ECOWAS Launches Regional Resilience Strategy to Tackle Crises

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a global initiative to develop a regional resilience strategy addressing challenges such as environmental degradation.

This strategy aims to strengthen community resilience and create a roadmap for a region capable of withstanding and recovering from crises.

West Africa, rich in resilient cultures and communities, faces crises including climate disasters, rapid urbanization, and chronic humanitarian issues. Fatou Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, representing President Dr. Omar Touray, stated, “These problems have plunged millions of our citizens into poverty, food insecurity, and forced displacement.”

From November 25 to 29, 2024, experts and ministers convened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to focus on these crises and adopt a regional resilience strategy under the ECOWAS Commission. Sarr noted that the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and global economic instability have further exacerbated these issues, compromising the Sustainable Development Goals.

The strategy centers on six themes: good governance, peace and security; macroeconomic resilience; sustainable livelihoods; social protection; gender sensitivity and social inclusion; and climate change. Sarr emphasized that these areas were “carefully selected to address the root causes of vulnerability, promote sustainable development in the region, and reflect on innovative solutions to be implemented at the regional and national levels to meet the challenges.”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

WAVN