Abuja, 8^th November 2017. The President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Marcel de Souza and the Mission Director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)/West Africa, Mr. Alex Deprez, have signed a USAID West Africa/ECOWAS Development Agreement in Abuja, on Friday, 10^th November, 2017.

The multi-year Development Agreement will provide $298 million U.S. Government funding over a five-year period from 2015 – 2020 in support of ECOWAS priorities areas and strengthen democratic institutions, enhance economic growth, trade and investment, advance peace and security as well as increase opportunity and development in sub-Saharan Africa.

In their interactions, the representatives of both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the harmonization and delivery of development programmes in favour of the ECOWAS Community citizens.

Friday’s signing ceremony increase the fund with an additional $31.6 million making the total funds obligated to date $143.3 million.

Mr. de Souza expressed ECOWAS’ gratitude to the USAID and US Department of State for its support towards regional health, peace and governance, economic growth, energy and environment as well as climate change response.

He also urged USAID to help establish a UNMIL ECOWAS Radio in order to facilitate communication and the education of Community citizens.

Similarly, Mr. de Souza called on its partner to support the newly created African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Unit of the ECOWAS Commission and help meet the various needs identified by some of the Commissioners who were present at the ceremony.

USAID’s West Africa Regional Mission Director reiterated the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting African-led solutions by supporting regional organizations to better deliver on their respective mandates.

He acknowledged that USAID’s regional development cooperation strategy also supports key U.S. Government initiatives including Trade Africa, Feed the Future, Global Health, Global Climate Change, and the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.

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