The ECOWAS stabilisation fund: building peace and preventing crises

West Africa	Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Trainees standing at a fish smoking facility in The Gambia.

Context

The region of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) faces a multitude of challenges. For example, climate change is leading to seasonal droughts, high water levels and floods. This causes crop failures, worsens food security and reduces opportunities to generate income. Armed terrorist groups are also weakening the region and increasing migration flows. Conflicts particularly impact young people and women. To raise their resilience, they require support in improving their employment situation and future prospects. The ECOWAS Commission is striving to address these challenges with measures that are specifically tailored to prevent conflicts and crises.

Objective

The ECOWAS Commission and selected member states have improved their skills in order to stabilise the region economically and socially.

Approach

In cooperation with KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau), the project is setting up a funding mechanism for the ECOWAS Commission. The fund is a flexible and effective instrument to support stabilisation in selected ECOWAS member states.

The project is also supporting the ECOWAS Commission in developing country- and context-specific measures to prevent crises and conflicts.

In selected ECOWAS member states such as The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Togo, the project is also implementing measures to improve employability and income opportunities for young people and women, as well as to strengthen social cohesion.