Ecowas

On 7 June 2023, the international community celebrated the 5th Food Safety Day on the theme "Food standards save lives", inviting everyone to make an effort to adopt healthy eating practices.
The ECOWAS Commission's Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture used the day to "take stock of food safety regulations and issues in West Africa and the Sahel from the point of view of food standards and the challenge of ensuring the availability of healthy food in the ECOWAS region".
During a webinar open to the public (99 participants logged on, including 14 master's students in nutrition and food safety), the ECOWAS Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development (DADR) presented the main existing regional standards and regulations and above all the activities underway to harmonise regional and national codes and regulations for food safety in West Africa and the Sahel. It is also an activity initiated by ECOWAS to raise public awareness, because "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year around 600 million people - or almost one in ten people worldwide - fall ill after eating contaminated food, and there is a need to initiate and strengthen activities to raise awareness among the regional population of food safety issues and the measures that need to be taken in food systems", emphasised Septime HOUSSOU-GOE, Programme Officer at the DADR at the opening of this meeting on behalf of Director Alain SY TRAORE. 
Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit GNONLONFIN, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Expert at the DADR, presented an overview of regulations and food safety issues in West Africa and the Sahel. Dr GNONLONFIN then outlined the prospects for implementing and harmonising national and regional regulations, which can be summed up as follows: i) Organise in-country training for sanitary and phytosanitary inspectors and the relevant competent authorities on harmonised guides and decision-making; ii) Support annual participation in Codex standard-setting processes on priority regional food safety issues: contaminants, food additives, pesticide residues and veterinary drugs, food hygiene and contribution to the establishment of limits/standards within the respective codex committee, support annual participation in the WTO SPS Committee meeting in Geneva to coordinate trade negotiations and provide updates on implemented SPS measures, iii) support the generation, management and use of data for regional and international standard setting (examples Gombo : Pesticide residues (carry out an assessment of pesticide residues and generate data for use in extrapolation (use in crop grouping), Cocoa: metalaxil concentration in cocoa), iv) Setting up a functional one-stop database. 
The national experiences of Benin and Ghana were also shared. Food safety actions and the implementation of the CODEX Alimentarius were presented.  Nutrition and food safety experts, students, teacher-researchers, journalists, private sector players and decision-makers followed the presentations and took part in the discussions. 
During this meeting, which was the first to be organised by the DADR, ECOWAP stakeholders and partners were familiarised with the issues and questions surrounding food safety, and were given a number of approaches for adopting appropriate behaviour in order to avoid illnesses caused by the lack of healthy food thanks to food safety. Above all, they were informed of the existence of regional regulations and codex standards in ECOWAS member states.
In view of the importance of the subject at the health and socio-economic levels, the participants congratulated ECOWAS on the initiative and suggested (i) continuing, supporting and strengthening the participation of ECOWAS Member States and Mauritania and Chad in the process of drawing up international standards, (ii) continue and strengthen the harmonisation of national and regional regulations, (iii) strengthen training leading to qualifications and diplomas in the field of food safety throughout the value chain, (iii) strengthen the capacity of analysis and control laboratories in accordance with international standards, (iv) strengthen cooperation between national and regional institutions.
After this first experience, which was appreciated by all the stakeholders and partners, ECOWAS undertook to make it an annual meeting, which will serve not only to take stock of the implementation of food safety actions in the ECOWAS region, but also to make projections for the future.
The webinar was held as part of the implementation of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), financed by the World Bank and coordinated at regional level by ECOWAS in collaboration with CILSS, CORAF and other partners, with 7 beneficiary countries at present: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Chad and Togo.  
 

From 29 to 31 October, the Togolese Capital Lome hosted a crucial meeting for the stakeholders and implementing partners of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). The workshop provided an opportunity to take stock of activities under component 3 of the programme, devoted to the integration of trade and regional agricultural markets. This mid-term review of the programme, which was launched in June 2022, was a strategic step in measuring the impact of actions taken in the region to boost food security.

