The ECOWAS Commission says it is setting up the West African Economic, Social, and Cultural Council to the realization of Vision 2050.
To achieve this, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the Commission convened a meeting of experts on the 12th to 13th June 2024 in Cotonou, Benin, to establish the Economic, Social and Cultural Council for West Africa (ECOSOCC-WA) as well as to examine and validate the relevant structures for its operationalization.
This is to consolidate the ECOWAS Vision 2050, laying solid foundations for “ECOWAS of the people” where civil society organizations (CSOs) play a fundamental role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the region.
The project was jointly implemented in 2021, entitled “ECOWAS (Post) Vision 2020: in partnership with the United Nations (UNOWAS and UNDP New York), aimed at Strengthening regional capacities for conflict prevention”. With the recommendation of setting up the ECOSOCC-WA
In a welcome address, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE on behalf of the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, said it’s a crucial step to achieving a shared vision of an integrated and prosperous West Africa.
The creation of ESCC-WA has never been more urgent than at a time when our region is experiencing democratic and security setbacks. To remain in tune with the deep aspirations of the people of our community, ECOWAS must work to conquer new frontiers, reach out to the people, and work to meet their basic needs.
Giving an overview on the ECOSOCC-WA, the facilitator and former Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Toga MCINTOSH, said the project was created in 1993 with its six (6) key ECOWAS institutions, including the Commission, the Parliament and the Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ECOWAS, Ambassador Musa NUHU in his address stressed the importance of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council towards achieving the peace and stability of the member states.
The ECOSOCC-WA is designed to improve the participation of civil society in the decisions taken in our Member States because CSOs have today become essential players in dealing with the growing instability in the region.
The two-day event seeks to facilitate the establishment of ECOSOCC-WA among others such as the adoption of a basic framework and structures for the effective operation of ECOSOCC-WA, including the drafting of a charter, statutes, and other documents that will govern the work of the institution in line with the changes made at the regional consultative meetings; a three-year work program that will guide and consolidate the establishment process; a draft indicative budget over three years that will enable the establishment of ECOSOCC-WA and the implementation of the work program.
Participants are expected to propose a better understanding of the comparative advantages and strategic importance of ECOSOCC-WA in addressing the current and potential political and socio-economic challenges and complexities facing the ECOWAS region, and concrete documents with recommendations on the way forward to be presented at the ministerial meeting involving the ministers in charge of the economy, social and cultural sectors of Member States for validation and appropriate recommendations to be submitted successively for consideration and adoption at the statutory ECOWAS meetings which are the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), the Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government.