Food security
ECOWAS STRENGTHENS AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS TRHOUGH SIGNING AND LAUNCHING OF NEW REGIONAL PROJECTS
In a landmark ceremony today at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, West Africa’s leading regional organization reinforced its commitment to food security, rural development, and social cohesion with the launch of the West Africa Milk Offensive Support Project (PAOLAO) and the signing of the financing agreement for the Regional Project to Strengthen a Platform of Solutions in Support of Pastoralism and Livestock Farming in West Africa (PEPISAO II). Attended by diplomatic representatives from France, regional officials, ECOWAS Directors, and stakeholders from the agricultural sector, the event highlighted the critical role of partnerships in addressing regional development challenges.
Speaking to an audience of policymakers and technical experts, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, described the projects as cornerstones for transforming the region’s agricultural landscape, improving livelihoods, and mitigating sources of conflict linked to pastoralism and food scarcity. He stressed that these initiatives are designed to reach local communities directly, strengthen economic resilience, and foster inclusive growth, particularly for women and youth. “The success of these projects depends on robust collaboration and strategic investment,” the President of the Commission said, acknowledging the vital support of the French Development Agency. “By promoting local milk production, enhancing cross-border pastoral systems, and supporting regional value chains, we are delivering tangible benefits to the people and laying the foundations for an ECOWAS of peace, prosperity, and resilience by 2050.”
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Sylla Kalilou, opened the ceremony, presenting the PEPISAO II and PAOLAO projects and outlining their objectives, including enhancing territorial governance, climate resilience, and conflict mitigation across the region’s livestock sector. He detailed the PAOLAO initiative, emphasizing its mission to the region objective to fully support exploiting its enormous potential to double its production volume by 2030, on the one hand, and to increase processing and consumption by raising the incorporation rate of local milk to between 20 and 25 per cent by 2035, on the other. PAOLAO aims to increase local milk production, ensure at least 25% collection for regional industries, strengthen local value chains, and incentivize public and private sector investment.
The ceremony also featured remarks from the French Ambassador to Nigeria and to ECOWAS,
H.E. Marc Fonbaustier, and the Country Director of the French Development Agency in Nigeria, Mr. Jacky Amprou. Ambassador Fonbaustier reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ECOWAS in delivering sustainable and inclusive development solutions. Going forward, he added that the ambition through the grant of eighteen (18) million euros from the French Development Agency (AFD) is to contribute to restoring political stability, peace and security in the region as productive livestock and pastoralism subsectors are instrumental in fostering social cohesion.
Together, these initiatives position ECOWAS at the forefront of agricultural innovation and pastoralist support in West Africa, demonstrating the organization’s ability to translate policy into tangible outcomes for communities, enhance social cohesion, and address climate and economic vulnerabilities. For millions of farmers, pastoralists, and rural households, today marks a significant step toward a resilient and prosperous West Africa.
Livestock farming systems are not only part of the driving forces of food and nutrition security for populations in the region. They also stand for the second largest source of intra-community trade in local products. They facilitate the densification of regional economies through the operation of numerous livestock markets, collection centres and mini dairies, thereby contributing to strengthening the resilience of populations.
The event concluded with the official signing of the PEPISAO II financing agreement by the ECOWAS Commission President and Ambassador Fonbaustier, followed by the formal launch of the PAOLAO project, reinforcing the organization’s strategic leadership in regional development, and food and nutrition security promotion.
