Launch of 16 million ECOWAS-AECID Cooperation Programme 2025-2028: A Strategic Partnership for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) officially launched, on Monday 23 February 2026 at the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS-AECID Cooperation Programme 2025-2028. A €16 million initiative aimed at strengthening regional integration, resilience, and inclusive development across West Africa more specifically to provide support to the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA) and ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE); and Institutional Support to ECOWAS.

This launch ceremony marked a major milestone in more than two decades of cooperation between Spain and ECOWAS. It also featured the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) corresponding to AECID´s recent contributions, amounting to €8.5 million, (as part of the  € 16 million committed for the period 2025–2028) reaffirming Spain’s sustained support for ECOWAS’ regional development agenda.

As part of the event, the first Steering Committee of the Cooperation Programme was convened, bringing together the ECOWAS Commission and partner agencies collaborating with AECID under  programmes,  to support the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), and the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU)  and the Institutional Support  to ECOWAS.

. The session reviewed programme objectives, implementation modalities, and priorities for the period ahead.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of AECID, Mr. Antón Leis García, described the programme as a significant step forward in a long-standing partnership, emphasizing Spain’s commitment to a cooperation model based on mutual benefit, shared responsibility, and long-term engagement.“We reaffirm today our commitment to Sub – Saharan Africa, particularly to West Africa and the Sahel, which are clearly identified as priority regions in our Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity, in the 2024 – 2027 Spanish Cooperation Master Plan and in the 2025 – 2028 Africa – Spain Strategy. Spain wishes to be clear in this regard: we reiterate our full support to ECOWAS in its efforts to restore stability, strengthen dialogue and continue advancing regional integration as the most effective response to shared challenges”, He added.

Addressing participants, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, highlighted the strategic nature of Spain’s engagement with ECOWAS, noting that Spain has invested over €177 million in strengthening ECOWAS institutional capacity, representing the highest per-capita bilateral commitment to any African regional economic community.

He also stated that: “Spain’s cooperation with ECOWAS goes beyond financing programmes, it has helped build the institutional architecture that underpins food security, energy transition, gender equality, and regional infrastructure in West Africa. This partnership is strategic, not charitable, and it aligns fully with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and our collective ambition to deliver regional solutions with lasting impact,” Dr. Omar Alieu Touray said.

He further noted that the €16 million programme, delivered through grants, is expected to catalyse additional financing and strengthen regional mechanisms for infrastructure development, energy transition, food security, and institutional resilience.

The ECOWAS-AECID Cooperation Programme 2025-2028 provides a strategic framework for the implementation of jointly agreed regional projects across ECOWAS Member States. The programme focuses on rural development and sustainable agri-food systems, food security, access to clean energy, gender equality and equity, and the empowerment of women and girls, while integrating cross-cutting priorities such as connectivity and infrastructure, inclusive economic development, and institutional strengthening.

Grounded in earlier cooperation frameworks, including the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding and the 2009 Abuja Declaration, the ECOWAS-AECID Cooperation Programme contributes to strengthening resilience, promoting peace, fostering inclusive growth, and advancing deeper regional integration in West Africa. Through its regional approach, the programme seeks to maximise development impact by reinforcing ECOWAS institutions and enabling coordinated responses to shared challenges across the region.

Spain’s priority interest in ECOWAS can be seen in its broad cooperation programme with the organisation, underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2005 and further developed in the Joint Declaration of 2009.

The launch of the Cooperation Programme and the signing of the MoUs reaffirm the shared determination of Spain and ECOWAS to deliver sustainable, people-centred, and transformative outcomes for West Africa, while consolidating a strategic partnership that continues to evolve in response to regional priorities and global challenges.