The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Spain’s Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation have signed two memoranda of understanding under a 16-million-euro (about US$19 million) cooperation program aimed at strengthening resilience, inclusion, and regional integration in West Africa.
The agreements, form part of the 2025–2028 ECOWAS-AECID program and will focus on rural development, gender equality, and empowerment of women and girls. The initiative also targets priority sectors including agriculture and food security, energy access, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building, in line with the bloc’s Vision 2050.
Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, described the partnership as “the most significant cooperation agreement with a regional economic community in Africa,” noting it is driven by shared interests rather than a traditional aid-based model.
The initiative comes amid ongoing efforts to deepen economic and agricultural integration across West Africa, following regional meetings held by ECOWAS between November 26 and December 3, 2025. These meetings focused on boosting intra-regional trade, increasing agricultural productivity, improving food security, protecting the environment, and promoting inclusive growth.
ECOWAS member states continue to navigate political challenges, including the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, while seeking to diversify economies, reduce dependency on raw materials, and foster sustainable development.
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Through this partnership, ECOWAS and AECID aim to strengthen institutional capacity and deliver tangible benefits to populations across the region, with a particular focus on women and girls, helping to accelerate resilience and inclusive development in West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a 15-member regional bloc founded in 1975 to promote economic integration, peace, and stability in West Africa. Its Vision 2050 strategy focuses on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and deeper regional integration, with priority areas including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and institutional strengthening.
Spain’s Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is a government agency responsible for promoting international development, humanitarian assistance, and technical cooperation in partner countries. It has a history of supporting projects in Africa, including in governance, social development, and infrastructure.
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The 2025–2028 ECOWAS-AECID cooperation program, signed on Feb. 23, 2026, is valued at 16 million euros (about US$19 million) and aims to strengthen member states’ resilience, promote gender equality, and accelerate regional integration. The program targets rural development, food security, energy access, and institutional capacity building.
The deal comes as West Africa faces both opportunities and challenges: political tensions have risen following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from regional engagements, while member states pursue economic diversification, intra-African trade, and sustainable development initiatives.
By partnering with Spain under this agreement, ECOWAS seeks to leverage both technical expertise and financial support to deliver measurable benefits to West African populations, with a special emphasis on empowering women and girls.
