Strengthening Partnerships for Regional Development: ECOWAS-AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation) 2025-2028 Technical Meeting Convenes in Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) held a joint meeting on 18 February 2026, at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

The meeting, aimed to review the implementation of the ECOWAS-AECID Cooperation Programme for 2025-2028.

In their remarks, Ms Ximena Sartori AECID, Deputy Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Mr Jérôme Boa, Director of External Relations at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the importance of the partnership between ECOWAS and AECID, highlighting the significance of this technical meeting in ensuring all stakeholders are on the same page for the success of ongoing and future programmes. The meeting provided also a platform for ECOWAS agencies, including ARAA, ECREEE, PPDU, and EGDC, and programme to Support Free Movement of persons and Migration to present their financial reports and 2027 projections, showcasing achievements and outlining plans for future collaboration. The meeting highlighted significant progress under the current cooperation programme, with a commitment to strengthening collaboration in the coming years. Discussions also covered preparations for the next Steering Committee meeting and the visit of Antón Leis García, Director of AECID, aiming to further consolidate the partnership and define the cooperation's future direction.