The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the European Union, Germany, and other allies, has launched four transformative projects valued at over €110 million to advance peace, institutional reform, and trade across the sub-region.
Funded by the EU (€82.5 million), Germany (€26 million), and Spain, the initiatives include:
The ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project
Support for AfCFTA/Trade in Services Programme
Organisational Development and Institutional Support Phase II
Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme
Speaking at the launch, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said the initiatives reflect the bloc’s strategic goals to improve peace and security frameworks, enhance institutional efficiency, and unlock sustainable trade potential in West Africa.
“These projects align with ECOWAS’ vision to build a region rooted in democratic governance, peace, and prosperity,” Touray stated, adding that about $300 million is required to fully implement the commission’s peace plan over five years.
On the status of member states that recently announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, Touray confirmed that existing frameworks on trade and free movement will remain in place pending new agreements.
Germany’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Annett Günther, noted that the projects are part of a shared agenda for regional integration, adding that “countries that trade with each other are less likely to go to war.”
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, said the launch aligns with the EU’s strategic vision of linking economic cooperation with security and integration, calling it “a bold step toward a resilient and peaceful West Africa.”
Spain also reaffirmed its partnership, with Deputy Head of Mission María Higón Velasco announcing €984,000 in new support for ECOWAS institutional capacity-building, co-funded by the EU and Germany’s KfW Development Bank.
“These initiatives go beyond financial investment. They represent a shared commitment to stronger governance, trade systems, and inclusive regional development,” Velasco noted.
The projects are expected to directly impact trade competitiveness, institutional capacity, and conflict prevention mechanisms across West Africa.
