The ECOWAS Commission will be hosting an internal consultative Workshop on the establishment of an Economic, Social and Cultural Council in West Africa (ECOSOCC-WA). The workshop will take place from December 12, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria.
This two-day workshop is supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and organized by the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS). The workshop aims to bring together officials from various ECOWAS Departments, Directorates, and Divisions. They will work together to lay the foundation for the creation of ECOSOCC-WA and position the regional organization for the achievement of its 4 x 4 objectives and Vision 2050, among other goals.
Participants will also discuss the vision, mission, and relevance of ECOSOCC-WA within the wider efforts to consolidate democracy, peace, and security in the face of political instability, insecurity, governance challenges, as well as the rise of terrorism and organized crime in the region.
Once established, ECOSOCC-WA is expected to revitalize the civil society movement and create networks within Member States to promote and consolidate human security. The council will also play a crucial role in identifying social and economic trends and addressing common challenges such as poverty, inequality, political instability, and conflict.
After the internal consultative meeting, the next phase of establishing ECOSOCC-WA will involve the participation of ECOWAS partners, representatives of AU-ECOSOCC and UN-ECOSOC, as well as regional Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs), especially youth-focused CSOs in Member States.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).