The year 2024, a pivotal one for the FSRP, represents a period of evaluation and adjustment of activities with a view to achieving the objectives set for 2026. During the three-day workshop, discussions focused on analysing the progress made, the successes achieved, and the challenges encountered, paving the way for recommendations to overcome the obstacles identified.

The activities of component 3 of FSRP aim to create a unified commercial environment, by harmonising sanitary and phytosanitary standards between Member States, modernising transport and storage infrastructures, and promoting strategic trade corridors. These initiatives help to reduce transaction costs, while improving access to information on agricultural markets for better planning and more informed economic decision-making by producers.

During the meeting, and in the light of the fruitful exchanges with the countries, all the stakeholders reaffirmed their desire to benefit from ECOWAS support to better understand and facilitate the implementation of Community regulations and measures with a view to improving the quality of local products and increasing the competitiveness of producers on the regional market. Intra-regional trade in agricultural products is expected to increase, strengthening the resilience of supply chains to climatic and economic disruptions.

Funded by the World Bank, the FSRP closely links national and regional actions to ensure a coordinated response to the region’s food challenges. Component 3 plays a fundamental role in this process, aiming to stimulate agricultural trade by developing the main trade corridors and supporting priority value chains.

The joint efforts of regional and national stakeholders demonstrate a shared vision of agricultural market integration as a lever for food security and sustainable development in West Africa. ECOWAS will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting Member States in achieving the ambitions of FSRP component 3 of which remains a key driver for the future of agricultural trade and resilience in the region.

On the sidelines of the Africa Food System Forum held from 2 to 6 September in Kigali, a meeting was held between the ECOWAS Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Sy Traoré, and the Executive Chairperson of AKADEMIYA 2063, Dr Ousmane Badiane. Accompanied by Konlani Kanfitin, Head of the Technical Operations Division of ARAA (Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food), Alain Sy Traoré engaged in strategic discussions on the collaboration between ECOWAS and AKADEMIYA 2063, with a particular focus on the implementation of the SCORECARD tool within the framework of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP).

The SCORECARD tool, which has already been deployed in seven countries in West Africa and the Sahel, is a crucial instrument for facilitating intra-regional trade in agricultural products, thereby strengthening regional food security. “This tool enables countries to better monitor and evaluate their progress in terms of agricultural policies, while facilitating greater regional integration”, emphasised Alain Sy Traoré.

Discussions also focused on the possibility of formalising this collaboration through a memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS and AKADEMIYA 2063. This agreement would aim to strengthen the capacities of Member States in the development of the new ECOWAS agricultural policy 2025-2035, a strategic project for the future of agriculture in West Africa.

AKADEMIYA 2063, based in Kigali, has set itself the mission of supporting the efforts of African Union member states to achieve Agenda 2063. The aim is to transform African economies to stimulate growth and prosperity. The institution provides cutting-edge data and analyses, which are essential for guiding the public policies of African countries, while promoting mutual learning between states.

Strengthening collaboration between ECOWAS and AKADEMIYA 2063 is a strategic move for West Africa, a region in search of robust agricultural policies adapted to the challenges of today. By joining forces, these two institutions aim to promote better governance of agricultural policies, based on up-to-date data and relevant analyses, both at Member State and regional level.

ECOWAS organized a side event on “Scaling Investments for Rice Self-Sufficiency in West Africa: Opportunities and Challenges” on September 3rd in Kigali, Rwanda in Partnership with AfDB, JICA, AGRA, and the World Bank at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum 2024.

This event held under the auspices of Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litsé, Commissioner of Economic Affairs and Agriculture of ECOWAS was an opportunity to share country experiences for the rice sector development and strengthen the by-in of several Development partners for a successful implementation of the Rice Roadmap 2025-2035.

