Considering the numerous achievements recorded by the Regional Fruit Fly Control Support Project (FFP) for the mango sector in West Africa, the EU and AFD wish to support a new phase of the project to consolidate the FFP achievements.

Between 2014 and 2019, the FFP, with the financial support of the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD), enabled to set up a fruit fly surveillance and control system covering 11 of the 15 ECOWAS Member States. The project also allowed to supervise national research laboratories and strengthen the National Fruit and Vegetable Specialisation Centre in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. In terms of impact, the FFP has led to a 57% reduction in mango interceptions at European borders and a 40% increase in mango exports from the ECOWAS Region to Europe in 2019.

To consolidate, amplify and perpetuate the achievements, the ECOWAS Commission launched, last August, a second phase of the project "Innovative Regional Fruit Fly Control System in West Africa" Project (SYRIMAO). Funded by the EU and AFD for 13.9 million euros for a period of 4 years, its implementation is expected to (i) consolidate and disseminate research results on a large scale, (ii) extend monitoring and control activities to all 15 Member States, and (iii) take charge of the operational mechanism at both regional and national levels.

With the experience gained during the implementation of the FFP, the ECOWAS Commission hopes to effectively control fruit fly populations in the region by the end of SYRIMAO in 2024. The control aims at a better protection of fruit production, an increase in the income of West African producers and an increase in the market shares of West African mango exports.