civil society participation in regional governance and integration across West Africa.
The agreement was signed on Friday in Abuja by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and WACSI Executive Director, Dr. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, in the presence of officials from both institutions, according to a press release posted on WACSI’s website.
The partnership provides a framework for cooperation in eight key areas, including strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of civil society organisations, policy dialogue and advocacy, research and knowledge generation, citizen awareness and communications, cross-sector coordination, technical support to the ECOWAS Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
According to the organisations, the agreement is designed to deepen their longstanding collaboration while supporting the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to build an “ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
The initiative also aims to institutionalise civil society engagement through ECOSOCC and promote more inclusive, participatory and accountable governance across the region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Afadzinu said WACSI’s vision of a peaceful, secure and prosperous West Africa driven by its citizens aligns with that of ECOWAS.
She noted that citizen participation has always been central to the Institute’s mission, adding that the agreement would strengthen the relationship between ECOWAS and civil society organisations.
“What this MoU does is really strengthen that bond and gives us, with the blessing of ECOWAS, a mandate to bring civil society closer to an institution that we truly believe in,” she said.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Touray, said the partnership comes at a critical time when the region is grappling with shrinking civic space, unconstitutional changes of government and increasing socio-economic challenges.
He stressed that such challenges require stronger collaboration among governments, regional institutions and civil society.
Describing the MoU as more than a formal agreement, Touray said it represents a shared commitment to partnership, dialogue and collective action toward building a peaceful, democratic, prosperous and resilient West Africa.