More than 300 persons composed of Ministers, Governors, researchers, rice producers and processors, students…and technical and development partners participated in this event which promoted the formation of strategic partnerships essential for developing and implementing comprehensive rice investment packages identified within the roadmap.

The different interventions identified and addressed investment barriers by understanding these challenges and formulating actionable solutions to overcome them.

Attendees gained practical insights and proven strategies on successful investments models that can be replicated and adapted across different regions.

The side event was organized around two high level panels: ECOWAS Policy Frameworks and Sustainable Solutions and Financing Sustainable Rice Innovations to promote dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to enhance policy implementation and impact.

During the panel one, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone, Dr Henri Musa Kpaka; the Governor of Jigawa State Nigeria, HE. Malam Umar A. Mamadi and the Representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture of Ghana, Benin and Senegal share their experiences in the rice sector development. The panellists shared best practices, identified opportunities for enhancing sustainability, and recommended solutions on policy gaps and innovative approaches as underlined by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone “In Sierra Leone, Rice is the major staple food and we continue to import large quantities of it. Since I arrived at the Ministry, I have decided to change things by investing in agricultural production, because our climate and vegetation allow it. And we’ve started by producing certified seeds and marketing them to reduce market prices and give most of the population easy access to them. The efforts of ECOWAS through the Rice Roadmap are beneficial for us”. One the major challenges to the development of the Rice Sector is access to finance.

The Governor of Jigawa State has talked this problem and shared his solution “In Jigawa State, we worked with financial institutions that agreed to support the rice industry. All the rice growers who have their own plots have been identified. The banks are helping them to buy seed and fertiliser. At harvest time, the banks help them with marketing and recover their loans. This is more profitable for both the banks and the producers”.  The side event ensured alignment between the Rice Roadmap and the National Rice Development Strategies of the Member States for effective implementation and greater impact.

The second panel session focused on “Financing Sustainable Rice Innovations” to unlock investments for a resilient rice sector.  It brings together financiers, private sector players, development partners. The representatives of AfDB, JICA, AFEX and the World Bank, under the moderation of Alain Sy Traore, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS, explored potential interventions and sustainable innovations to improve access to finance for farmers and millers to drive rice value chain development, and mechanisms to de-risk investments in the rice value chain. The panellists promoted the introduction of innovative de-risking schemes to encourage private sector investments and lending from financial institutions. This can be achieved e.g., through innovative insurance schemes like crop insurance, weather index insurance to protect against harvest losses, price hedging mechanisms to protect farmers from price volatility.

In conclusion to the side event, the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development said “Since the adoption of the rice roadmap, this is the first time we have shared it with a large audience such as this forum. Our aim is to change the trend in 10 years’ time and reduce the rate of rice imports into our respective countries. Action is underway to achieve this. All we need is financial support and the coordination of all agricultural policies to achieve this. It can be done.”

The organization of ECOWAS and Partners side event at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS) 2024, offered a critical platform for advancing agricultural innovation. The forum convened global leaders, investors, and stakeholders to discuss ways to transform food systems across Africa. The event fostered partnerships, shared practical insights, and drove actionable recommendations for achieving rice self-sufficiency in West Africa.

By participating at the AFS Forum 2024, ECOWAS and its partners have amplified their efforts in transforming the rice sector and increased the visibility of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory.  ERO, a multi-stakeholder platform established in partnership with organizations such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and others, is central to coordinating activities and investments in West Africa’s rice sector. Based at the ECOWAS Commission under the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, ERO aims to align stakeholders, including farmers, millers, donors, and institutions, to reduce duplication and maximize resource use. Its mission is to facilitate collaboration, catalyze growth, and track progress, ultimately driving the region toward a competitive, sustainable, and resilient rice production.

On 7 June 2024, the international community celebrated the 6^ème International Food Safety Day on the theme “Food safety: preparing for the unexpected”, inviting everyone to try to adopt healthy eating practices.

The ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture and the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa took advantage of the day to raise awareness among stakeholders in the West African food system of the importance of food safety and to help promote safe and healthy food practices at all levels of the agricultural value chain and society.

During a webinar open to the public, experts from the two institutions and from the countries presented the state of preparedness of the West Africa and Sahel Region for food safety emergencies in West Africa and shared some good practices of Member States in managing food safety emergencies and guaranteeing healthy and safe food for the population.

As recommended by stakeholders during the first webinar organised by ECOWAS on 07 June 2023, the webinar will become an annual activity initiated by ECOWAS to raise public awareness because “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year, According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year, around 600 million people – or almost one in ten people worldwide – fall ill after eating contaminated food. It is therefore necessary to initiate and strengthen awareness-raising activities among the regional population on food safety issues and on the necessary measures to be taken in food systems,” emphasised Mr Septime HOUSSOU-GOE. Septime HOUSSOU-GOE, Programme Officer at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, opened the meeting on behalf of the Director, Alain SY TRAORE.

Before the DADR representative, Mr Drissi Mehdi, speaking on behalf of the Representative of the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, welcomed this joint initiative by the FAO and ECOWAS for the well-being of our populations.

He recalled some of the key actions undertaken by the FAO to promote healthy eating throughout the world, and particularly in West Africa, before stressing that “the FAO is ready to work closely with ECOWAS through a structuring programme to ensure that good practices for healthy and safe eating are adopted in our sub-region. “

Professor Ousmane SARR, from the Faculty of Medicine at Cheick Anta Diop University in Dakar, gave an overview of food safety regulations and issues in West Africa and the Sahel. Dr Mamadou N’DIAYE, Food Safety Specialist at the FAO Sub-regional Office for West Africa, focused on “Preparing the Region”.

These two presentations were followed by the sharing of country experiences on the national dynamics of food safety emergency management.

The national experiences of Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mali were also shared. The governance mechanisms for food safety and the involvement of States in the activities of the CODEX Alimentarius were presented, followed by exchanges/discussions between the participants.

ECOWAP stakeholders and partners were familiarised with food safety issues and questions. They were given some approaches for adopting appropriate behaviour in order to avoid illnesses caused by a lack of healthy food thanks to food safety. Above all, they were informed of the existence of regional regulations and codex standards in ECOWAS member states.

In view of the importance of the subject for health and socio-economic development, the participants congratulated ECOWAS and the FAO on the initiative and suggested that: (i) continue to support greater participation by ECOWAS Member States, Mauritania and Chad in the process of drawing up international standards; (ii) continue to strengthen the harmonisation of national and regional regulations; (iii) strengthen training leading to qualifications and diplomas in the field of food safety throughout the value chain; (iii) strengthen the capacity of analysis and control laboratories in accordance with international standards; and finally (iv) strengthen cooperation between national and regional institutions.

This webinar demonstrated once again that there is a great deal of work to be done to mobilise decision-makers and change people’s behaviour. The FAO and ECOWAS launched a Call to Action aimed at governments and non-state actors.

These two institutions have agreed to develop a Regional Programme to Strengthen Country Capacity in Food Safety, and the main thrusts of this programme were shared with the participants.

The webinar was held as part of the implementation of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), financed by the World Bank and coordinated at regional level by ECOWAS in collaboration with CILSS, CORAF and other partners, with 8 beneficiary countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo).

ECOWAS trained around one hundred Ghanaian and Burkina Faso practitioners and regulators involved in food and agricultural trade on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to ensure food security in the sub-region , from 10 to 14 June 2024 in Accra/Ghana and from 19 to 21 June 2024 in Ouagadougou/Burkina Faso. The main objective of the sessions organised as part of the implementation of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) was to create a knowledge acquisition forum for the Ghanaian and Burkina Faso authorities involved in regulating food handling standards and those involved in cross-border trade in food and agri-food products. Work in each country focused on training and knowledge-sharing sessions, field inspection visits and practical demonstrations on health inspection and food-borne disease decision-making, with an emphasis on protecting consumers from illness, injury or death caused by consuming food.

