A delegation from the ECOWAS Commission paid a working visit to GIZ Nigeria to review progress within the framework of the EU pillar assessment on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
The ECOWAS Commission delegation included pillar champions representing the Directorates of External Relations, Financial Reporting & Grants, Administration and General Services
This meeting, which is part of the validation process of the EU pillar by the ECOWAS Commission, aimed to discuss all ongoing actions and progress made.
The Pillar Assessment is part of a wider Institutional Reform Process within ECOWAS Commission. A Pillar compliant entity is allowed to use its internal procedures to manage EU and other Donor funds directly. During a mock assessment conducted in 2021, ECOWAS was assessed on eight (8) out of the nine (9) EU Pillars, passing four (4) and requiring improvement on four (4). The 4 Pillars which required improvement by ECOWAS Commission were: Pillar 1: internal control; Pillar 7: exclusion from access to funding; Pillar 8 publication of information on recipients; and Pillar 9: protection personal data.
The action plan also included gaps identified in pillars which ECOWAS passed under Accounting, External Audit, Grants and Procurement.
The validation of the EU pillar will allow ECOWAS to directly manage the funds allocated by the EU for the financing of regional projects approved by the two organizations.
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