Seville, Spain – July 3, 2025:
A high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by the President of the Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, is actively participating in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, taking place in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3.
The global summit brings together leaders, policymakers, development experts, and private sector actors to explore solutions for financing sustainable development. Key focus areas include debt sustainability, international trade, technology and innovation, illicit financial flows, and public-private partnerships. The conference is particularly concerned with unlocking business and private capital for development while reinforcing social and green financing commitments.
During one of the plenary sessions, Dr Touray made a pointed call for greater ownership and autonomy in Africa’s health sector, noting that sustainable development cannot occur without self-reliance in critical areas such as health.
“To reassert control of our health systems, we need the autonomy to allocate resources as we see fit,” he said.
He also delivered a rare moment of institutional introspection, acknowledging endemic corruption as a major challenge to effective health delivery in the region.
“It’s no secret that corruption remains pervasive in the health sector, and it must be addressed,” Dr Touray stated.
The conference underscores the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms, governance reforms, and enhanced international cooperation to support sustainable development in the face of global crises and mounting fiscal pressures on developing economies.
ECOWAS’s participation highlights West Africa’s engagement in shaping global financing frameworks that align with regional priorities for equity, transparency, and long-term growth.