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) are quarantine and biosecurity measures applied to protect human, animal or plant life or health against the risks associated with the introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases and against the risks associated with additives, toxins and contaminants in food and feed.

The training sessions covered the following topics: “General principles of food hygiene”; “SPS Agreements”; “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)”; “Food import and export inspection and certification systems”; “The legislative and regulatory framework in force in Ghana and Burkina Faso”; and the “Harmonised Guide to Health Inspection and Decision-Making”.

During the various training sessions, the facilitators also presented to the country teams the new harmonised risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary guide developed by ECOWAS, to harmonise protocols across the country.

After the classroom sessions, field visits were organised, including (i) health inspection of imported products (such as canned goods and fresh products – dairy and meat), (ii) health inspection of products intended for export and health inspection of local products (such as meat, fish and other fresh products).

The regulators carried out product identification, physical inspection of products, detection and identification of signs of non-compliance and unsafe products, and techniques for collecting, identifying and packaging samples for further laboratory analysis.

Through these training sessions, the stakeholders and partners appreciated the various initiatives and support provided by ECOWAS in the region. They also expressed the hope that ECOWAS would be able to mobilise all its resources to effectively defend commercial agricultural production and productivity in selected value chains in the region.

More than 150 participants from West African States and their partners took part in the first General Assembly (GA) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Rice Observatory (ERO), held on 21^st and 22^nd May 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. Over two days of discussions, the GA took stock of the activities carried out and adopted a Roadmap for accelerating the growth of the rice sector in West Africa.

Established in 2021 to operationalize the ECOWAS Rice Offensive, the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) coordinates rice sector-related programmes, public/private investments, and policy recommendations for key decision-makers to help West Africa achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2030 through profitable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable agricultural enterprises that contribute to rural economic growth, poverty reduction and equity for women.

After two years of intense work in the countries and at the regional level, ERO presented the main achievements and the strategy documents to be adopted to its main stakeholders: farmers’ organisations, processors and millers, traders and distributors, input suppliers, research institutes, government agencies and ministries, development organisations and NGOs, financial institutions, ERO national sections and members of the rice working groups of the ECOWAS Member States.

Discussions focused on the status of the rice sector in each country, the main initiatives underway to develop the rice value chain, the policy measures adopted in this area, and recommendations for regional action in support of Member States.

At the end of the discussions, the General Assembly adopted the regional roadmap for the development of the rice sector in West Africa, while calling for it to be aligned with the national rice development strategies of the countries concerned, considering their respective priorities.

The West African sub-region produces around 17 million tonnes of milled rice a year. Per capita rice consumption in West Africa is one of the highest in the world, ranging from 100 to 200 kilograms per person per year, depending on the country. In view of this importance, and to ensure self-sufficiency in rice production in the long term, the GA recommended strengthening and involving the private sector, with synergy of action between agro-dealers and input distributors in the countries, as well as the involvement of national and regional banking institutions.

The conclusions and recommendations of the ERO’s first General Assembly were examined by its Board at its meeting on 23 May 2024, with a view to drawing up an action plan for their implementation. The Board, chaired by Mr Alain SY TRAORE, ECOWAS Director for Agriculture and Rural Development, includes representatives of scientific partners, development partners, the private sector, and countries.

The holding of the first ERO GA is an important milestone in the implementation of the ECOWAS Rice Offensive, which is itself a major framework for the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy, ECOWAP.

As the rice sector is far from self-sufficient in West Africa, with most countries still import a significant proportion of their rice needs, implementing the recommendations of this meeting will strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships between countries that share similar challenges and opportunities. By getting them to work together, the Rice Observatory will be able to capitalise on each other’s strengths, sharing knowledge and creating synergies that will benefit the whole region.

