A new €12 million regional initiative aimed at strengthening the safety, security and operational performance of major sea ports across West and Central Africa has been formally launched in Lomé, Togo.
The project, known as SCOPE Africa – Securing Corridors, Ports and Exchanges in Western and Central Africa, is funded by the European Union and will run for four years. It is being implemented by Expertise France and Enabel, with the goal of enhancing port resilience, improving crisis-response capacity and expanding regional cooperation in maritime security.
Speaking at the two-day launch seminar, held in the presence of H.E. Minister Counsellor Stanislas Baba, Secretary-General of the Togolese Government, officials from beneficiary countries, port authorities, regional organisations and private-sector partners emphasized the project’s importance for Africa’s maritime economy.
“The SCOPE Africa programme represents a major step toward safer, more competitive and more efficient ports across the region,” organisers said, noting that stronger port systems are essential for trade, economic growth and regional integration.
The beneficiary ports—chosen based on priority land and sea corridors identified by the African Union, regional bodies and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy—include: Lomé (Togo), Douala and Kribi (Cameroon), Praia (Cape Verde), Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Libreville (Gabon), Monrovia (Liberia), Lagos (Nigeria) and Dakar (Senegal).
Project Focus Areas
During the seminar, stakeholders discussed the operational frameworks for five strategic components of SCOPE Africa:
Strengthening compliance with international maritime standards
Improving emergency response and crisis-management systems
Enhancing skills and professional training for port actors
Boosting cooperation among regional ports
Consolidating regional platforms for information sharing and coordination
Delegates also visited the Autonomous Port of Lomé for a technical tour demonstrating practical safety and security measures discussed during the sessions.
A major highlight of the launch was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SCOPE Africa and the Regional Maritime University in Accra, reinforcing collaboration on training and professionalisation in the maritime and port sectors.
At the conclusion of the event, participants reaffirmed their commitment to “jointly strengthen the safety, security, resilience and performance of beneficiary ports,” stressing that the initiative will boost the competitiveness and sustainability of maritime and land corridors across West and Central Africa.
