By Palma Ileye
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen civil society engagement in regional governance and integration across West Africa.
The agreement, signed in Abuja on Friday by Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of WACSI, establishes a strategic framework for collaboration aimed at promoting inclusive governance and citizen participation.
The partnership covers eight priority areas, including strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of civil society organisations, promoting policy dialogue and advocacy, research and knowledge generation, citizen awareness and communication, cross-sector coordination, technical support to the ECOWAS Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), as well as monitoring, evaluation and learning.
According to the two organisations, the agreement was designed to strengthen their longstanding relationship while supporting the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and its aspiration of building an “ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
The pact also reinforces ECOWAS’ commitment to institutionalising civil society engagement through ECOSOCC and creating more open, participatory and accountable spaces for citizens to contribute to regional integration.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Afadzinu said WACSI’s vision of a peaceful, secure and prosperous West Africa driven by its people aligns closely with that of ECOWAS.
She said citizen participation had always been central to the institute’s mission, adding that the agreement would further strengthen collaboration between ECOWAS and civil society organisations across the region.
“The people’s element is what drives us. Engaging us in this manner and seeking to deepen this relationship demonstrates ECOWAS’ commitment to involving citizens in addressing the region’s challenges,” she said.
Afadzinu added that the MoU provides WACSI with a stronger mandate to bridge the gap between civil society and ECOWAS in advancing regional development.
Touray, in his remarks, said the partnership comes at a critical time as West Africa continues to grapple with shrinking civic space, unconstitutional changes of government and growing socio-economic pressures.
He said the region’s challenges require stronger partnerships, innovative approaches and coordinated responses involving governments, regional institutions and civil society.
Describing the agreement as more than a formal document, Touray said it symbolised a shared commitment to dialogue, partnership and collective action toward building a peaceful, democratic, prosperous and resilient West Africa.
WACSI is a regional non-governmental and non-partisan institution established by the Open Society Foundations to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of civil society organisations across West Africa.