Under the auspices of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) Task Force, the ECOWAS Commission’s Customs Union and Taxation Directorate, in collaboration with the regional coordination of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), invited key stakeholders in charge of implementing the TLS in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to a training session on the new rules of the TLS of origin of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS).

The meeting was held from 16 to 18 April 2024 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and comprised three phases: a consultation meeting between the ETS Task Force and the stakeholders and focal points of the institutions responsible for implementing the ETS; a field visit to the Liberia/Sierra Leone border; and a presentation of the TLS to private-sector economic stakeholders.

Through exchanges and, above all, the sharing of experiences, the capacities of government bodies implementing texts on trade in general and trade in agro-sylvo-pastoral products in particular were strengthened. In addition, private sector players were made aware of the need to better understand and take advantage of the benefits offered by the various trade texts, particularly the SLE. The meeting was also an opportunity to identify the challenges specific to the Mano River Union countries in the implementation of Community texts and to propose appropriate solutions to address them.

It should be remembered that despite the introduction of the SLE to facilitate the free movement of people and goods, those involved in cross-border trade, particularly drivers and transporters, face numerous difficulties along the various corridors. To these challenges must be added the lack of professionalism on the part of those involved, which is often reflected in the absence of the required documentation on loads and the non-conformity of means of transport, representing another factor in hassle and increasing the cost price at the final destination.

These practices have harmful consequences, such as unnecessary delays on the roads, higher transport costs for goods and limited access to product markets. In addition, the transport and marketing of agricultural and livestock products from the EU area are negatively impacted by these obstacles along trade corridors, thereby slowing down the movement of these products from production areas to consumption areas.

To find a solution to this situation, it was strongly recommended, among other things, to: continue to raise awareness among cross-border trade stakeholders so that they take full ownership of the ECOWAS protocols; strengthen the capacities of the National Committees for the Recognition of Community Origin (NRCVOC) of products; strengthen collaboration between the Focal Points of the institutions in charge of implementing the ETS, principally the customs administrations.

Twenty-three (23) stakeholders and partners specialized in agricultural trade and markets in West Africa and Chad now have a better understanding of the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade and Market SCORECARD (EATM-SCORECARD).

The participants, from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Chad and Togo, and partner organisations CILSS and WACTAF (West Africa Association for Cross-Border Trade, in Agro-forestry-pastoral, fisheries products and Food), reviewed the methodology of the EATM-SCORECARD from 19 to 22 February 2024 in Abuja/Nigeria, the data collection process, and the use of the handling and reporting platform. They in turn have the onerous task of training other actors in the field in their respective countries to facilitate data collection and handling.

With the active participation of members of the Regional Task Force from the ECOWAS Directorates of Trade, Agriculture, Customs, Industry and Free Movement, the workshop, which combined theory and practice, enabled the AKADEMIYA2063 trainers to gather additional needs from countries to finalize the platform and thus facilitate its use by stakeholders at all levels.

The results generated by the EATM-SCORECARD should be used by decision-makers to influence policy reforms for the promotion of intra-regional trade and strengthen policy implementation, as underlined by the Director of Trade of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Kolawole SOFOLA: “It is crucial that we recognise the importance of data in policy formulation and decision-making. Accurate and timely data can help governments design appropriate agricultural policies, anticipate food crises, support small-scale farmers, especially women and young people, and promote regional and international trade”.

As a reminder, this activity is part of the implementation of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), which considers “the integration of regional food markets and trade” as a major axis and aims to facilitate trade in agricultural goods and inputs within and across national borders in West Africa.

The training of trainers workshop in Abuja/Nigeria is an important phase in the process of deploying the EATM-SCORECARD in countries, with the knowledge acquired being put into practice. The national and regional stakeholders have agreed on a timetable to formalize the formation of teams in the countries to move on to data collection and handling, with the aim of having country scores before the start of the last quarter of 2024.